I usually prefer the meta-game. If my PC steps left and dies on a land mine, I consider 'but what if he'd stepped to the right?', and I proceed to find out. :shrug:

Fallout 1 plays that way if you wish it (it has no auto-save, and no checkpoints). Sometimes I do play for the sake of seeing how long the PC can survive, and retire them after their first death; when playing like this your play style changes , and the game play is often more intense. This is not a style I'd recommend for a new player.