Wow! This game is so cool! I love the art! Sound is good and the background music is pleasant, though it could be turned down a bit. And the design! I love the little vacuum friend and how, in a way, it’s getting the abilities, not the player. I didn’t understand everything, but I think it would have been revealed in time maybe. (Like why vacuum up the green pod seeds? Did they have a use?)
The controls need some attentions as I think other’s have commented. So, you’ll get to that. And I think, even though the art in the world is awesome there are parts that are a bit barren. Maybe a parallax effect and fill in the background with some eye candy. And I think lighting can be added so things really pop. Like our little hoover friend could glow and so could the rest tree, etc.
It’s also not obvious what to do at some point. I really want to come back and try later, but I’ve already played for an hour and need to move on. So, maybe more direction or more lore. Or did I just miss something? It happens and it could be on me.
So, overall great art and design! I did get stuck the first time when I didn’t chase the hoover friend and went to where you get that first essence without it being there to befriend. So, maybe make that impossible to happen. But once I befriended it and figured out what it did, I was like “Wow!” Really, awesome idea!
I would like to think our game has some interesting ideas in it being a top down space shooter metroidvania. We certainly had a lot more ideas than what we could get done even with a month long game jam. We would love it if you would play, rate and leave a critique in the submission comments! That would help us out tremendously! Thanks!