for the last big gap.. hold the right and up arrows then hit the space as you fall in the gap. dont let go of the arrows while you do it. you will go through a bunch of ghosts but will make it eventually.
im not a fan of reversed y-axis controls. a toggle option would help. otherwise- I agree very dull. The "skip" in the tunnel where it shifts radically and you need to shoot through a very small opening between the tunnel segments is unfair at best.
solved two of the boxes. the one by the door where you start has the combination written in code on it. THe key is by the piano. THe second is a picross puzzle with the key written by the door.
my recommendation: turn down the activation field on the mines. This will help make the later levels much easier to navigate. allowing for the possibility of finishing them and not relying on luck so much.
Finaly i get the evolution tree. To evolve something you need to play a HIGHER ranked card from the same tree on it. Plying a lower ranked card on a Higher ranked one doesnt work. So a Young Vampire cannot be played on a vampire serve but the Serve could play on the Young Vampire.
And yes- built cards this way are MUCH more powerful than a base card of a higher level.