Power level is a short, simple, and sweet game. You can hop in and beat the game in 15 minutes, and sometimes it's just really refreshing to play a quick game like that. I don't always need or want tons of backstory and dialogue. Sometimes I just wanna hop in, kill some monsters, beat a boss, and call it a day. And Power Level did that really well in my opinion.
And as much as I enjoyed it being a short and quick game, I found myself really enjoying myself. So when I beat the game, got all the perks, and saw the "Thanks for Playing" screen one last time, I was sad. Because I really wanted to just load into a new level, with a new aesthetic, new perks, and a new boss. But, I didn't - because then it wouldn't be Power Level. But, if that doesn't tell you I enjoyed the game then I don't know what will.
I like the idea of the perk system. It creates progression outside of just beating the floor and the boss, and it even goes to help you progress in those aspects. Unfortunately it feels pointless and unbalanced. Ultimately, in my experience, there is only one perk that really matters and that is the health potion. You can buy only into that and you'll be able to beat the game without a second thought, because the health potion is that strong. You could be on half a heart of life left, drink the potion and be at full health again. If you buy that perk twice, you get 2 potions. That's basically like 2 additional lives, that is insane. And because of that you can just face tank the boss. You can ignore mechanics, stand in everything, and get hit. The other perks are dwarfed by the health potion despite being more enjoyable at their core - giving you longer time in the dungeon, more experience per kill, and a map of the dungeon.
I enjoyed the boss, I liked the mechanics and I found it to be a fun and enjoyable fight. But, I also thought the boss was a bit weak. On my first run of the game, I got to level 7 and I managed to get the boss down to around 25% health. If I had played the fight better, prioritized standing out of attacks I probably could've beaten the game right then and there. And that would've meant I never interacted with the perk system. And on my second play through it became easy. Which is what the perks are meant to do right? You buy perks, your life becomes easier in the dungeon. But, that wasn't how it felt. Going up against the boss with 2 extra levels and a health potion made the boss fight too easy. Like my victory was handed to me on a platter.
Skills felt... blah. I mean, I liked sprint, but sprint at its core is just moving faster. Most games have a sprint button, so having sprint as a skill feels like a waste when it should've just been baked in. Slam on the other hand felt useless to me. I used it on some boxes, I tried to use it on enemies, but overall it felt pointless to use. It felt easier and better to just attack regularly than use a skill with a long cooldown that felt bad.
Does Power Level scratch the itch? Yeah. Despite my criticisms, I think Power Level is a game everyone should check out. For 10-15 minutes of your day you can have a quick and enjoyable experience. I really wanted more when I beat the game, and I'm sad there isn't more. But, I only feel that way because I really enjoyed myself. So definitely check it out, you're already at the product page. Hit that download button and enjoy! :)