Bloodstained: details that matters A LOT

Pure Miriam Let's hope you're right.

In that aspect, Order of Ecclesia was very challenging (and I felt that Shanoa was quite squishy). It was a difficulty level many enjoyed, nonetheless.
I felt many times it ended being a survival game set in a Castlevania world.

In CSOTN, I never used potions. I relied on trying my best to not get hit at all, plus you needed jewels or money bags to buy what you needed (and I only aimed for the obligatory items like the Jewel of Open or Castle Map) some equips to gain advantage, such as accessories and cloaks and of course the Duplicator. I only bought the other pieces of equipment for my collection when I needed nothing else.
Using food was awkward too (Ticket meal? Drop food on the floor and walk to it?* Really?), so I didn't use them either.
Then there was this hidden trick. Overusing it meant a zero challenge game.

In Portrait of Ruin, Vincent was selling potions. That said, Jonathan and Charlotte were the squishy duo too.
Wasn't the cap at 9 for items there? I felt overwhelmed by some bosses in there too (yet way less than in OoE)
99 would totally kill the game too.
The only moment of overkill healing was that Skull Bartender. You still had to know what to expect and do to not die from his "attacks", though. He  was at a very specific room anyway.**

Overall, healing self is indeed tricky in the Castlevania series, far from the convenience found in Final Fantasy games.

If the cap of potions is maintained at 99, I picture people like Astaroth and @goobsausage trying to max it out (hey to you two!). Frankly, I wouldn't do that. Maybe Nightmare mode would be more manageable... but then it wouldn't be a nightmare, just some disturbing little dream (I just hope I will be able to handle that mode a little).

And yes, the demo was pretty lenient in handing recovery items. You wouldn't even need them if you control Miriam correctly.
Of course it shouldn't be that easy in the final version.


*Then there were peanuts. Cool but totally ineffective during battle. Total madness.
**"This one's for YOU!". You'd smack him and he'd slide all the way then crash on the floor. Good fun times.

Considering you can't get more than one of certain weapons, yea... no point in 99ing weapons.

item limit
those who love challenge can limit themselves from using items, no point put a limit on that. I almost never use item in aria of sorrow and Order Of Ecclesia but I don't like my ability to collect 99 of each items to be taken away

exp degradation
grind is a play style, why blocking a play style? Those who don't like grinding can forget about grinding and let those who like to grind. Again, my soma is level 99 in aria of sorrow and 200+ in Order of Ecclesia.

to be honest, game is about fun and i find these limitations no fun at all and they are insult to the original series. Harder doesn't mean more fun, a good game should not be judged by difficulty alone.