Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop on PS5
One of my favourite things in gaming is taking what feels like a simple task and then figuring out a way to optimize or commit that process to rote memory. This initially drew me to Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop from developers Beard Envy and publisher Kasedo Games, and it feels like those puzzle games (Keep Talking and Nobody Explodes, Operation: Tango) where things get down to the wire and you can only pass with learned expertise.
However, those two examples are co-op experiences, and everything is solely on you in Uncle Chop’s. I won’t sugarcoat it: this isn’t an easy game. It starts off that way, but it gets increasingly more challenging as there are more things to handle, and you must watch your finances more closely. This mechanic sim is quite different from any I have ever played.
The story of Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is that you are the new mechanic after the previous one sadly died. However, it’s not a simple job. It turns out you have to pay rent to the titular Uncle Chop, and it’s not always easy to make. The game is a roguelite in the form of a time loop, so any grave mistake or death you suffer returns you to the first period/rent payment. It’s a game that doesn’t accept failure well at all, so be prepared for some repetition.
The game’s main loop is that you take on ship repair jobs during your shift (six minutes at the start, but you can permanently upgrade it to eight pretty early). They are simple jobs in the early days, without any tricky extra issues to trip you up. If you ever need to brush up on ship care, you have access to a special maintenance manual/”grimoire’ that you can consult anytime.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop is a very ‘learn by doing’ game. While the grimoire is very helpful, nothing can substitute the hands-on experience you’ll get. At first, every module outside of refuelling feels overwhelming, but that soon fades, and the game starts to feel great as you become an expert in all sorts of things. Every module also has hidden aspects/parts for more complex jobs; nothing in this game is simple.
From adjusting oil to refuelling to fixing toilets to getting to explore VR areas in first person (not kidding), there are plenty of different modules to keep track of and fix. Failing a job doesn’t mean you don’t get paid; it actually makes for a deficit, and you can quickly go into the red.
At first, the controls (there is no free movement; you’re just moving the cursor between things) were pretty spotty from module to module. For instance, I hated working on Headlights because getting the cursor/hand to highlight the right thing was nearly impossible. In a game all about time management, it was absolutely awful. However, the developers have been great about putting out pre-release patches, and now things are terrific.
There are difficulty options…kind of. It does come down to player preference. The default option keeps the daily limit, offers default job difficulty, and lets you take as many jobs as you want per shift. The other option limits you to three jobs and makes them harder but removes the time limit. While you only get three jobs, the increased difficulty of managing things in Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop adds up to more money once the job is finished correctly. But seeing as I got to the point where I could clear through a refuelling job pretty quickly, I was never interested in the three job limits.
There are also many things that can kill you, which can occasionally get a little frustrating if you’re on a really good run. One of the worst times was a completely random event where a customer killed me, and I had to restart. Fortunately, a version of the Grim Reaper has taken a liking to Wilbur, and he will always be brought back. The best trick I can share is that each day creates a temporary checkpoint, and as long as you don’t die, you can always quit and return for another try.
The game is also incredibly smart in throwing challenges at you and punishing you for seeking loopholes. Every rent day, the game hits you with some big challenge that will very easily drain your money if you slip up. The first time I had enough money for rent, I just clocked in and didn’t do anything. I thought this was a genius plan, but sadly, it still led to my death because I hadn’t done any work at all.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop provides an interesting mechanic simulator and expects you to figure things out as you go. This is the perfect undertaking if you’re a fan of taking things apart to see how they tick and diagnosing issues. The difficulty can be a little offputting, especially when you think you’re doing well, but that’s all part of the job.
Uncle Chop’s Rocket Shop launches on December 6 on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, PC, and Nintendo Switch.
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