I enjoyed the web version of this game on my mac (with keyboard and trackpad). It feels good to play, great music, soundFX and interaction feedback.
Since you're looking for feedback, here are some notes from my experience playing it to help you decide if there are other features or enhancements you'd like to add in the future.
Controls:
- I wish there were more control options, particularly a way to aim with only the keyboard. Such as AWDS keys for aim, Arrows keys to move (with the option for the other way around), and Spacebar as fire.
- In the upgrade menu, it would be nice to be able to select using the tab and enter keys on the keyboard. I'd love a shortcut for the mouse to add abilities to the dice. You could keep the drag and drop option and also allow for players to just double click the ability they want to add to the next available slot. If there's no empty slot, ask them which of their current abilities they want to swap out.
- Since using a trackpad, I couldn't use the dash control - so I wish it could be triggered via a different keyboard button or just double-click the direction you want to dash (AWSD/Arrow keys)
Gameplay and level of difficulty:
If you haven't played the game Hades, it's a roguelike which does a great job of making the game fun and accessible to more players. So I will suggest a few ideas from it that would work well for your game.
- Since I wasn't able to beat your game after multiple tries, I wish there were a way to heal.
- For example, maybe if the player is low on health and levels up, they get the option to heal rather than gain or upgrade an attack ability. The way Hades does this is by having a spot where players can buy health - but for those who don't need it - they can trade in their health for upgrades. I imagine in your game; perhaps the slot machine could be where players can try to heal once per round.
- After being defeated a bunch of times, which can be discouraging, you may want to consider ways to reward the player after each run to keep them motivated to keep trying.
- I do love that you have other characters that seem to be able to be unlocked if you beat the game - I just think, since your game is pretty challenging to win, smaller rewards after being defeated could make it even more enjoyable for more people.
- Hades also does an excellent job of giving the player something to look forward to after each run, even if they die - either by letting them talk to NPCs to advance the story, unlock new weapons or adding renovations and decorations to their home in the Underworld.
- I can imagine one way you could do this, is by having the experience points/coins that are collected during the run be something that can be cashed into a slot machine upon defeat - to give the player a chance to continue from where they left off, get more health for the next round or gaining something to add to the casino (could be decorations, healing points or traps) This would add even more variety to each play.
A few other nice to have ideas:
- Keep track of how many tries the player has made and their best run.
- Local multiplayer to play with friends and family.
Fantastic job; keep up the awesome work on this game :-)