Killing Mom's heart, dying on Mega Satan = no win?

[Tricuul]

Just so I understand this correctly. I had an epic run with Judas on the D4 - had a build that easily could have cleared the chest on hard. I had the key complete and decided to try for Mega Satan. Piercing homing megasized tears with splash and parasite. It was pretty glorious.

Got to the second black angel incarnation and then died. I go back to the menu screen to start a run. I have zero credit for beating the cathedral on hard for Judas. Is this a penalty for fighting Mega Satan? If you lose to him, you lose everything?

[Conga Lyne]

I see someone never lost a game before ( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)

[Tricuul]

Neither of those comments make sense. Anyone actually know enough to determine whether this is a bug?

I have beaten it lives and beaten the cathedral on hard. I have entered the chest and did not beat Mega Satan.

Back at the main menu, I go to Judas (who I was playing with) and I see a red outlined heart, a red outlined upside cross and a plain right side up cross which I already had before playing on hard.

After beating isaac with Judas on hard, I should have a red outlined cross, right? What I am asking is why this didn't happen - e.g. if you lose to Mega Satan, does it take away your other progress?

I hope that makes it clear to folks who might assume I haven't played the game much.

[SeanTanamoBae]

What the others are alluding to, is that a run only counts as complete/saves if you get to a cutscene. By choosing to fight Mega Satan (or any other extra boss/route) you risk losing all your progress on that run. So choose wisely before engaging an extra boss or pursuing an extra floor. It is not a bug as far as I'm aware.

[racknae]

Are you sure you didn't pick up a reviving item like the Ankh?

[Tricuul]

I have already gotten all the cutscenes except end16. If I had the Ankh I would probably not have just died right away. I am guessing it is possible I accidentally selected Normal while picking a character. It was strange to me that beating It Lives on hard with Judas didn't unlock anyting new (it should have). I'll chalk it up to user error.

I was asking if there is something special about failing that attempt of megasatan that prevents you from getting credit for beating it lives on hard. I have already beaten it lives, isaac, satan, and blue baby on normal with all the regular characters - just trying to get the 'hard' extras since hard isn't really all that different than normal to me.

I don't care if it is a bug or a feature, I just wanted to know so that I can decide whether I want to tackle the chest/darkroom first or dive into megasatan again if the health and build makes a win look plausible.