Road 96 Review

A good road movie is the best. It's the excitement of a trip into the unknown and the journey of self-discovery. The characters face unexpected challenges and are forced confront them. These unique circumstances could only happen while they wing it from one step towards the final destination. When done right, it's a great formula for entertainment. DigixArt has reimagined the genre with Road 96. The road movie is used to explore themes such as government oppression, resistance and everyone's favorite coming-of-age. The player can also influence the outcome of the story.

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Road 96 looks like a game about teens trying to escape Petria, an authoritarian country in the midst an election cycle that feels and looks a lot like America, but is not. Petria is a nation that has been locked in a cycle involving control and corruption under the "democratically elected" head state, President Tyrak. The country is heading down an increasingly authoritarian course, which is why teenagers are fleeing the country in large numbers to seek better lives elsewhere. You take control of several teens and play as them on the journey to the border. This is a very grim scenario and you could be caught or even killed if you get caught.

As your runs begin, you will see the true nature of Road 96’s gameplay. Every run is composed of a random set of encounters. You will interact with the main characters of the game and learn about their struggles and motivations. These little scenarios can have a significant impact on your journey, the lives of the characters you meet and the outcome of larger world events. The game determines the next encounter at every step. This means that there are many possible routes. You can also see a wide variety of routes. None of these routes will be the same as the ones taken by other players. Petria is exciting and new every time you go. It inspires a sense of adventure and excitement that only comes from being on the road and not knowing what lies ahead.

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Many of these locations are beautiful places to stop by. You will hitchhike with semi trucks and steal food, money, or cars to make ends meet. You'll find miles and miles of red and sand, truck stops, gas stations, and all the other iconic ephemera that you would encounter on your long journey to the mountains. It's an amazing space to explore and it's also a strangely rewarding place to play in. You feel the need to continue your journey and see if it can be rescheduled, but you also want to really enjoy each stop and soak up every place you visit.

Road 96 is primarily about having conversations and making decisions. Every dialog that could have an impact on voter turnout or rebellion will be marked with an icon. The game quickly tells you that making a comment about getting out will have an effect, to the point that you almost feel an invisible counter tick upward. It's not necessarily a bad thing and I prefer it to more cryptic feedback like "So and so will recall that." Road 96 is fully aware of its role as a videogame and avoids narrative-driven games. Instead, Road 96 strives to be more cinematic. This is a good thing because it allows the mechanics and story to work well together and empowers you as a player.

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After a series of failed escape attempts, your last teenager makes it to the border. This is the culmination all those choices make, telling your story and giving closure on the outcomes that you either intentionally pushed for or unconsciously influenced. The ending of Road96 will be more or less yours. You can share your experiences in the discussion about the game. There are some plot points that will be similar, but you have enough options to make your experience different from others. Every person's experience will be unique for many reasons. Road 96 delivers on its promise of multiple paths and branching stories better than any other game. It's not because there is so much more to choose from, or because the game is so flexible, but because Road 96 is smart enough to integrate choice into the experience. The rewards are good enough that you feel like your agency isn't just an illusion.

Road96 is great fun and incredibly charming. Although I was skeptical about the concept, I found it to be charming. I love its characters, heart, and how it portrays people and places with so much love and attention to detail. It's not the next big thing in narrative gaming, but it fulfills most of its promises and provides an experience that is truly unique among its peers. It's an adventure game of the type that I had been longing for. Although it isn't perfect, it's still a great game. The best part of Road96 is, hands down, the journey.