Am I getting worse as I get better?

So, I finished the game more or less by luck, reaching 60 years old. After that, I decided to restart the levels (with all skills unlocked) to see how much I’d improved over time.

Here’s the thing: I’ve definitely gotten better. I’ve learned tons of new skills, mastered combos, parry and dodge more effectively, coordinate my attacks better… I even spam pushes now, which I never used before. I know way more about the game.

But despite all that, I’m dying way more often. Like, a lot. It’s almost like I can’t control my power. For example, I used to get through Sean and Jafar without losing a life. Now they consistently take a few lives off me.

Has anyone else experienced this? Why does this happen?