Does the platforming/combat side need something else?

[x4000]

Well, we had the big health meter thing in Valley 1, and I didn't feel like that was particularly more visible.  Metroid and so forth make out really well with just a number system for health, so I figure that works here also.  Zelda has the hearts system, but is also slower-paced.

[Penumbra]

I would argue that Metroid had the little life blocks, which were effectively the hearts from Zelda. Before you got the first life tank, yes, you had only a number. It was just as annoying 

[x4000]

Hahaha.  Fair enough.

[Nanashi]

I'd like to reiterate because I'm concerned: Being overpowered is not inherently a bad thing. Being overpowered is negative when it leads to uninteresting gameplay.

There's a difference between making a game and making an aptitude test. The purpose of a game is to be entertaining, not to act as a metric for personal worth. I dislike it when game designers go "You must play ze game ze vay ve tell you to and YOU VILL ENJOY IT." rather than when game designers go "Here's the keys to the car, have a good time".

[x4000]

Yes, I'm well aware of that, though I'm not sure what you're bringing that up in response to.  I prefer to play on a comfortable difficulty myself, to be honest.  That's why we always have difficulty levels that range from "completely easy" to "almost impossibly hard."  That way people get an aptitude test if they want, or they get not only the keys but also unlimited get out of jail free cards.

[Nanashi]

It wasn't in response to you, I'm just nitpicking on the "It would be overpowered" replies people use to shut down an avenue of consideration. That alone isn't a good argument - "It might lead to sniping" is more of a valid argument, but although that's definitely true in Valley 1, it doesn't necessarily hold up in Valley 2 due to the calibre system, for example.

That doesn't mean he's WRONG that it would be a bad idea, I think it just needs to be actually tried before being shot down. Empirically.

[x4000]

Gotcha.