Yep. Game’s difficulty is very… inconsistent. Boss battles are often unreasonably challenging, but everything else is a cakewalk. You can modify boss battles and such to make game significantly easier/more fun though so all is well. Only compromise is that in-game trophies become defunct upon applying the modifier.

So the game has sold 300K in the first 3 days, I really hope it can keep up selling and not start dropping anytime soon. Reaching 1M relatively soon should be enough to keep them strong developing games.

Considering the game is basically open after the initial section, parts of the game are either easier if you go the intended path or harder if you don't. 

But a cakewalk ? Nah😀, I disagree considering the demanding platforming while duking it out with enemies over pits or group of enemies with certain that can hit hard I'd say it's definitely on the upper scale of the challenge if you don't level up or upgrade especially.

That's really just what my experience has been though.

Not sure how relevant this is to OP, but I don't know where else to ask: What weapon did you choose in starting up Mina? My pick was the hammer, and I stuck with it through the whole game. Packs a mighty punch! Turns the game almost into a rhythm game, needing to time when to let go of the hammer charge as an enemy approaches.

For the very brief time I played it, I choose the Nightstar, as it felt more Castlevania accurate lol.

I did want to go for the daggers tho, I usually like the faster weapons, when a game provides me a good dual katana experience it makes me feel so good while playing (looking at you Nioh and Ghost of Yotei).

I might at some point and Shovel Knight was good but it started getting really annoying a few levels in, started to feel like Mega Man.

For me it looks god awful. Like a ghost of miseries past. You can be basic without going back to 8-bit vibes, I don't get it. But I'm old, I don't need to anymore.

Daggers are my best friends !

Although I did some extensive use of the Blaster and used the Coffin shield against one of the bosses.

I don't see myself using the Nightstar or the Hammer really

The game has now sold over 500K copies, still strong on its way to reach 1M.

I've been playing it the last few days, and I'm loving it, it has a lot of content and so many secrets everywhere, the game design and attention to detail is superb.

It it honestly so good. It starts really hard but it offers a lot of items that make the game more managable aside from the level ups, and in a few hours you are likely to be having a way easier time being more in control of things.

It has many inspirations like Metroidvania and Soulslike, but by far the biggest one is Link's Awakening (and a level up system like Zelda II), Link's Awakening DX is my favorite Zelda game and one of my favorite 2D games of all time.

I haven't finished it yet but now I can easily recommend it myself as well, it is another gem of a game like Shovel Knight also is. I really think it deserves to be enjoyed by many of you.

Edit: just beat it and got 100% clear!

It is on my Steam wishlist. It looks fun, but I have too many games to play as it is. So will wait to pick it up when it is on sale.