Video Game Lives/WMG

Every life represents an Alternate Universe.
Every time you die, that universe lost its hero. It's only the last hero, the one who beat the final boss and got the final credits, who succeeded in his own Alternate Timeline. Tens or hundreds of other universes The Bad Guy Wins. Villains such as Bowser, Dr. Wily, and especially Red Falcon won in more universes than they lost.