What if you took the whole thing and rotated it 90°? The player could have some freedom of movement, but there'd also be steam flows rising from different places across the bottom. The player would ride those streams upward while avoiding hazards on the walls.
Not only would this give it that something that other platformers don't have, but it would make the game even "steemier."
Nice idea, Thank you for your suggestions. Will think about it.