what are you using to animate? looks pixelly but fluid.

This is the question of all time probably. What's the secret sauce of gamemaking? I ask myself all the time and I don't know for sure, but as I work on my own game (which has similar aspects to the one you are thinking of making), I find that keeping things simple and encapsulated works best with everything: story, art, mechanics, code, everything. Like I could go off in a million tangents while designing, but keeping things real simple (especially if its your first game), will help you find balance however you make the game. I think if there is balance while creating the game, the experience for the player will feel the same - whether there are collectables and life hearts or it's an abstract sandbox. Hope that wasn't too vague or off topic.

Hey your game looks real fun. Ima check it out on steam when I get home from werk.