Grind for game exploit spells as you level up. I can see The Wizard Ran's influence in this. Though I don't think he ground his way so much as exploited his way to mystic exploitation. On a side note, Colonel Sanders was a fan of exploitation films. I wonder what he would've made of "I'm Gonna Get You Sucka!"
The coffee grounds bit wasn't lost on me, either.
Was this inspired by Cuphead? I'm old enough to remember when this would make the Homies say "HO!" and the Girlies want to scream. But I'm also old enough to remember when Crystal Castles came out, which was the first isometric game I ever saw, or played. I sucked like a two dollar whore, but at least I had fun. My arcade skills were not the greatest when I was a wee thing. Nor did I really excel at anything back then. Thank you for reminding me I sucked like a two dollar whore in my younger days, which sounds far worse out loud than it did in my head. As I had intended. In fact, even more so! Success, at last!!!