Nice plot twist. Getting good at the game on my second attempt made me really regret my powerup decisions. I disagree the graphics are outright bad. They have an Atari 2600 vibe to them and get the job done for your purposes. However, the weapons really clash with the rest of the aesthetic so I gotta dock points. The sound effects also are a bit too... modern for it? But are fine in a vacuum.
The big thing that needs to be touched up is actually the controls IMO. I would rather use another button on my keyboard to swing my sword.