The battles were already very challenging in the first game – that keeps me awake.
The animations look great again, and I'm happy to find many of the elements from the first game.

I find the "Normal" mode quite challenging, but I would like it if the enemies who lose their health to Hoops' attacks regenerated much more slowly. It's exhausting when you die, but when you come back and the enemy has full health, I find it too difficult.

skill issue?

Thanks for your answer, @karmicaura!

I think the abilities are well-designed, too. It's just tiring for me when I come back from death, my armor is gone, my arrows and medicine are used up (that is all ok), and the enemy is back to full health (that feels a little unfair for me). It often annoys me, but I either come back stronger or just leave it.

I would like it if enemies regenerated their health more slowly, maybe only when they're asleep or something.

i would suggest, if you haven't already, focus on Smithing, upgrade your armour and weapons, it could help keep you alive 

The normal mode shouldn't be made easier. With acorn armor and either the second spear you can craft or the sword you can kill anything up to ORC orbweaver or the adult northern scorpion. Obviously, you cannot meat shield them. Either parry or dodge (or have the heavy shield for block). Req.: Have at least level 2 on weapons. Having levels on armor makes you less quishy.

I haven't fought caterpillar, bombardier or stinkbug yet.

Thank you for your answers, @Raven Scar and @szudri!

Yes, I think the difficulty is good. I just find the enemy recovery time a bit unfair sometimes. I'm thinking of titles like "She Will Punish Them": If my base is invaded by a hundred enemies and I die, my achievements remain, and when I come back, I don't have to start over like in "The Evil Within" or something. Death is punishment enough for me. Very often, I die at the beginning, and the enemy only needed one more hit—so close, so often, eheheh.