The earliest parts of the game were definitely the most problematic in this regard (I've already sanded down a bunch of different sections in the first ~1/3rd multiple times.) Being able to depend on the player knowing the limits of the basic movement was important for my design goals in later sections, so passing the first couple obstacles is dependent on having that down. I'd really recommend playing alongside the walkthrough (although it's slightly outdated) and I'll probably continue making minor adjustments if the game continues to pick up traction :)

Huh?

Thank you for your message. There is no reload mechanic; the gameplay structure centers around pressing 'C' to swap weapons.

Ammunition can be obtained by killing enemies then going to their weapon, it is also possible to get it by choosing Ammo after killing a Sheriff Clone.

Here's the strategy I employ: I equip the sword and rapidly spam the dash to reach the Sheriff. After killing him twice, I locate and equip the shotgun. Two direct blasts are sufficient to defeat the Sheriff.

Always keep dashing.

My primary choice is Extra Speed. Make sure to select it using the right-click (Dash) to conserve ammo. If my health is low, I opt for Extra Energy.

However, focusing on Extra Speed is my primary technique.

There are plenty of strategies to employ. That one is just what I personally do.