Finally continued playing, and started to collect the glowing orbs in some areas. This reminds me a lot of the hunt for shadow insects as Wolf-Link in Twilight Princess.
I kinda like it (although more dungeons would have been more interesting), but the black/white vision with those strong vignettes is really annoying. I feel like I can't see shit.
At times the platforming can get pretty wild. In the sense of I'm not sure if it is really intended the way I'm doing it, because it seems like brute forcing something speedrunner style or so. I'm mainly thinking of collecting the glowing orbs in the Temple Garden and how to get up to the rusty bells there. Weirdly enough, the charms to enhance the platforming are hidden behind those weird passages.
With all those charm upgrades, I feel a bit op for some platforming. I'm also filthy rich and bought everything relevant by now. (i.e. all charms and health upgrades) My mana is maxed out too, and only buying the other robe colors is left for me.
But then I went into the fire area, what was a headache in itself.
I already found the entrance last time I played, but decided to not go there yet. Now after a week long break, I couldn't remember where said entrance was, and with no map I busted my brain and ran around in circles. In the end I needed a guide.
Enemies do a lot more damage and I don't even know how you are supposed to fight that dragon-like worm, shooting fire balls from a distance. He hides, when I come close, and when I'm far away, I can't lock him on to shoot him down with mana? Also turns out, now that I have started a second row of hitpoints, the potions don't heal fully anymore. And the destroyable objects in this area don't seem to drop new potions as much as before.
The final blow to my session was finding the void challange there, Oriane's saw. It's so unfun and feels even unfair in parts.
I hate this in general, when I'm forced to keep moving, while also having to avoid objects with their own pace blocking my way. When the timing is only slightly off, you are already doomed to fail. It feels like RNG in a way. I even got super close to the end with 27 orbs collected. But the last part is just too terrible and long, there should be another checkpoint. I'm sure I had tried on with one there, but not like this. During those parts the wonkyness of the controls comes into play more again on top.