Ye, or nay -- can a player backtrack to a previous room visited, or are dungeons simply linear?

I don't see a point to backtrack unless we have things like keys, etc., that the player collects and has to return to a previous location. That might be cool feeling, so long as what must be done is quite clear to the player.

Main player abilities has some issues/considerations:

• 1. Reverse seems fine. Should this be the same ability that is used to reverse degradation of levers, torches, etc?
• 2. Current Deflect feels awkward, since it applies on the player with a mouseclick. Perhaps there should be:
  • a. Player-relative deflect shield, that simply deflects at an angle from the player's center to the projectile. Probably activated by 'space' or something.
  • b. A hand-relative deflect shield, that deflects in the last calculated angular direction based on the mouse's movement. Right-click.

on hovering over reverse-able actor

Leading ideas are:

• 1-bit sprites
• same color projectiles can interact with wall buttons, etc.
• can reflect enemy projectiles via mouseclick
• can deflect enemy projectiles (aimed reflect) via hold alt fire (channeled)
• Link to the Past style -- puzzle dungeons
• Overworld map that goes to dungeons
• Potentially multiple "layers" to a room, with interesting stacking rendering thereof

This issue provides some puzzling about puzzles.

On entering a new map, there is a safe zone where you can see the room before it activates fully. Turrets will fire, but they cannot target the player. Once stepping through a PHASE GATE or whatever, the room becomes entirely active and the way behind you is blocked (make sure not to squish the player or get them stuck).