Releasing this April
Road 96was a road trip where your journey was assembled from parts and each attempt to reach the border of a fictional USA-alike played out differently. Now it’s getting a prequel. Road 96: Mile 0 stars Zoe, one of the hitchhikers who could join you in the original, and her best friend Kaito, and features “psychadelic musical rides.”
Here’s the announcement trailer:
Road 96 had seven different hitchhikers you could pick up, although of the set Zoe was arguably the main character. Kaito, her friend from a poor part of the same city, is an all-new character. Mile 0 seems set to explore their relationship, their “opposite backgrounds and beliefs”, and to offer a reason for why Zoe leaves for the road trip she’s on in Road 96.
When not making narrative choices, you’ll be playing rhythm based segments in which the characters skate or skateboard through abstract courses that reflect the character’s emotional journey.
This sounds like a difficult needle to thread, but Road 96 got a lot right in terms of its political complexity, character variety, and the way it allowed players to influence the story. Alice B was full of praise for it in herRoad 96 review.
Hopefully Mile 0 has the same variety and complexity and surprise even as it focuses on two characters rather than an ensemble. There’s not long to wait: it’s outon Steamon April 4th.
