You might want lots of flying cards or use the «deadly» ability for instant kills. (thatvideogameblog.com)
The game is loaded with instant kill death blocks, enemies that can knock you into pits or said blocks, and crumbling platforms. (nintendoenthusiast.com)
Furthermore, the difficulty is entirely a product of frustrating instant kills from bosses you can't reliably predict the pattern of, or poor layout in the levels. (thisisxbox.com)