Computer Repair Shop Review: Notorious Repairs

Have you ever thought about starting your own computer repair shop? Not sure if your current technical knowledge is enough? If you answered yes to both questions, Computer Repair Shop is the game for you. At least it tries to be, putting you as a business owner who steps into the world of computer repairs for the first time. Customers have a variety of computer problems that only you can repair.

You learn some simple basics in computer repair while automating other tasks. Handling increasingly difficult requests is a good challenge and it’s fun for a while. Unfortunately the fun quickly evaporates when the tasks become repetitive. The other included activities aren’t interesting enough to maintain your interest, and it’s not an easy game to play. Computer Repair Shop could be a decent game but there’s a lot holding it back from its full potential.

Computer Repair Shop is available on Steam for 8.49 USD.

Story – Owning Your Own Computer Shop

Similar to other simulators such as Cruise Ship Manager, Computer Repair Shop puts you in the shoes of a nameless business owner. You just started a computer repair shop and are staying at a local hostel. When you arrive at your new store, it’s inhabited by some homeless individuals. Unable to drive them out on your own, you hire the services of a strongman to give you a weapon. The strongman fails to drive them out, though you can use your weapon to do the job yourself.

It’s up to you to fix their problem…or not.

After that, the story progresses however you like. You can create a good reputation for yourself as a legitimate computer repair store that solves problems. It’s also possible to be a jerk and steal money and hardware from customers, cheating them for your own benefit. There are no “consequences” since there isn’t an actual story to pursue and most of the effort is in the gameplay.

It’s also possible to start other businesses or make a name for yourself with other activities, but those aren’t actually stories. Like most simulators, the barebones story is just there as a way to ease you into the gameplay.

Gameplay – Deciding On Your Repairs

Just like Cuisineer, you are free to take your business in whatever direction you want. Computer repair will be your main source of funding and it’s what most of your gameplay revolves around. Customers will bring their problematic computers to you, asking you to fix it. Some customers are aware of the problems but others just want simple repairs, unaware of what’s actually wrong.

Being a legitimate computer repair shop has its advantages, such as a good flow of customers and great reviews. However, it’s also possible to be a shady business owner and start cheating your customers. Send back computers claiming they are repaired, strip them for parts to resell, or hack into bank accounts and drain money. Customers don’t stop coming to you and it’s a great way to make money.

Not everything you can do is legal, but it might be necessary.

If you do take the time to do proper computer repairs, the process has been streamlined. You won’t be physically fixing hardware or writing code. Instead, you have a repair desk that finds faults and fixes them, along with a flash drive with apps. With careful instruction from your tablet, you will navigate your way through legitimate business work and illegal hacking.

The repair work isn’t what actual technicians do, but it’s a good way to ease yourself into the process. You don’t have the same number or type of expenses, but it’s still a business that must be profitable. As new computers arrive with new problems, you grow as a technician and learn what you can do. Unfortunately, the game lacks two important aspects. It has poor explanations and doesn’t have a method to stop the repetitiveness from sinking in.

Explanations – It’s All On You

While handholding during tutorials may feel restrictive, there’s a lot of information that isn’t explained to you. For example, it’s easy to miss out on the repair service within your own office because it isn’t made obvious. You might constantly buy computer parts to replace faulty ones, unaware that you can repair them for free. This can bankrupt you quickly or cut into your profit margins.

It’s also not obvious that your business can get robbed or encounter trouble. Until a theft actually happens, there’s no indication that theft was ever an obstacle. Hiring employees to prevent theft is possible, but you might think it’s redundant. There’s too much that isn’t told to you that can hamper your gameplay.

You either learn on the job or don’t learn at all.

This is different from learning-on-the-job or trial-by-fire gameplay, where you adapt to events and learn from your mistakes. In Computer Repair Shop, it’s easy to miss out on something as easy as cardboard recycling because it’s too dark to see what’s available. Not everything can be interacted with and it’s easy to assume something is just mere decoration. Without better explanations, it’s easy to wonder why you would invest or purchase something.

Repetition – Few Reprieves

It’s also easy to get bored of constant computer repairs, even if you do try something nefarious. There are few consequences to being a good or bad business owner and you never run out of customers. Even the side activities such as robot battling are mere distractions. You can interact with other locations and open up another side business, but it doesn’t solve the repetition.

You are low on money in the beginning and will pour most of your time into the business. To interact with other establishments, you need money. If you can’t get past the constant routine of computer repairs/sabotage, the game quickly becomes boring. When you do arrive at the other activities, they aren’t great at easing the boredom either.

This is most of your life, for better or for worse.

Robot battles are simple fights against two created robots that you can’t control. You can only upgrade and repair your robot for money. A VR club helps you relax along with some robots, but it never crosses into anything more than what you already see. None of the activities drive off the boredom for long and there isn’t much to work towards.

Audio & Visual – Incomplete & Emotionless

The visuals in Computer Repair Shop look decent but it’s apparent that not everything is solid. People can pass through walls and objects can suddenly disappear if knocked off a surface. Having your arm phase through a cabinet is a common occurrence and it breaks the simulation immersion.

Audio fares slightly better, with software music and background noise sounding alright. The voices you hear are monotone and robotic, which remind you that you are in a game. They never sound normal and it’s not easy to adapt to it. It’s easier to ignore the voices and just focus on your own activities as soon as possible.

Computer Repair Shop was reviewed on Steam with a code provided by Cheesecake Dev.