Congrats on the success! Here’s an interview about the game’s sound design, which is fantastic as I said.
Well, now the difficulty thing. Very good arguments back and forth but I think what doesn’t quite work is the dissociation that happens when looking and listening to a cute game that is that hard. The 30s cartoon aesthetic is just way too naïve in a good way and adorable to be serving such a brutal gameplay. I get the contrast idea but man, this game is so punishing. Your brain gets on a timing/width diet and forgets about all the amazing detail and whimsical sounds happening anyway.
I think the unlimited credit “difficulty system” –like in Metal Slug or Castle of Illusion- would have been better.