Thanks for playing and for your kind words and feedback!
I was hoping someone would mention the little notes haha it wasn't added til the end of the jam and I felt good about adding a bit more depth to the characters with it.
My plan if I had had the time was to add some randomization to the ingredient placement to change things up. I also want to add either a few different shadow forms and you face a different one each time or adding more phases to the fight.
So cool that you see speedrunning potential in the game! I actually keep that kind of thing in the back of my mind as I make my games. In my own playthroughs I think I got it down to maybe 4 or 5 resets. I should add a counter to the game!
Really glad you enjoyed the game :D