This game doesn't like you. And that's great.

You need to develop nerves of steel to be able to beat this one, not because the game sucks and requires patience to put up with, but because if you can't remain stoic under the worst circumstances, the consequences of the smallest misstep can lead to your doom.

But hey, I think that's what best encapsulates that feeling in spelunking movies where the tension is at its highest, when the protagonist needs to swap that golden idol with a similarly weighing item because otherwise it will trigger a trap. Except in Spelunky, that is a constant. No time is spent without careful planning, but don't just ♥♥♥♥ around because then you'll find out: YOU'RE TAKING TOO LONG.

Seriously, I just beat this game for the first time in 40-something hours, and I've enjoyed every single second of it, moments of horror and tragedy included. You'll know when you start to get good at the game, it's that point where you can consistently take down the second level's boss, Olmec. AKA Super Mario Bros 3 Bowser But Longer. Then it's all smooth sailing (for the most part) until you get to the final regular sublevel. NeoBab will show you that...

This game doesn't like you, but you can learn to love it. And that's amazing.

Happy Spelunking!

This is the greatest game ever made

GOOD