Neither a sequel, nor a prequel in which you can take the events you already know for granted: Road 96: Mile 0 is the story of two young people who escape from their reality. Sometimes withdrawing, others opening their eyes to the adult world and finally making decisions that will change your life. Even when the most interesting parts of this emotional journey is done through surrealism. Or, rather, of a peculiar musical introspection capable of bringing out the best and the worst in us.
digixart it validates its successes and the richness of that universe created for Road 96 in new ways. From the outset, completely leaving aside his inspirations from Road Movie. Providing the contrast between the fantasy of two teenagers and a harsh reality. Seasoning the narrative between musical notes and a background that lends itself to timeless reflections. And finally, delegating to the player something as complex as the protagonists questioning their surroundings or reaffirming their convictions.
because the axis of Road 96: Mile 0 It is not in its gameplay or its narrative, halfway between Firewatch and those games that combine rhythm with Endless Runners; but in its happy notes or the crudest moments. More specifically, in the dynamics between Zoe and Kaito, best friends and real troublemakers. Two young people who, despite hiding from adult life in their own refuge, cannot have a more opposite vision of the reality that surrounds them.
A video game with a marked political message that does not obey ideologies, but to the circumstances. That points the worst of the fascist and communist regimes with the same finger and at the same time. Not to expose authoritarianism, which would be easy, but to show its consequences.
And, in the process, among that whirlwind of circumstances, making us doubt. Because the uncertainty and fear of taking a leap into the unknown is also a crucial part of any adolescent’s growth. Logically, and by extension, one of the strongest elements of Road 96: Mile 0.
Two worlds, one problem
White Sands It is the perfect reflection of Petria: half of the city prospers with a wealthy class that lives among luxuries and beautiful landscapes. All of them related and at the service of the state, logically. The other half is a decadent city in which the workforce goes out of its way to maintain a system that survives on the basis of exporting oil.
And yet, in both cases it is a prison in which the great difference between its inhabitants can be summed up in that some have golden bars and those of the others are eaten by rust. At least the unified government strives to please both thanks to his shameless media manipulation.
In this curious context, two restless souls: Zoe, the oil minister’s daughter, he has a very comfortable life with a huge house and a miniature golf a stone’s throw from his window. Kaito delivers newspapers to help his family and keep his humble home. Opposite destinies that spend time together every afternoon in their own refuge, in the middle of one of the many half-finished constructions in the city.
And even though Zoe and Kaito are best friends with each other, it’s a matter of time before Their worlds end up colliding.
The number one enemies of the Petria Government have their own names: the dark brigade. A group of rebels who are credited with every misfortune that happened behind the doors of each city. There is not much room for doubt, really, since it is almost impossible to leave the borders, the information on television is conclusive, and the state forces have a heavy hand with the insurgents.
Precisely for this reason, Zoe is so concerned that Kaito has begun to sympathize with the Dark Brigade. whatWhat reason would he have for joining those rebels?
Rebellion, yes, but with a touch of musical surrealism
On Road 96: Mile 0 We control both Zoe and Kaito, and despite the fact that we see each other’s points of view in the first person, we are made to doubt their ideals and motivations at all times. Or, rather, we are invited to consider what we constantly take for granted. Does the president of Petria protect us from the Dark Brigades or is he the enemy? Who tells the most dangerous lies?
Although, during the course of the game we will have different actions and decisions that will condition both our decisions and events. So that depending on what we investigate we will have more arguments to comment on, but it will be our lines of dialogue that in one way or another will guide the plot as well as the destiny of each protagonist.
Of course, the great revelations have a very special interest in this adventure, since it is not only a prequel to Road 96, but also a sequel to Lost in Harmony. And it is from the latter where one of the most distinctive and entertaining elements is borrowed. The musical sections.
The turning points of the story are presented to us as music videos starring a skater and a skateboarder who go through an emotional journey. Not as mini-games, but as half of the experience itself that completes the adventure and investigation part. Challenging us to keep up and overcome platform sections and reflex tests while the characters evolve. And, in the process, raising new questions.
Because, despite the strong friendship between Zoe and Kaito, they are destined to disagree, to collaborate and to change the perspective of reality for both one and the other. To test if the regime that is imposed is pure evil or if the Dark Brigades really fight for a just cause. And, in both cases, Whether the end really justifies the means.
Of course, you will not get stuck in the story or in the musical sections: the game knows how to guide you at all times, and if a maneuver in the musical part becomes too complicated for you, after five attempts it will ask you if you want to go to the next one. next checkpoint. On Road 96: Mile 0 is fully aware that the only doubts you should have during the game have to be related to the emotional journey of the protagonists
With everything, Road 96: Mile 0 It falters in one element in its initial and final bars: Digixart makes it more than recommendable to play Road 96 and Lost in Harmony to get to know the protagonists in depth and understand the cameos that appear in different sections of the story. Leaving a certain sensation of intermediate history between two games, despite sustaining itself essentially without the support of other works.
Of course, despite the fact that the duration is what it is (in two afternoons you will have squeezed it to the maximum) there are mini-games scattered throughout the few scenarios that there are, several collectibles that give weight to a replay and the possibility of beating your own records in the musical sections. Of course, despite the fact that there are different endings and decisions that give color to the plot, the course of the story in general terms has no ramifications.
And that’s not bad, for the record, but it ends up putting it in the shadow of a much older and more original Road 96
VidaExtra’s opinion
Road 96: Mile 0 It perfectly achieves what it sets out to do: present the player with a story in which two young people experience an internal debate when they come face to face with a harsh reality. Ignite the spark of rebellion in both and, ultimately, make us complicit and give us a voice in the process. Sometimes with very entertaining musical stretches that express their emotions and concerns, and other times tearing down posters or daubing them. Knowing that in both situations our decisions will have consequences.
The game is short, and that’s not bad. It tells the story as it is and on its terms and lets the player unfold, although in the end it ends up leaving a certain sensation of being an intermediate step between two major works, since the most special moments, both in the resolution and in the introduction, serve to connect the dots with Road 96 and Lost in Harmony respectively.
But that does not take away or overshadow its successes: Road 96: Mile 0 aptly portrays adolescent restlessness and doubts and captures them in an emotional journey that takes place in a very specific environment designed to make the player genuinely thirst for freedom. And, at the same time, asking him if the options he takes during the process are the right ones. Managing to synthesize the essence of adolescent rebellion and the doubts derived from these in a video game.
Road 96 Duration: Mile 0
You can finish Road 96: Mile 0 in two afternoons and without rushing. Even in one. The story is not complex nor does it deviate you too much from your path, and if you get stuck at any point in the musical paths, the game itself suggests that you skip the sections that you are repeating the most. In any case, even if you are going to get hold of all the collectibles and secrets in less than ten hours, you will have gotten the most out of the proposal.
Another thing is replayability, and that is where Road 96: Mile it is based on those musical sections based on challenging with obtaining the maximum score and the best line. Something that does not influence the plot level and that you can do from the game menu as they are unlocked or once you have completed the story.
Road 96 Price: Mile 0
The price of the console version of Road 96: Mile 0 It is set at 12.99 euros and we understand that it will remain or not vary too much on PC. In any case, it is highly recommended to have taken a previous walk through Road 96 whose price on Steam is almost 20 euros. The good news is that the original game is currently part of the Game Pass catalog, making it a little easier for Xbox and desktop players to enjoy the full story.
Road 96: Mile 0
platforms | PS4, PS5 (reviewed versions) Xbox One, Xbox Series X, PC and Switch |
---|---|
multiplayer | No |
developer | digixart |
Company | Digixart / Ravenscourt |
Launch | April 4, 2023 |
The best
- The musical tours are fun, surreal and give a huge note of color to the story
- A plot that constantly evolves without disappointing
- If you liked Road 96, it is a compelling emotional journey
Worst
- Until the last act, more locations and characters are needed
- Much of its content is based on the fact that you already come from Road 96