I'd like it if it was a little less random and there was more of a reward than just score increase for levelling up. I don't care about my score, I want things that'll help me win. Also, running out of lifespan before reaching even the first shrine is way too random.
For some reason, level 5 isn't giving me a cart...there's just a set of wheels and no cart, so he gets stuck in the hole at the end with no way of getting around it. O_o
Cheers!! :)