Played 215 - Deaths 215
I find I perform better if I come to it with a clear head and play once in a row, and I can normally get to the third world fairly easily, if I think about everything I do reasonably with the experience I do have.
I still lose my bottle quite often on the third world, and normally die on the second or so level trying to avoid UFO fire and getting batted in to oblivion by a yeti.
I am completely clueless as to how to approach the fourth world, and have only really seen the top few rows of the the first level. Got there about three times now I think.
The interesting thing is that the more I play the more incapable I become of doing sensible things as frustration builds.
For instance on several (i.e 4 or 5) occasions now, I have played out the following scene:
I walk under an arrow trap in the first world, say with a clay pot in my hand.
Spelunky man thinks, that arrow trap better get activated, so it doesnt get me. Of course, it is directly above me, so the correct method of trap avoidance is simply not to jump.
As I fling my pot up in the air, the arrow sets off on its course. Now it is usually at this point that I realise there is a wall about 5 tiles away. In the fraction of a second my brain sees the parabolic projection of the arrows eventual rebounded destination, I panic, and before I have time to move, Mr Spelunky is sat on his arse nursing an arrow in his head.
This leads to me running faster to get to the end quicker, and before I know it I have fallen on to a spike. This circle of pain continues for another 6 or so deaths as I realise that I am getting less and less far with every play as my appetite for risk increases exponentially.
I just see my brain get muddied, my decision making abilities completely compromised, and lots of little corpses!
My prediction is that I will complete this game on somewhere hopefully before 500 deaths, but I am not holding my breath and I suppose I will enjoy it even if I don't get anywhere near.
The balance between gradual progress and the carpet being well and truly ripped from under your feet is top class.