Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Taking Care of Business builds its core challenge around the humble crate, transforming these simple blocks into the foundation of each puzzle-driven level. At first glance, you might find yourself maneuvering crates to form staircases, reminiscent of classic sokoban mechanics—but developer Clayton Walnum adds enough twists to keep proceedings fresh. You’re not merely pushing boxes into corners; you’re architecting your own path to the exit across 15 shareware stages (and up to 60 when fully registered). Each crate has potential landing spots, and discovering the right configuration becomes an addictive trial-and-error exercise.

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Beyond crate stacking, the game introduces environmental hazards that raise the stakes. Electricity arcs spontaneously in certain corridors, demanding precise timing and nimble footwork. Occasionally, you’ll trigger switches that reconfigure entire room layouts, forcing a fresh evaluation of your crate placements and escape routes. These elements inject unpredictability and encourage strategic thinking—if you plan ahead too rigidly, a single flipped switch can render your prior work obsolete.

Power-ups round out the puzzle-platform experience by granting new movement options. With jump-enhancing boots, Dirk can clear wider chasms or leap onto previously unreachable boxes. Bash or blast pick-ups turn certain walls into mere speed bumps rather than insurmountable barriers. While crate puzzles remain the central draw, these power-ups diversify interactions and allow for surprisingly varied solutions. Each new ability arrives just when you need it most, avoiding any sense of overkill or padding.

Graphics

Visually, Taking Care of Business is a throwback to early ’90s PC platformers, complete with a 256-color palette and hand-crafted tile sets. The environments are crisp and readable, ensuring that crucial elements—crates, switches, hazards—stand out at a glance. While the graphics won’t rival modern indie titles, the retro aesthetic carries an appealing charm. Every room feels meticulously designed, each conveyor belt or trapdoor positioned with clear purpose.

Character animations are modest yet effective. Protagonist Demolisher Dirk sports a signature Walkman and rocker hairstyle, lending him just enough personality amid the geometric backdrops. His running, jumping, and crate-bashing motions are fluid, avoiding the clunkiness that sometimes plagues contemporaneous shareware releases. Environmental animations—like flickering lights or sparking electrified floors—add a layer of atmosphere without overwhelming the player.

The UI is straightforward and unobtrusive, with level counters and remaining crate tallies neatly displayed along the screen’s edge. Sound effects accentuate your actions—wooden thunks for crate impacts, satisfying zaps when electricity arcs nearby, and mechanized clicks with each flipped switch. While there’s no voice acting or elaborate cinematics, the minimalist approach ensures you remain immersed in the puzzle-platform flow.

Story

Taking Care of Business doesn’t lean heavily on narrative, but what story it offers adds a tongue-in-cheek edge. You play as Demolisher Dirk, a blue-collar hero whose day job involves moving crates, busting walls, and outsmarting conveyor belts. The premise is absurdly straightforward: clear each level by navigating crates into workable formations and then reach the exit. Yet Dirk’s rock ’n’ roll attitude and occasional quips (“Time to pay the rent!”) infuse a lighthearted tone that keeps the grind from feeling monotonous.

Between levels, short text blurbs hint at Dirk’s motivations—earning cash, proving himself to the boss, maybe attending a secret underground rave. These snippets are purely ornamental, but they serve to break up the puzzle sessions and remind you that there’s a jaunty protagonist behind your cursor. This keeps the experience from devolving into pure box-shifting assembly lines and gives each stage a hint of narrative progression.

Ultimately, the story acts as a cheerful ornament rather than the driving force. If you’re seeking an epic quest or character-driven drama, you won’t find it here. Instead, Taking Care of Business thrives by marrying its lighthearted premise with solid puzzle design. Dirk doesn’t have to be a tragic hero—he just needs to push crates, flip switches, and electrify his way out of another warehouse. And for many players, that’s precisely enough.

Overall Experience

Taking Care of Business delivers a satisfying blend of sokoban-style puzzles and platform action. The crate-based mechanics are intuitive yet rich with strategic depth, especially once hazards and switches join the fray. Early levels ease you into the push-and-stack formula, but by midgame you’ll be juggling timing, spatial reasoning, and power-up management all at once.

The retro graphics and no-frills audio reinforce the game’s old-school appeal. While purists might yearn for updated sprites or a more dynamic soundtrack, the minimalist presentation ensures that gameplay remains front and center. As you progress through 60 levels in the registered version, you’ll appreciate the steady ramp-up in difficulty and the variety of stage themes—from industrial warehouses to power-plant corridors.

For anyone craving a puzzle-platformer that rewards patience, planning, and occasional quick reflexes, Taking Care of Business is a solid pick. It’s easy to learn but consistently challenging, with enough level variety and power-up gimmicks to stave off repetition. Whether you’re a fan of classic sokoban or simply enjoy a good mind-bending platform puzzle, Demolisher Dirk’s crate-moving adventures offer plenty of bang for your buck.

Retro Replay Score

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