Power of Ten

Pew Times Three is a brand new game developer that is making its official debut on June 3rd, 2021 with the game Power Of Ten for computers. The title has been in development for over a year, and currently has a playable demo available for curious players. Through this playable demo, players can better understand what the fully-fledged out version of the game will consist of, Power of Ten is an indie-action, roguelite shooter.

The game takes place in space and puts players in a starfighter with the mission to try and save as many civilian lives as possible before they are destroyed by an armada. Aside from that there really isn’t much to know about the story that surrounds the game, but recent roguelite titles have made great strides in proving that the genre can tell compelling stories. In fact, Pew Times Three developer as a brand new developer has the gift of not having any set expectations, and a shroud of mystery surrounding its debut.

The Power of Roguelites

A genre that has risen to popularity “Roguelites” are games that at their core randomly generate levels, create waves of enemies, and all progression is lost if the player dies. Needless to say, this is a very specific niche of players that actually enjoy this style of game, there has been much controversy surrounding the difficulty of these titles since progression can be awfully frustrating. But for those that persist, overcoming the challenges and finishing roguelites is an extremely rewarding experience.

As you try to save lives and fight off the marauder’s armadas that terrorize outer space, you’ll have to find new weapons, gather new resources, perfect and upgrade your starfighter, and even trade with other ships to acquire useful types of equipment to progress on your journey. Respecting tradition, most upgrades or developments are lost once the player dies, but a small number of upgrades are permanent and ease the difficulty in the long haul.

Variety Ten-Fold

Developing a roguelite is no easy job, and it is going to be fun to see how Pew Times Three tackles the fine line between repetitiveness and fun that this genre usually proposes. After all, losing all progress and starting all over again must be a fun endeavor to keep players returning, otherwise, it feels like a chore and not a game.

Nonetheless, at first glance, the game looks like its setting itself up for success offering three regions for players to explore, new mechanics, and characters to interact with is a good start. But, the trading mechanics, resource gathering, special events, and secrets are probably what will ensure exploration feels fresh and unique through every run.

Finally, exploration and freshness can’t keep players returning without good gameplay to back it up. While we can only explore one region at the time, what we have seen through the demo is that the game has simple controls, making players rely on their own reflexes, and pattern recognition to clear levels. On top of that, when released the game will offer multiple unique ships, dozens of unique weapons, upgrades, and items, and a hybrid system that exponentially grows the number of combinations you can experience.

Summary

Roguelites have gained popularity among a very specific niche of gamers that are unafraid of a challenge. Power of Ten has similarities to the recently released Returnal, Hades, Bastion, and Hollow Knight, and is a good opportunity to experience a new roguelite from a new developer. Pew Times Three has a good chance to deliver on an engaging and fun title, as I felt the mixture of exploration and fighting made for a unique experience in the genre.

PROS:

• Big Variety of Weapons/Upgrades
• Interesting New Mechanics
• Charming Visual Design
• Challenging Gameplay

CONS:

• Can Frustrate Casual Players
• Might Feel Repetitive