That was very fun.
The sprite order is a bit off though because dead bodies were shown in front of the living which got distracting after the absolute carnage I just wrecked on the trolls.
The mechanics were very interesting and made the game exciting as I tried to figure out how things worked while protecting the vessels. I still don't know what they were for though. Perhaps they should recharge your shield automatically until destroyed?
Slinging the soul well around like a ball and chain was great. It would be nice if it actually followed the chain path instead of going straight towards the player. I know this would be both unrealistic and difficult to implement, but it would make the game more fun as I trace patterns across the screen before the portal whips around, wiping everyone out.
Though not the most polished or complicated , it is probably the most fun game I have played here and I am glad you made it.