"When you mean the "level is a step back from last demo day", do mean the overall design?"
I suppose. The level feels very linear (switch unlocks door, go in door to get key, use key to go to the water, press switch in water to reach portal).
Last demo day I think I played through the level twice just to go on a secret hunt. It was much smaller and the main path was less interesting, but the whole level was fairly consistent and the secrets added an extra layer of interactivity.
EDIT: Just watched someone else play through and turns out there were secrets. I wasn't expecting you'd need to shoot stuff, just bump into it like Doom.