I don't know about PERFECTLY balanced, but it's undeniable that there was a lot of work done in balancing. I have to agree with Karrde though, it took me about 10 minutes to figure out that I had to ascend in a safe place. Just be smart about it, there are enough nooks and out of the way places in every map to ascend safely. This, in my mind, goes under the same argument as people who want to use beam weapons without fear of getting meleed. Personally, I don't think this mod has to be exactly the same as the anime. I don't want to fight the same battle for 14 episodes. And there's no way in hell I'm going to stand stupifyed as someone charges a super attack or ascends to a higher level. But then I don't like getting my ass beat, maybe that's just me.