(above image by https://twitter.com/lizardcube)
the obvious answer, as usual would be "make it a metroidvania" but that might erode the foundation too much
maybe a hub from which you can play sequences of stages, each about 6 main stages long, 1/8 the original
forms are unlocked gradually through the game but you can go back to previous sequences once you have more characters
not sure if each sequence should be played through on one character or changes are allowed halfway; probably the latter
Kid
- Give the Kid a skateboard
- The promise of the 90s was that we would all learn to do sick ollies
- that way the main paths can be smoother on the whole, with almost sonic-like ramps and curves, which is important for Skycutter later


Iron Knight
- the first transformation you get and sadly it's absolute garbage because it's so slow
- Make him faster but have to commit to movements, yes like dark souls
- Give the poor knight a sword
- Climbing can stay: zelda has climbing knights now


Red Stealth
- the most common transformation, great leaper but very unexciting come on we can do better
- give that sword some range, at least on the ground
- give him some air moves, eight-directional zwee fighting
- samurai and ninja are basically the same thing right


Berzerker
- Lowest vertical and highest horizontal jump
- Headbutt most powerful attack in game; let him run sonic-style, add timing element to hit for massive damage
- can break and push blocks, let him carry a block with him as a Prototype-style (anyone remember Prototype) shield or stool


Maniaxe
- wow the 90s were really into Friday the 13th huh? anyway
- one of only 2 forms with ranged attacks, terrible movement
- maybe make the attack arc to discourage a total turtling playstyle
- original could gain lives as a superpower: regeneration ability?


Juggernaut
- OK we have to make his ridiculous 3x1 hitbox work no other platformer has this
- firing bouncing skulls is ridiculously overpowered; restrict to limited situations, replace with yoshi island style banking shot?
- no way around it this time; he's a durdling sniper


Micromax
- The most common of the super-mobile characters
- Extremely versatile; possibly make him frailer as a speedrun challenge
- make him not be able to damage enemies at all; dodge or die
- Basically a Meat Boy that can single-wall-jump and glide
- hollow knight?
Eyeclops
- basically terrible; "reveal hidden blocks" is not a superpower unless it's really hard for other costumes to reveal them
- let him create blocks where he needs them
- maybe can "read" a block and then copy it over and over?
- beam can blockify enemies temporarily, special enemies = special blocks


Skycutter
- This is why we wanted to do layouts more sonic-like
- can't just flip upside down but can run up walls and on ceiling as long as there's some slope
- some way to bypass enemies without just killing them (that's Berserker's purview)
- surf's up


Cyclone
- The rarest helmet in the game and probably most overpowered
- How to balance unlimited, (mostly) controllable flight? maybe we shouldn't
- Make him more fun to use in open areas other than presspresspress
- Needs to go around enemies but can't hide like Micromax


Enemies
- Keep the weird mix of robots, african/mesoamerican legendary beasts and grody stone creatures
- Make enemy encounters a challenge for the battle classes


