Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is one of the most intriguing rogue-lite games. As the name suggests, it’s a roguelike in which you have to fix different ships that decide to stop over at your workstation.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop was developed by Beard Envy, a UK-based publisher. At the same time, they do not have many games under their name; one game that stood out was a puzzle game called Filament, which they developed and released on 23 April 2023. A little more description about the developers: they are a three-man army, as they did it for fun.
The developers decided to try a living out of this; during their first game’s release, Kasedo Games, another indie game developer, chose to fund their first game, Filament, and as the reviews were alright. In the developer’s words, “Some people even liked it”. They decided to publish another game on platforms such as PlayStation 5, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox series X/S, also making the game available on the Steam platform.
My expectations for this game were very high, and to my surprise, it matched every bit of my expectations; first of all, Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop might seem like it’s one of those typical puzzle-solving games; well, it is, but there is so much more to it. The game greeted me with a shortcut scene, which made me curious and was a great way to hook me into the game.
As I started playing, the game had amazing graphics with a touch of very detailed art style and great puzzle-solving mechanics. As someone who didn’t play many puzzle-solving games, I could see a lot of inspiration taken from titles like Dorfromantik and A Little To The Left. I was immediately engrossed when I stepped into Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop has two modes: Frantic Fixing for players who work great under time pressure and Focused Fixing for players who don’t like time pressure. You will enjoy the same gameplay no matter which mode you choose.
Wilbur, a multi-eyed, bipedal, heavily tattooed fox with a quirky walk cycle, is introduced to us. Wilbur is now forced to work at the titular garage and is at the mercy of Uncle Chop, who frequently appears in front of you as a gigantic hologram. Uncle Chop will not accept IOUs, and rent is required every three days.
In the adjoining greasy spoon cafe, which belongs to an equally greasy fowl-mouthed fry-cook, the strange Rick & Morty-like aliens eat while repairing various spacecraft. They’re teaching you the ropes and are your sole trustworthy friend in this cosmic waste. More importantly, they can revive you. This is related to Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop’s plot, which revolves around death, time loops, and discovering one’s destiny.
What I experienced while playing Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop was the manual given to you is everything. Try to consume all of the manual’s instructions that are given; the tab can be bought up anytime. Also, a thing I must add is that the instructions are very clear and neatly written.
Before moving on to more complex operations like recalibrating star charts and turning off security systems, the handbook demonstrates how to perform basic activities like changing the oil and refilling fuel cells, which are the kinds of jobs you’ll typically see when you first start off.
With so many intricate diagrams, the instructions can be intimidating at first. You’ll be repairing VR headsets and gaming consoles on some ships’ entertainment decks, where you can play quick mini-games to help identify malfunctioning controllers, among other things.
Simple jobs took me around two minutes, which involved buying replacement parts or using the fluid dispenser filled with coffee, oil, cleansers, and… blood. In order to remove items correctly and occasionally open panels to access the electrics, you will need to utilize tools to tighten and loosen screws. Because inventory space is limited, you’ll also need to manage stuff here.
Sometimes, there are several problems and other times, the solution is as easy as changing a lightbulb. Cracking a code to reset security systems can be difficult, and it can be expensive to leave screws undone or complete a task incorrectly. It can also be overwhelming when something new is introduced, which causes me to consult the handbook as the customer gets angrier.
After a while, I became rather good at fixing Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop’s more fundamental issues, which is par for the course in roguelikes. As an example, I was aware that a new heat sink was required for an oil pump if the pressure release did not escape. Regarding that, if you’re patient enough, the game does reward diligent repetition.
Improvements to your station, such as electric tools, remain in your inventory between runs, and you can even save some things for later use. My first rent payment of $280 was finally possible after seven runs.
My second rent payment of $870 was late because I forgot about it, but my second rent payment of $280 was paid after the first day. To rephrase, I was getting better, but I got bored with Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop due to its tedious activities, lengthy directions, and unpleasant controller input problems.
To wit: I’ve inadvertently purchased a costly upgrade on multiple occasions due to the proximity of interacting objects, which caused my run to derail. Frustrated, I could do nothing except bury my face in my hands, pick myself up, and try again to make rent.
Unfortunately, the majority of the game’s problems go much beyond the occasionally erratic controls. Small errors can ruin a decent half-hour of gameplay, so this is not a forgiving experience. After working at Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop for almost a week, I successfully passed the first rent payment milestone on my third evening there. I learned from my blunders and took in the handbook at that time.
There is a steep learning curve since even with a new system in place, fast and profitable runs can go wrong, and the third day always brings significant difficulty. Furthermore, it is a bit of a swizz to have to purchase numerous new parts for a low-paying job when you have no idea what you’re getting into.
Also, be wary of the seemingly useful permanent enhancements. I chose longer days as my initial improvement, but I quickly realized that every 30-second extension was quite expensive and would be hard to recoup. But when I did begin to unlock new milestones, it was really satisfying, and as the game progresses, more and more features become available, which keeps things interesting.
As for the graphics, I really loved the quirky art style with good graphics, the pleasing aesthetic nature of the game, the unique story-telling, and the animation, which looked very similar to Cartoon Network’s art style. It took me back to my childhood, as I grew up watching CN.
The sound also plays a big role in Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop. Without even realizing it, the sound mechanics are soothing and comfortable, which was also a big factor in how I finished so many challenges.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is as peculiar as the aliens Wilbur serves. Although it exemplifies inventiveness and is wonderfully twisted, it may not be suitable for all tastes. Using a handbook to solve spacecraft while working late into the night isn’t exactly a relaxing experience; more accurately, it’s more like frantically correcting things while making mistakes that you’ll learn from and crossing your fingers that nothing else unexpected happens before the next milestone.
This game isn’t for you if you prefer to play at a leisurely pace and unwind while playing. Nevertheless, this is something to think about if you enjoy a complex, demanding, and ultimately gratifying experience and you thrive when you’re under pressure. Certainly, this will be an experience that will stay with me for a long time.
It is with confidence that I declare Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop to be the rogue most suited to mechanical engineers and NASA astronauts. This is not the game for you if, on the other hand, you arrive home from a long day at the office hoping to relax with some mindless gaming. It combines a roguelike game with the pleasures of putting together IKEA furniture, which even this task-oriented rule follower found to be lacking.
Strangely, it manages to be Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop, which it sets out to be in most respects, but it’s too much of a grind to be fun regularly. No biggie; I was under the impression that this was a roguelike tailored to people with a golden disposition like myself. There is, however, a very small subset of gamers for whom this will be perfect.
