Emoji Scream, a game in which you scream a lot (Demo)

[MommysBestGames]

Are you tired of all the crap gone wrong in 2016?
Well now you can scream about it in Emoji Scream!
I'd love your feedback on it!
(This game requires a microphone to play as you will actually be making sound to control the game.)

Windows and Mac versions:
https://mommysbestgames.itch.io/emoji-scream
You play as Smiley, how is screaming at all the rage-inducing things in this world like: crass consumerism, Wall Street bail-outs, social media, selfies, and more.

When you scream, you stop moving, and you shoot. When you are quiet, the player moves up/down automatically.
To dodge big environmental obstacles, hold a long scream/hum/whistle sound.

Score system work as follows: don't scream, and a 1x, 2x, then 3x coin multiplier builds. Hit an enemy with the next shot, and you get extra coins. Grab the coins for extra points!

There are 5 levels currently.
There are boss fights, in which you "Scream Duel" with the boss.

[MommysBestGames]

I've had some other playtesters, not hard-core shmup players, say that they think the game is too hard, and because of the physical exhaustion of yelling (depending on the ambient noise) that there should be an option for "play furthest level".
So if you beat level 1, you can start from level 2.
There's 5 levels currently (plans for possibly 6, and 7).
The game is not very long when you play it through.

How would this system work? Should I do a "practice mode"? So you can play a single level once you've beaten level 1, a new selection opens? So you can start at level 2 if you get there? But then to play level-to-level, you have to start from level 1? And if they beat a practice level, does it open the next level in practice mode? Any other games for reference on this layout?

I guess I could have levels on buttons (like each level gets a button) and if you beat a level, it completes it, kicks you back to the main menu, then unlocks the next button.
But all the while there's the "play" button which plays from the start each time for the proper high score and let's you play level to level, to see the ending.
Hmm.. tell me what you guys think, thanks.

[BulletMagnet]

I guess I could have levels on buttons (like each level gets a button) and if you beat a level, it completes it, kicks you back to the main menu, then unlocks the next button.
But all the while there's the "play" button which plays from the start each time for the proper high score and let's you play level to level, to see the ending.

Something like this is probably the way to go, though methinks how you label/lay out everything would end up being important to the kind of impression the player gets from the setup, i.e. do you call the full run "Main Game" or "Arcade Mode" or something like that, while the individual levels are "Stage Attack", or would "Play Level" be the highlighted option with "Marathon Mode" as the "bonus" off to the side?

(I do plan to try this btw, hopefully sometime this weekend!)

[MommysBestGames]

I've been thinking "Play All" on one side, and "Stage Select" with "Stage 1", "Stage 2", etc on the left, unlocking as you beat them.
Though I like "Arcade Mode" as you said.

[MommysBestGames]

I'm planning on releasing this in in the next day or two, so any feedback now would be great.
I've updated the build above, and added a Mac build.
I know the turn-around time is quick, but I'd like to get the game out this week--before Christmas makes everything crazy.