Didn't realise that beta was out till the update as well as having some computer issues lately. That said have really enjoyed the beta.
Improvements.
The whole game feels a lot better the indicators for the smoke bomb radius and throwing range make planning moves easier. The stones on the ground add a nice little extra element for stunning or distracting adding more variety. The dash and fast fall make the flow better and adds more options. The AI particular the Very Hard is brutal and I love it, I have been able to escape sometimes but they are relentless in chasing you. The ranking system and awards are also a nice touch at the end encouraging different approaches and weapon usage.
The blizzard stage and mine cart stage are great variations in the game as well
In regards to the helmets I think you have found the perfect balance the limitations; short jump, slow walk, unable to use items and have to be facing backwards for it to work allow it to be well integrated but slow down the game play so you won't want to use it to much.
Issues.
In Bristling Bamboo it seems if you kill the top guard and drop down and run and wall climb to fast the camera will not follow, this happened both when doing the automatic jumping across and when manually doing it. If you chose to try and restart i.e. in the menu go back to last checkpoint then you appear some way in to the level invisible unable to move but can still get hurt.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =687227925http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =687227946http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =687228030http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =687228049On Farmland Frolic I had an interesting thing happen on very hard as seen in the pictures. After moving back an enemy indicator appeared that semi had the properties of a guard i.e. moving with a vision cone but hovering in mid-air.
http://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/f ... =687227829This can also be a clarification stun bombs are only meant to be temporary right like a few seconds. On some levels I would stun bomb an enemy to run past them. Go past them so they went of screen then come back to avoid other guards and they would still be stunned seeming indefinitely. Maybe on very had you could limit the stun effects time.
I have also noticed when being restarted sometimes level elements would stay the same like touch would be out, coins be missing or enemies would be around the same place they killed me.
As for Saturday I am working till around 4pm AEST sorry for the late reply. I am free on Sunday till 4pm AEST, for Monday it will be the same as Saturday my other day off will be Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.