This should probably be considered a bug. While the reactor is paused, you can manually vent heat and sell power. Selling power isn't a big deal, but being able to pause after a single tic, vent all heat, unpause, and repeat probably isn't an intended gameplay mechanic.
The maze would have been fine if there was a map, or if the point of perception stayed the same. With your point of view changing it becomes hard to keep track of which way you are going.
It is possible to beat the game with 27 lives left. I lost a single life in 1-3, 1-4, and 3-3. In 2-2 it is possible to jump off the wall to get the first key and get out of the pit quick enough, though it is a pain getting the angles correct. In 3-2, ignore the key in the lava, instead jump up from the right side of the platform with the spikes, and push the block slightly left.
 "Reactor Incremental"){kind=icon}
 "Bubbles 2"){kind=icon}
 "Protector IV"){kind=icon}
 "Enigmata 2: Genu's Revenge"){kind=icon}
 "A Knight's Story 2"){kind=icon}
 "Cyber Recession Warrior: Edgar"){kind=icon}
 "Reincarnation: Riley's Out Again"){kind=icon}
 "Orbital Decay"){kind=icon}
 "SeppuKuties"){kind=icon}