Paratech2008: I hear the card game part particularly at the end is brutal? Does the game have a steep learning curve? Does the difficulty ramp up quickly? Any advice.?
There is
this steam discussion about it.
There was a 1.2 patch focused on difficulty, which was published after all these posts you've probably read.
Paratech2008: Update 1.2 (16 June 2020)
Improved balance based on players feedback.
The game is pretty linear, maximizing your stance by any possible effort is the way.
Personally I've completed v.1.1 and had more troubles with its optional puzzles than standard fights.
If stuck moment arises, due to its linearity you can just repeat any video walkthrough steps.