Road 96

Last updated

Road 96
Road 96 cover.jpg
Developer(s) DigixArt
Publisher(s) DigixArt
Plug In Digital
Director(s) Yoan Fanise
Engine Unity
Platform(s)
ReleaseWindows, Nintendo Switch
16 August 2021
PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S
14 April 2022
Genre(s) Adventure, role-playing
Mode(s) Single-player

Road 96 is a 2021 adventure role-playing video game developed and published by French studio DigixArt as part of HP's OMEN Presents, [1] with additional publishing support by Plug In Digital. [2] The game is set in mid-to-late 1996 within the fictional nation of Petria, an authoritarian country ruled by a dictatorship undergoing a potentially transformative election season. The player controls several teenagers as they attempt to flee the country through Petria's northern border via Road 96.

Contents

Road 96 was released on August 16, 2021 for Microsoft Windows and the Nintendo Switch, and then for the PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S on April 14, 2022. The game received generally positive reviews upon release.

A prequel, titled Road 96: Mile 0, was released in April 2023. [3]

Gameplay

Flag of Petria as seen in Road 96 Flag of Petria.webp
Flag of Petria as seen in Road 96

Road 96 is an adventure video game played from a first-person perspective. The game's campaign has the player assume the role of several teenage hitchhikers attempting to flee the authoritarian nation of Petria without being arrested or killed. [4] [5] Each time the player's character succeeds or fails at crossing the border, they assume control of a new teenager attempting to cross the border. Each crossing attempt advances the overarching story arc of the campaign, culminating in a finale set on September 9, Petria's election day. Decisions made by the player during previous attempts are reflected and referenced during each new attempt. [6]

The player travels to Petria's northern border by hitchhiking, walking, taking buses, hailing taxis, and stealing cars. At various procedurally generated stops along their route, they can explore them, salvage for supplies, and interact with various characters. The player manages an energy meter which is depleted by performing certain major actions, and can be restored by eating food or sleeping at designated spots. Depleting the meter entirely will cause the player's character to pass out and be arrested. The player can purchase services and goods with money they find, earn, salvage, or steal as well.

During each crossing attempt, the player encounters seven key non-player characters. Interactions with these characters can take the form of conversations and minigames that yield special items which unlock bonuses and interaction opportunities carried over from one crossing attempt into the next. Every interaction with these key characters reveals more backstory about the setting and the characters themselves while advancing the game's story arc. The player is allowed to make choices which influence the main story arc regarding the current election and the lives of the characters they encounter.

Development and release

The game was developed by French studio DigixArt, a small development team with about 15 employees. The game was directed by Yoan Fanise, the creator of Valiant Hearts: The Great War . [7] According to the developer, the story of the game was inspired by the works of Quentin Tarantino, the Coen Brothers, and Bong Joon-ho. [8] It was inspired by different works of fiction, from The Goonies to Porco Rosso . A test given to the player allowing them to flee to work offshore was based on real-world North Korean exams. [9] The game features procedural generation extensively. According to the team, the game had "148,268 story permutations". [10]

Road 96 was announced at The Game Awards 2020. [11] The game was released for the Nintendo Switch and Microsoft Windows on 16 August 2021. An advertisement for the game was removed by Facebook due to it being politically motivated. [12] [13] It was released for the Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S [14] as well as the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on 14 April 2022. [15] [16]

Reception

Road 96 received "generally favourable" reviews according to review aggregator website Metacritic. [17] [18] [19] [20] Alice Bell writing for Rock Paper Shotgun commented that it was a "great journey to go on", but did not think the game was a particularly good representation of crossing the border or being homeless. [32]

Christian Donlan of Eurogamer commented "I loved Road 96 from the start and [I] loved it at the end," noting its writing and gameplay; however, he noted that the completion meters felt "artificial". [33] Marco Procida for Eurogamer.it commented that the game was for a niche audience, but had a very good soundtrack. [34]

IGN 's Tristan Ogilvie enjoyed the experience, but found a few graphical and interface shortcomings. [25]

Stefano Scutti from Nerdando.com stated that Road 96 is "an experience to live", gaining a "Gold medal" for the game's "narrative experiment". [35]

Nintendo World Report's Joe Devader found the game to be enjoyable overall, though with certain technical flaws that detract from the experience. [36] The Escapist's Will Cruz commented that though the backstories and chose-your-own-adventure aspects of the game were done well, he didn't recommend the game to "[players] not driven by the political drama and minigames that aren’t challenging". [37]

Related Research Articles

<i>Tales from the Borderlands</i> Episodic video game

Tales from the Borderlands is an episodic interactive comedy graphic adventure sci-fi video game based on the Borderlands series. It was developed by Telltale Games under license from Gearbox Software, the developer of the Borderlands series, and 2K, its publisher. The game was released in November 2014 for Android, iOS, Microsoft Windows, OS X, PlayStation 3, PlayStation 4, Xbox 360, Xbox One, and in 2021 for Nintendo Switch.

<i>Overcooked</i> 2016 video game

Overcooked is a 2016 cooking simulation game developed by Ghost Town Games and published by Team17. In a local cooperative experience, players control a number of chefs in kitchens filled with various obstacles and hazards to rapidly prepare meals to specific orders under a time limit. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One in August 2016. A Nintendo Switch version was released in July 2017.

<i>Ironcast</i> 2015 puzzle strategy video game

Ironcast is a turn-based strategy video game with individual missions played through a match-three system. The game features procedurally generated missions and permadeath, staples of the roguelike genre. The game was developed by Dreadbit and released for PC platforms in March 2015, PS4 and Xbox One in March 2016, and Nintendo Switch version in August 2017.

<i>Bad North</i> 2018 strategy video game

Bad North is a real-time strategy video game developed by Plausible Concept and published by Raw Fury. The game was released on August 20, 2018, for the Nintendo Switch, then for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on August 28. A Microsoft Windows version was released on October 16, 2018. Versions for Android and iOS followed on October 16, 2019.

<i>Islanders</i> (video game) 2019 city-building game

Islanders is a casual city-building game developed and published by German indie game studio Grizzly Games. It was initially released on Steam for Microsoft Windows on 4 April 2019, and support for macOS and Linux was added in June that year. A version for consoles was released for Nintendo Switch on 11 August 2021 and PlayStation 4 and Xbox One on 26 August 2021. This version was published by Coatsink, which announced it had acquired the franchise from Grizzly Games in May 2022.

Superliminal is a 2019 surreal puzzle video game released by Pillow Castle Games. The game, played from a first-person perspective, incorporates gameplay elements around optical illusions and forced perspective; notably, certain objects when picked up can be moved towards or away from the player, but when placed back down, scale to the size as the player had viewed them, enabling the player to solve otherwise impossible puzzles to complete the game.

In the video game industry, 2021 saw the release of many new titles. The numerous delays in software and hardware releases due to the continuation of the COVID-19 pandemic heavily impacted development schedules, leading to several games being delayed into 2022 or even postponed indefinitely. Additionally, computer and console hardware were impacted by the combined effects of a semiconductor shortage and a rising growth of bitcoin mining that strained the supply of critical components.

<i>Chronos</i> (2016 video game) 2016 video game

Chronos is a 2016 action role-playing game developed and published by Gunfire Games for the Oculus Rift virtual reality (VR) headset. The game received generally positive reviews upon release. An overhauled version of the game, titled Chronos: Before the Ashes was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Stadia on December 1, 2020.

<i>SnowRunner</i> 2020 video game

SnowRunner is a 2020 off-road simulation video game developed by Saber Interactive and published by Focus Home Interactive. Following on from Spintires and the sequel MudRunner, the game was announced as MudRunner 2 in August 2018. Focus Home and Saber Interactive re-revealed the title a year later as SnowRunner. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on April 28, 2020, which was followed by a port for Nintendo Switch on May 18, 2021. It was released for PlayStation 5 and Xbox Series X/S on May 31, 2022. SnowRunner has the player control off-road vehicles as they traverse locations to complete objectives. The game features over 60 different vehicles and more than 15 locations. Much of the content is delivered across 4 anniversary year editions as DLC. A spin-off title, Expeditions: A MudRunner Game was released on March 5, 2024.

<i>Dirt 5</i> 2020 racing video game made by Codemasters

Dirt 5 is a simcade racing video game developed and published by Codemasters. The game was released for PlayStation 4, Windows, and Xbox One on 6 November 2020, for Xbox Series X/S on 10 November, and for PlayStation 5 on 12 November and 19 November, for Stadia on 24 March 2021, and for Luna on 15 July 2021. It was the last video game released by Codemasters as a publisher before being acquired by Electronic Arts (EA) on 18 February 2021.

<i>The Lord of the Rings: Gollum</i> 2023 video game

The Lord of the Rings: Gollum is an action-adventure game developed by Daedalic Entertainment, which also published the game with Nacon. The game, set in the fictional world of Middle-earth created by J. R. R. Tolkien, takes place in between the events of The Hobbit and The Fellowship of the Ring. The player controls Gollum through a series of locations, such as Cirith Ungol, Barad-dûr, and Mirkwood, as he attempts to find Bilbo Baggins and retake the One Ring whilst battling and avoiding Sauron. It was announced in March 2019 and delayed from its September 2021 launch window.

<i>Moving Out</i> (video game) 2020 video game

Moving Out is a 2020 cooperative moving simulation game developed by Swedish studio DevM Games and Australian developer SMG Studio. In a local cooperative experience, players move objects from houses into a moving van while coping with exaggerated physics. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, and Xbox One on April 28, 2020, and for Amazon Luna on January 28, 2021.

<i>Worms Rumble</i> 2020 video game

Worms Rumble is a 2020 action game developed and published by Team17. As a spin-off of the long-running Worms series, the game was released for Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in December 2020 and for the Nintendo Switch, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in June 2021.

<i>Bayonetta</i> Video game series

Bayonetta is an urban fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Hideki Kamiya. It is developed by PlatinumGames, owned by Sega, and currently published by Nintendo. The franchise was introduced in 2009 with Bayonetta, which was followed by two sequels, Bayonetta 2 (2014) and Bayonetta 3 (2022), as well as a spinoff, Bayonetta Origins: Cereza and the Lost Demon (2023). The games follow the titular character, a witch who wields dual pistols, shooters in her high heels, and long, magically transforming hair which becomes a deadly weapon.

<i>Spelunky 2</i> 2020 video game

Spelunky 2 is a 2020 platform video game developed by Mossmouth and BlitWorks. It is the sequel to Spelunky (2008) and was released for PlayStation 4 and Windows in September 2020, for Nintendo Switch in August 2021, and for Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in January 2022. The game received critical acclaim upon release.

<i>Mutazione</i> 2019 adventure video game

Mutazione is a 2019 adventure video game developed by Die Gute Fabrik and published by Akupara Games. It launched for Windows, MacOS, PlayStation 4, and on iOS through Apple Arcade on September 19, 2019. It released on the Atari VCS on December 11, 2020. It released on the Nintendo Switch and Xbox One on May 26, 2021. The game is set on an island where the player tends to the local gardens and learns more about the town's people.

<i>Alba: A Wildlife Adventure</i> 2020 adventure game

Alba: A Wildlife Adventure is a 2020 adventure game developed and published by Ustwo Games. Originally released on iOS, macOS and Windows in 2020, it was released for Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in 2021. The Windows and console ports were published by PID Games along with Ustwo. The game focuses on exploring the world and conserving wildlife.

<i>Nobody Saves the World</i> 2022 video game

Nobody Saves the World is an action role-playing dungeon crawling video game developed and published by DrinkBox Studios. The game was released for Microsoft Windows, Xbox One and Xbox Series X/S in January 2022, which was followed by ports on Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 in April 2022.

<i>Silt</i> (video game) 2022 video game

Silt is a surreal underwater puzzle-adventure indie horror game developed by Spiral Circus and published by Fireshine Games for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, in which the player controls a deep-sea diver who can possess the diverse marine life that enters their vicinity. It was released on June 1, 2022.

<i>Arcade Paradise</i> 2022 video game

Arcade Paradise is a business simulation video game developed by Nosebleed Interactive and published by Wired Productions. It was released August 11, 2022 for Microsoft Windows, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X and Series S and October 13, 2022, for Amazon Luna and Google Stadia. The player character grows a struggling laundromat business into a thriving arcade. It received mixed to generally favorable reviews from critics. Metacritic aggregate scores range from 72 out of 100 for Windows to 83 out of 100 for Switch.

References

  1. ↑ Dent, Steve (11 December 2020). "'Road 96' is the first game supported by HP's new 'Omen Presents' label". Engadget . Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  2. ↑ Donlan, Christian (20 August 2021). "Road 96 review - a dazzling web of encounters". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  3. ↑ Romano, Sal (26 January 2023). "Road 96 prequel Road 96: Mile 0 announced for PS5, Xbox Series, PS4, Xbox One, Switch, and PC". Gematsu. Archived from the original on 26 January 2023. Retrieved 26 January 2023.
  4. ↑ Lawn, Chris (23 August 2021). "Road 96 – Say F Off To Fascists". Player2.net.au. Archived from the original on 25 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  5. ↑ King, Jade (16 August 2021). "Road 96 Review: Live Life On The Open Road". TheGamer. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  6. ↑ "Road 96 – Say F Off To Fascists | Player2.net.au". 23 August 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2023.
  7. ↑ Takahshi, Dean (5 August 2021). "Embracer's Koch Media buys Road 96 and Lost in Harmony maker DigixArt". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  8. ↑ Nunneley, Stephanny (11 December 2022). "Road 96 is a procedurally-generated road trip game". VG247 . Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  9. ↑ Fabre, Jesus (14 July 2021). "Road 96: The narrative system, history of the development and inspirations". Gamasutra . Archived from the original on 19 July 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  10. ↑ Lawn, Chris (12 July 2021). "The Building Block Storytelling of 'Road 96'". Vice . Vide Media Group LLC. Archived from the original on 14 July 2021. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  11. ↑ Chandler, Sam (10 December 2020). "Road 96 announced during The Game Awards". Shacknews . Archived from the original on 11 December 2020. Retrieved 15 April 2022.
  12. ↑ Rousseau, Jeffrey (30 July 2021). "Facebook blocks Road 96 ad "for being political"". GamesIndustry.biz . Archived from the original on 13 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  13. ↑ Moyse, Chris (2 August 2021). "Facebook reportedly blocks ad for indie adventure Road 96 for being 'too political'". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 2 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  14. ↑ Nelson, Major (13 April 2022). "Road 96 Is Now Available For PC, Xbox One, And Xbox Series X|S". Major Nelson's Blog . Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  15. ↑ Fanise, Yoan (12 April 2022). "Nobody's road is the same in Road 96, out on PS5 & PS4 April 14". PlayStation Blog . Archived from the original on 12 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  16. ↑ "Road 96 - PlayStation and Xbox Launch Trailer". IGN . 14 April 2022. Archived from the original on 14 April 2022. Retrieved 14 April 2022.
  17. 1 2 "Road 96 for Switch Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  18. 1 2 "Road 96 for PC Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 8 January 2022. Retrieved 16 September 2021.
  19. 1 2 "Road 96 for PlayStation 5 Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 21 June 2022. Retrieved 28 June 2022.
  20. 1 2 "Road 96 for Xbox Series X Reviews". Metacritic . Archived from the original on 4 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  21. ↑ Handley, Zoey (16 August 2021). "Review: Road 96". Destructoid . Archived from the original on 11 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  22. ↑ Donlan, Christian (20 August 2021). "Road 96 review - a dazzling web of encounters". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 24 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  23. ↑ Barbosa, Alessandro (19 April 2022). "Road 96 Review - I Would Walk 500 Miles". GameSpot . Archived from the original on 20 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  24. ↑ LeClair, Kyle (17 August 2021). "Review: Road 96". Hardcore Gamer. Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  25. 1 2 Ogilvie, Tristan (16 August 2021). "Road 96 Review". IGN . Archived from the original on 23 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  26. ↑ DeVader, Joe (16 August 2021). "Road 96 (Switch) review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  27. ↑ Croft, Liam (17 April 2022). "Mini Review: Road 96 (PS5) - Political Trek Gets Our Vote". Push Square . Archived from the original on 17 April 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  28. ↑ Richardson, Bob (16 August 2021). "Road 96". RPGFan. Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  29. ↑ Erskine, Donovan (16 August 2021). "Road 96 review: The crossroads of destiny". Shacknews . Archived from the original on 17 September 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  30. ↑ Takahashi, Dean (16 August 2021). "Road 96 review — A game that tests your border politics". VentureBeat . Archived from the original on 8 May 2022. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  31. ↑ Kerry, Ben (26 April 2022). "Review: Road 96 - An Education In Empathy, And A Delight To Experience". Pure Xbox . Archived from the original on 10 May 2022. Retrieved 10 May 2022.
  32. ↑ Bell, Alice (16 August 2021). "Road 96 review: fun and high jinks on the campaign trail '96". Rock Paper Shotgun . Archived from the original on 19 August 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  33. ↑ Donlan, Christian (23 August 2021). "Road 96 review - a dazzling web of encounters". Eurogamer . Archived from the original on 3 April 2023. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  34. ↑ Procida, Marco (16 August 2021). "Road 96 - recensione". Eurogamer.it (in Italian). Archived from the original on 16 August 2021. Retrieved 25 August 2021.
  35. ↑ Scutti, Stefano (1 September 2021). "Road 96 – In viaggio verso la libertà" [Road 96 – Traveling to freedom]. Nerdando.com. Archived from the original on 1 September 2021. Retrieved 20 April 2022.
  36. ↑ DeVader, Joe (16 August 2021). "Road 96 (Switch) Review". Nintendo World Report. Archived from the original on 18 November 2021. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  37. ↑ Cruz, Will (28 August 2021). "Road 96 Review in 3 Minutes – A Randomized Road Trip You Won't Forget". The Escapist . Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 9 July 2023.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.