At it's core this game is a mind control game.
Although not as hard as some people into mind control have stated.
If the game prompts you to use a power, you have to.
Sometimes you're given other options, but it's rare.
Also Shatter isn't used that much, it isn't intended to be used that much either.
I reckon that lore-wise, some of the stories would work without the use of powers. But they would also take a lot longer and would be a really slow burn.
People get impatient.