Road 96: Mile 0 Review

Highway 96: Mile 0 on PlayStation 5

Whenever you encounter a hit, it’s comprehensible that you just’ll need to double down on it. 2021’s Road 96 wowed gamers with its procedurally-generated street journeys to the border, its endearing solid of characters, politically-charged story and different gameplay. It was one among my very own private favourite video games of the yr, so after I heard that developer DigixArt was releasing a spin-off expertise, I used to be desirous to set off down the ol’ dusty street as soon as extra. This time, although, it’s been extra of a directionless amble than an epic journey to the border.

Mile 0 foregoes the procedurally-generated journey to the border, as a substitute specializing in the lives of two greatest associates who come from fully completely different backgrounds. Zoe, the red-headed, trombone-playing teen who additionally occurs to be the daughter of corrupt President Tyrak’s Minister of Oil that we met within the authentic sport, and Kaito, the son of a groundskeeper and cleaner below the oppressive regime. His girlfriend, Aya was identified with most cancers because of the horrible air pollution of Colton Metropolis, the polluted and harmful capital metropolis of Petria the place they beforehand resided. You’ll be able to see the place that is going. Regardless of each Zoe and Kaito getting on like a home on fireplace, there are political and social points that may inevitably hinder their friendship, and it’s this dynamic that the story of Mile 0 hones in on.

The issue is, all of it feels relatively apparent in its path. Virtually instantly, Zoe spots Kaito having a suspicious dialog with a stranger, of which the latter is especially cagey about. The vast majority of the sport focuses across the two teenagers skirting round awkward conversations and pretending every thing’s okay when it’s something however.

You’ll select from a few dialogue conversations to try to steer the story to the decision you need, however the selections and penalties system within the sport feels so skin-deep and superficial — merely transferring an arrow up and down a really imprecise bar within the higher left-hand nook — I oft questioned why it was included within the first place. Additionally, the dialogue choices you select aren’t voice acted in the course of the regular gameplay sections, which means that whichever of the 2 teenagers you’re not controlling seems to only be having a dialog with themselves. Nevertheless, when Mile 0 transitions right into a cutscene, each characters will chirp up and have a standard dialog. It’s a minor factor, but it surely’s jarring all the identical and takes away from the extent of polish {that a} narrative-driven expertise ought to have.

That being stated, there are moments of typically humorous dialogue and whereas the story is slightly clichéd, it’s a really private and somber one which highlights how politics and private circumstances akin to household can fracture a friendship. The place Highway 96 felt centered on offering an ever-changing and shocking street journey, although, Mile 0 feels misplaced in what it needs its focus to be.

This primarily comes all the way down to the gameplay, which is cut up between the standard Highway 96 fare of exploring environments, speaking with characters and fascinating in some very primary mini-games, and an odd, music-based on-rails ‘Rides’ mechanic. It’s these rides that I took most subject with, which is especially damning provided that’s the massive promoting level of the spin-off.

‘Rides’ see each Zoe and Kaito using down very linear paths by psychedelic environments, amassing gems to rack up rating and avoiding obstacles to maintain their combo going. There are some good licensed tracks in right here so as to add to the ambiance, however the controls really feel floaty and inaccurate, resulting in collisions that really feel much less about your individual talent stage and extra concerning the mechanics itself. That, mixed with stage designs that may make it troublesome to see whether or not you’re truly navigating obstacles or not, meant that regardless of the sport clearly wanting you to replay these segments to set new excessive scores, I had completely no need to try this.

There’s no rating requirement to progress by the story, both, so I’d stumble my manner by these sections after which instantly overlook about them, determined to get again to the extra typically-Highway 96 affair. For all their faults, there are some cool set-pieces in these, and the inclusion of The Offspring’s No Brakes led to one of many extra fulfilling situations of those segments.

However herein lies the issue with Mile 0. It looks like a hodgepodge of concepts, with random mini-games thrown in to pad out the runtime, relatively than specializing in what made the unique sport so darn good to start with — the colourful solid of characters you met alongside the best way. Whereas some do return akin to whizz-kid Alex and information anchor Sonya Sanchez, lots of them are relegated to very minor cameo roles the place they’re not given an opportunity to actually shine.

All in all, Highway 96: Mile 0 looks like a missed alternative. Moderately than constructing on what the unique sport had performed so properly, it deviates to inform an uninspired story with a gameplay mechanic that simply doesn’t actually really feel all that attention-grabbing to play. Highway 96 followers will discover one thing to love right here, however don’t go in anticipating an epic sequel. Even at simply five-hours, it will probably really feel like a little bit of a drag to complete.

Reviewer: Chris Jecks | Copy supplied by Writer.

Professionals

• Some humorous dialog when Mile 0 does what Highway 96 does greatest.
• Cameos of beloved characters from the primary sport will put a smile on followers’ faces.

Cons

• ‘Rides’ sections are a bit boring and lack any actual problem
• The story feels clichéd and apparent.

Launch Date
April 4, 2023

Developer
DigixArt

Writer
DigixArt, Ravenscourt

Consoles
PS5, PS4, Nintendo Swap, Xbox One, PC, Xbox Collection X|S