Fueled Up Review

thesixthaxis.com:

Fueled Up is a delightfully easy game to provide a synopsis for; this is Overcooked! in space. Simple explanation, right? However, that is the only delightfully easy thing about it.

Fueled Up then, is a four-player co-op party game thing. Rather than take on the role of chaotic chefs, players are instead members of a deep space recovery team; one that is tasked with repairing and rescuing damaged spaceships. Viewed from a top-down perspective, four players, over local or online play, need to work together to solve a furious time-based puzzle. Each busted-up, broken-down spaceship must be kept refuelled, repaired, and fire-free until it safely returns to its base. Oh, and it must avoid the deadly giant space octopus.

First off, before I get all critical, let me just say that Fueled Up is a decent attempt at an Overcooked! style experience. It has a core puzzle concept that, whilst a little complicated, works well. The character design is charming, the visuals are fun, and escaping that giant pesky space octopus can be thrilling. It is a game that requires dedicated teamwork and exceptional communication and, as such, when the players succeed in their tasks, it can be a very rewarding experience.

Okay, let’s get critical. Fueled Up is a tough game. Not to blow my own bugle, but I am really good at Overcooked! 2. Thanks to lockdown, my partner and I four-starred every level, DLC and all. So, when I say that Fueled Up is too difficult, I really really mean it. A reason for this is a lack of smart pacing. Fueled Up throws so many mechanics at the player that it is frankly exhausting. Reversing wormholes must be overcome, fires extinguished, hulls repaired, pipes fixed, asteroids crushed, buckets filled, engines repaired, fuel