ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs Review (PC)

The thing that bewildered me most about ReStory: Chill Electronics Repair was that it made me believe that you could actually break a Nokia. I could forgive the battery-powered flashlight, the hand-me-down radio, and even the Atari. But, what I couldn’t wrap my head around was how someone could possibly find a way to dismantle what was, at least during the early noughties, a seemingly impenetrable device that could make C4 look futile. The broken music player, on the other hand, well, that was to be expected. There’s a reason it all went digital.

Being a son of the 2000s, ReStore: Chill Electronics Repair feels like the perfect homecoming gift. Similar to Trash Goblin, it fits snugly into a low-maintenance pocket of easy-going chore sims that I absolutely love to slip into every once in a blue moon. Yet I can’t help but feel more drawn to ReStore, not because it shines a little brighter beneath the spotlight, but because it builds on an era where every electronic device had a special ingredient of its own. iPhones, for example, didn’t have that same sleek yet forgettable look, and each node and component, while still with their own technical imperfections, had a certain “quality” to them that sadly phased out as time progressed.

If ReStory: Chill Electronics Repair is anything at all, it’s a nod to the evolution of handheld electronics. It is, in essence, a portal to a world where pocket-sized gadgets were once built on creative principles rather than technical innovations. PlayStation Portable, for example, held an enormous stake in the development of technology and gamification. Though, ReStory isn’t one for feeding your brain with information about the devices that paved the way for future generations. As a game, it simply yearns to remind you of the past, and to shed light on the little things that went unnoticed.

As the title proudly implies, ReStory: Chill Electronics Repair is about two things: stories, and universally beloved electronics. As the owner of a quaint repair shop in the bustling streets of Tokyo, you find yourself with the keys to a treasure trove of timely keepsakes, each of which represent the golden age of electronic evolution. Similar to the likes of Assemble With Care, the game invites you to meticulously dismantle, repair and tweak various components of various devices. In this world, however, you have hardware that is a little more fixated on the early 2000s. And by that I mean, old Nokia (or Pokia, sorry) phones, as well as portable music players, home consoles, and Polaroid cameras, to list just a few.

In a true business simulation-like fashion, the game sees you tacking numerous shifts, each bringing their own characters, devices, and technical challenges for you to work through. In the beginning, you open your shutters to a world of possibilities, with as little as a radio, a clock, and a child’s Tamagotchi that is in need of a little TLC. The tools from your pouch come out, and, after learning the basics, you begin to work on fixing it and bringing it back to life, one screw at a time. A checklist pops up, and over a short period of time you wheedle through the tasks, remove clumps of dirt, and install fresh components to give it that extra firepower. The cash rolls in, and with it, a chance to earn more clients, more items, and of course, more opportunities to expand your storefront and develop your reputation.

As there isn’t any pressure on you to perfect the job, ReStory feels like an easy game to slip into and learn on the fly. The repair work, for example, is as cozy as it is simple to grasp, mainly due to the fact that each job hands you a checklist, a series of tools, and an idea of how to fulfill the requirements of the task at hand. If, say, you’re not scrubbing dirt from motherboards, then you’re removing pieces of the puzzle to analyze, replace, and ultimately fix. It isn’t back-breaking work by any means, nor is it the least bit stressful. Simply, the client walks in, tells you their story, and patiently watches on as you solve their problem.

In addition to its simple yet elegantly crafted mini-game system and time-appropriate devices, ReStory also features a host of characters from all walks of life who each have a unique story to share. If, say, you’re not mending an old pocket monster for a child, then you’re tweaking the motherboard of a music player for an enthusiastic neighbor. The point is, unlike your bog-standard business simulation game in which you would generally treat each client as a means to an end, every person you meet in ReStory has something to offer, be it a glimpse into a past event, a problem that requires a meticulous investigation, or a quick fix that requires a swift response in order to prevent a nervous denizen from missing their bus.

Alongside its general upgrades, in-game catalog and trove of repair jobs, ReStory comes through with a pleasant gameplay style that is as equally engaging as it is satisfying to sit with. With some beautiful visuals and an intuitively detailed presentation of each piece to hand, the game itself is an absolute delight to sift through, especially as a noughties-bred player who, in all probability, once devoted years to a Nokia brick.

All in all it feels as if there is an easy recommendation here. Regardless of whether or not you enjoy the post-nineties era or grew up with bulky handhelds, the fact is, ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs is an excellent simulation game that gets a lot of things right. True to its word, it delivers a cozy, comfortable, and visually pleasing experience that, as bittersweet as it is, makes you realize how perfect the noughties were, warts and all.

Verdict

ReStory: Chill Electronics Repairs delivers on its promise to provide a visually striking shopkeeping game that blends technological innovation with a handful of meticulously crafted stories and cozy world-building elements that share all of the lovable qualities of an ideal homecoming treat. With a trove of time-appropriate devices, an intuitive interface, and a stunning backdrop to frame its hand-crafted exploits, it clearly hits the nail on the head and, at a push, gives the likes of Trash Goblin something to write home about. The only thing that it doesn’t capture is the sturdiness of a Nokia. You can’t break a Nokia. Believe me, I’ve tried.