This is amazing! Everything works so well together to create such an eerie feeling to the game. The plot and subtle worldbuilding through the logs as well as the visual storytelling was super well done. The character sprites and color palettes helped create a darker and more melancholy mood. The music made the entire lab feel eerie and alien. Even the extra polish you added -- like the special effects on the damage markers and the slight static effect that covers the screen -- really adds to the experience. You did an amazing job on this, and it's even more impressive that you did this solo! Great game, can't wait to see what you make in the future!
Also, I really like the Metroid references, it's fun to see them used in a way where it's still an original story but a fun nod to the classic games that inspired the metroidvania genre.