I recently got to finishing off the story of Road 96: Mile 0, a smaller experience I was excited about because it serves as a prequel story to Road 96. Developed by DigixArt, Mile 0 has some varied play mechanics throughout, but the core experience focuses on several skating based sections set as key moments in the story of two teenage friends, Zoe and Kaito. Their relationship is affected by the political climate of the fictional nation of Petria in which they reside, and players will play both sides of this short story as it unfolds. The narrative has some choice-based elements and at times feels very Life is Strange, as you are often reminded how these choices will have an impact on both your character’s relationship and the world around you. With a couple small cameos and an introduction to some key characters, the game sets the stage for one of the more unique adventures released in 2021, 2022 on consoles, Road 96.
What makes Road 96 special is in how the story is built.
So Road 96 falls in to my ‘really special’ kind of games, ones that wish you could experience again for the first time, as discovering the world and gameplay is just a special thing. Like uncovering the mysteries of Outer Wilds or seeing decisions play out in Mass Effect, some things are just magical the first time you experience them. What makes Road 96 special is in how the story is built. You play as several teenagers attempting to flee Petria by traversing Road 96 and trying to cross the border, but along the way some procedurally generated vignettes create unique moments and choices that could affect the success of the current teenager’s journey. Spent all your money and now you can’t afford a ride? Well now your character must hitchhike or expend extra energy walking...
These kinds of choices add to the urgency of the game, but also create for experimentation to see how things may vary in trying something new as another teenager. In every attempt you are introduced to the cast of the none-playable characters, and each of their stories unfolds in some interesting ways to add to the overarching narrative. Road 96 for me is a very different approach to narrative structure, as it experiments with building a story with the player, making a playthrough feel uniquely yours. That paired with a great soundtrack, in both games, and what feels like a lot of heart from the developers puts it on the list of things I suggest trying should you be a fan of narrative-based experiences.
