Well done AsE,
What Stood Out (For Me):
Art Style / Theme:
I like the art style and theme of the game, it reminds me of my crash bandicoot days.
Variation in Environment:
When I plunged underwater and found I was able to jump much higher, that was a cool experience.
I think expanding on this could be a great way to open up various forms of gameplay for players.
Power-Ups:
Although rare, at least in my playthrough thus, they provide some ability enhancement that diverges from the traditional gameplay.
Feedback:
Coyote Time:
I think adding coyote time to jumps is a good idea for most platformers, it usually provides a smoother gameplay experience for players:
Telegraphing Enemy Attacks:
The mushrooms specifically, I was unsure when exactly they were going to attack. Perhaps providing a more obvious load-up phase for attacks, or a red area around them indicating how far away you need to be, would be helpful.
Limited View:
I did figure out that you can zoom out a bit, however the limited view still posed a problem in some cases:
There were a few times where I was either able to jump really high, or I was on high ground and I needed to progress to the left or right (usually right), but there was no way of knowing what lies below when falling down. It feels a bit like rolling dice to see if I'll end up getting hit when I fall down (especially by the fish).
Having an ability to directionally move the camera in an intended direction (even if briefly) could help with this.
Control Pop-ups On First Encounter:
When first encountering the breakable ground tile, I think it would be convenient to show a pop-up of ("E") for players that have yet to pause the game and are unfamiliar with how to break the tile ground. This could provide smoother gameplay. (But I do appreciate the pause menu)
Checkpoints:
Checkpoints, for more casual players, might be beneficial, so they don't have to start from the very beginning when they lose a life. (It provides a sense of progression, especially to those less skilled in platformers)
Keep it up! 👏