>>11880535
Yes it is a maze, but on top of that each room is a puzzle room that either demands great timing, good jumps, or using each of your Ninja's abilities to go through (there are 5 different Ninjas in this game and each with different weapons and abilities, mega man style)

Anyway I just beat the game. I still have no idea how to go through the room with rising water that kills you if you touch it but I managed to find a path through the maze that skips this room. Great game, I hope 2 is just as good.