Unfortunately in 2019 there aren’t a lot of couch co-op games seeing the light of day. So you can imagine my excitement when I first heard about The Knights of Unity’s Tools Up. A home renovation game with the same manic mechanics as the exceptional Overcooked. The hooks were in me from the off, but could this new release capture the same magic that Ghost Town Games did in both 2016 and 2018 respectively?
The answer to that question is a resounding yes! Tools Up takes the Overcooked formula and puts enough of it’s own stamp on it to make it feel fresh. Preparing, cooking and serving food is gone. It has been replaced with plastering and painting walls, laying flooring moving furniture and more.
While doing chores may not seem like your idea of fun, the chaotic gameplay and reliance on teamwork with your co-op partner provides constant entertainment. In each of the 30 levels you are on the clock and so finding the most efficient way to get the job done is vital. You will often spend your first attempt at a level making unforced errors, spotting a better method and restarting with much more success.
Each level starts with different objectives to complete. To find out what is required at any given time you can pick up the blueprint and hold square. This allows you to see what the end result should be. You can also only rotate the screen when holding the blueprint, which adds another dynamic when frantically trying to apply those finishing touches to an area in an obstructed view.
Tools Up isn’t all about creating either. You also have to do your fair share of prep work and tidying up. When first starting a level you need to clear any rubbish lying around, strip any existing wallpaper and lift old carpets. These then have to be disposed of square by square. Thankfully rather than trek back and fourth to the outside bin a hundred times per job you can fill a bucket which will take around ten sections of rubbish and empty that.
You have the option of either playing in campaign or party mode. Campaign challenges you to complete as many of the tasks as you can before the time runs out where party mode dishes out points based on how quickly you can complete the tasks. This adds replay value to the game encouraging you to shave precious seconds off your time.
The game comes packing that all important platinum trophy and also a decent list. You will need to fully complete both campaign and party mode as well as a host of fun misc objectives like ‘Do a somersault’ and ‘Make a delivery guy slip on a stain’. There is one trophy that requires four players, so keep that in mind. In terms of difficulty, I’d peg it at about a 4/10.
Overall Tools Up is an excellent game that is releasing at the perfect time with the holiday season nearly upon us. Local co-op games are scarce at the moment and so we need to savour the ones we do get. Although it can be played with up to four people I found two was the sweet spot. This takes the Overcooked formula and alters it enough, providing Tools Up it’s own unique identity that takes the throne of best local co-op game on PlayStation 4.
-John
A review code was provided by the publisher. Reviewed on a base PS4.
