{"id":21019,"date":"2021-08-16T05:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-08-16T09:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/vgu.tv\/?p=21019"},"modified":"2021-08-16T02:08:29","modified_gmt":"2021-08-16T06:08:29","slug":"road-96-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/vgu.tv\/?p=21019","title":{"rendered":"Road 96 Review &#8211; The Road is My Home"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-cyan-bluish-gray-color has-text-color has-small-font-size\"><em>Reviewed on PC. Thank you to DigixArt for this advanced copy<\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Inspired by the harrowing tales of anyone who\u2019s ever left their country in search of a better life, <em>Road 96<\/em> puts players in the shoes of those very people, setting out on a journey they\u2019ll never forget. From the moment I first took control of my unnamed protagonist, I knew this game would be something special. Being a fan of Telltale games and other titles with choice-based narratives, <em>Road 96 <\/em>instantly felt like something simplistic in concept, and beautiful in practice. Thankfully, I was not prepared for the incredible adventure ahead of me, and I was on the edge of my seat the entire time. <em>Road 96 <\/em>takes a tried-and-true formula and makes something fresh and exciting out of it, with a narrative that\u2019s as gut-wrenching as it is death-defying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21054\" data-id=\"21054\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r1-2.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21055\" data-id=\"21055\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r2-2.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21056\" data-id=\"21056\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r3-2.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Road 96<\/em> takes place in the fictional land of Petria; it\u2019s unclear to me whether or not Petria is the city you are in or the country you are escaping. All that is known is that teenagers keep going missing in Petria, which has been used as a popular talking point for the upcoming election. <em>Road 96<\/em> takes some not-so-subtle cues from America\u2019s government of late, with an egotistical, money-hungry President Tyrak &#8211; associated with the color red &#8211; and his female competitor Florres &#8211; associated with the color blue &#8211; who vows to bring about progressive change for Petria. One of the coolest things about <em>Road 96<\/em>\u2019s gameplay hook is the ability to shape your character however you may want, which means you can swing either direction or choose to be more indifferent and fight for nothing but your own needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The story of <em>Road 96<\/em> plays out over the course of about six days &#8211; give or take a couple of deaths &#8211; each with a new protagonist. At the start of each day, the player chooses a new random teen to step into the place of, inheriting their current energy bar, money, and distance from the border. Each teen is heading to the border and, in turn, their freedom. However, freedom comes at the cost of certain factors, like the aforementioned energy and money, both of which can be obtained through the story by making proper choices (eating, sleeping, searching for spare change, doing good deeds, etc.) The joy of <em>Road 96 <\/em>is forging your own path, and unlike a Telltale game where the finale seems scripted no matter what choices led you there, this game changes at the drop of a hat, and the choices really feel endless. For example, at the end of one run, I had five options available to cross the border with. These included things to spend money on, things to spend energy on, or even some paths that were completely luck-based. Every teen has the same goal but will encounter different story choices that culminate in how they\u2019ll get across the border. In one playthrough, I had a full energy bar, so I chose to take the scenic mountain path and experienced a beautiful escape to freedom. In another, I lacked sufficient funds to pay for help sneaking across the border, so I was left to fend for myself against border security &#8211; and ended up getting arrested. It\u2019s a tough world out there, and each narrative keeps you on your toes in terms of resource management.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Surprisingly, every teen having the same end goal never feels redundant, as the story is peppered with side characters to keep the action fresh and exciting. Especially after the first day, it\u2019s such a pleasant sight to come across a familiar face as a new teenager. What makes it even more enjoyable is how the game structures the narrative in a way that you cannot cheat the system. For example, one plotline has you trying to stop a murder attempt, and halfway through I knew who the killer would be, using clues from past teenager\u2019s experiences. <em>But<\/em>, because <em>this <\/em>teenager didn\u2019t know those things, I was forced to just take it in stride and hope the side characters figure it out. It\u2019s unique, being simultaneously omnipresent and at the mercy of an ever-shifting gameplay experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21039\" data-id=\"21039\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r4-1.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21041\" data-id=\"21041\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r5-1.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21042\" data-id=\"21042\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r6-1.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Road 96<\/em>\u2019s side characters are an eccentric bunch, from a gruff truck driver to a duo of masked robbers, to a conceited talk show host, to an African American police officer. Every character\u2019s story comes with its own set of problems, uplifting moments, and power-ups. That\u2019s right, I said power-ups. Most characters offer some genre-defying mini-game sequence &#8211; whether it\u2019s an FPS segment, a rhythm game segment, or a \u201cdon\u2019t collide with oncoming traffic\u201d segment, just to name a few &#8211; and most of these offer a special power-up in return. These go to the player, not the teenager, and unlock such abilities as \u201cmore persuasive dialogue options\u201d or \u201chacking abilities\u201d or \u201cincreased luck,\u201d which can be used for the rest of the game. I love the inclusion of these power-ups because it opens up new possibilities for the following teenagers, and helps add a new gameplay perspective to <em>Road 96<\/em>\u2019s flow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>My favorite part of <em>Road 96<\/em> was ultimately my least, with the side characters offering the best and worst parts of the game. Some characters are just incredibly irritating: I\u2019m looking at you, Alex. Alex is a 14-year-old tech wizard who speaks with dated &#8217;90s references (yes, I\u2019m aware the game takes place in the &#8217;90s, but that doesn\u2019t make it any more tolerable) and is almost entirely unlikeable. His main arc stems from losing his parents in a terrorist attack and wanting to know more about them. He\u2019ll stop at nothing to learn about them, going so far as to side with the same terrorist group that got his parents killed in order to learn more. It should be a very tear-jerking tale, what he goes through, but I can\u2019t help but be pulled out of the emotion with every \u201cyo,\u201d \u201cdog,\u201d and \u201chomegirl\u201d he spews at me. Not to mention, <em>Road 96<\/em>\u2019s voice acting cast is really quite weak. Except for John, the grizzly truck driver I\u2019d mentioned earlier, nobody really puts their backs into their performance. John is a joy to watch, though, as he flips between a caring father figure and an ominous bearded ball of anger. He\u2019s a softie at heart, which makes it all the harder to decide \u201cdo I wanna turn him in for being a terrorist? That $5000 is looking mighty fine right now.\u201d But I digress, it\u2019s just noticeably bad at times how untrained these voice actors are. This is a small price to pay, though, when the game\u2019s writing makes up for it in the end.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21043\" data-id=\"21043\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r7.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21044\" data-id=\"21044\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r8.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21045\" data-id=\"21045\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r9.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Voice acting aside, <em>Road 96<\/em>\u2019s background elements are quite breathtaking. I\u2019m talking mainly of its visuals and its soundtrack, both of which blew me away with each passing day. The art of <em>Road 96<\/em> is reminiscent of <em>Borderlands<\/em>\u2019s cel-shading, but with less detail added to make it feel even more like a storybook. I didn\u2019t even mind the emptiness of the world as a whole, as driving along the road and watching trees and buildings pop up as the horizon comes into view is such a satisfying visual. Aside from stationary objects, animations like fire and waterfalls look gorgeous, and even the mouths of the NPCs look accurate and realistic. It\u2019s apparent that a lot of care was put into this game\u2019s graphics, and it runs beautifully.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Furthermore, the music of <em>Road 96<\/em> is absolutely fantastic. Collectibles are scattered about the environment in the form of cassette tapes, which can be given to the player by NPCs, found in vehicles, or purchased at stores. These tapes play tracks from the game\u2019s original soundtrack, and they can then be played on radios and boomboxes throughout the game. Even certain characters come with their own theme songs. Zoe\u2019s theme in particular &#8211; she\u2019s the red-headed free spirit who ran away from home with nothing but her trombone &#8211; plays every time she\u2019s encountered, and even though the lyrics can be overpowering against NPC dialogue, it\u2019s such a festive Jack Johnson-esque tune that I welcomed its presence every time and simply basked in it. I just might purchase the separate soundtrack for this song alone.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Road 96<\/em> is a charming adventure game with minimal hiccups to throw off its appeal. With a story that plays out over a few short days, there is so much to explore in about six hours, and doing so through the eyes of multiple different characters is such a brilliant, uncharted concept. There are choices you\u2019ll come across that impact the world around you &#8211; as well as the primary election story arc &#8211; but all in all, I found it fun to play around with the varying story choices with each teen. In my first playthrough, I played as if I were myself, as I do in Telltale games. In my second, I had an aggressively progressive \u201call cops are bastards\u201d approach. In another, I was a conservative do-gooder who never stepped out of line. In yet another, I chose to take an indecisive approach, only looking out for myself and refusing to pick a side. I got arrested in that one. But hey, that\u2019s the joy of <em>Road 96<\/em>! I\u2019ve never felt so free in a video game. There are so many choices, and so many ways to go about every scene. Every loading screen gives you an update on each NPC\u2019s story progression, so you can see how far along the entire plot is. It\u2019s helpful, I just wish there were some more NPC\u2019s to talk to and learn from. Every character is so unique, including the player characters, and I would love to learn even more about the everyday people of Petria.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow aligncenter\" data-effect=\"slide\"><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_container swiper-container\"><ul class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_swiper-wrapper swiper-wrapper\"><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21047\" data-id=\"21047\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r10.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21048\" data-id=\"21048\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r11.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><li class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_slide swiper-slide\"><figure><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1080\" height=\"608\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_image wp-image-21049\" data-id=\"21049\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&#038;ssl=1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=1080%2C608&amp;ssl=1 1080w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=300%2C169&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=768%2C432&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=1536%2C864&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=1200%2C675&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=213%2C120&amp;ssl=1 213w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?resize=1140%2C641&amp;ssl=1 1140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/r12.jpg?w=1920&amp;ssl=1 1920w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1000px) 100vw, 1000px\" \/><\/figure><\/li><\/ul><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-prev swiper-button-prev swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-next swiper-button-next swiper-button-white\" role=\"button\"><\/a><a aria-label=\"Pause Slideshow\" class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_button-pause\" role=\"button\"><\/a><div class=\"wp-block-jetpack-slideshow_pagination swiper-pagination swiper-pagination-white\"><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Road 96<\/em> is a world that feels lived-in, and for once the player isn\u2019t just playing out <em>a <\/em>story, they\u2019re playing out multiple in a world that\u2019s already on the brink of disaster. I\u2019m actually excited to replay <em>Road 96<\/em>. I can\u2019t wait to see it all again through six more pairs of eyes. I can\u2019t wait to see the different spray-painted writings on the cave beneath the waterfall from all of my teenagers. The waterfall is the place they all come before finally attempting to cross the border; it\u2019s the place where all their stories intertwine, if only for a brief moment. Whether you\u2019re stopping by to rest, add a rock to the cairn, or leave some money for the next weary crosser, the waterfall at <em>Road 96<\/em> is the cornerstone of the journey you\u2019ve made. It\u2019s a symbolic reminder that we all come from different paths, but we all want the same thing, and that\u2019s a sense of freedom, family, and acceptance &#8211; everything <em>Road 96<\/em> wears proudly on its sleeve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Final Score:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\"><figure class=\"alignleft size-full is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"21051\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/vgu.tv\/?attachment_id=21051\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/a.png?fit=151%2C151&amp;ssl=1\" data-orig-size=\"151,151\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"a\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/a.png?fit=151%2C151&amp;ssl=1\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/a.png?resize=150%2C150&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-21051\" width=\"150\" height=\"150\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/a.png?w=151&amp;ssl=1 151w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/a.png?resize=120%2C120&amp;ssl=1 120w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 150px) 100vw, 150px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Road 96 takes a tried-and-true formula and makes something fresh and exciting out of it.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":104224742,"featured_media":21063,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"Road 96 is a journey unlike any other. Come see what Graydon thought of this new narrative adventure game from DigixArt!","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2},"_wpas_customize_per_network":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[15656407,1745],"tags":[682626406,682625894,682621871,682621795,2607,682621817,682626315],"class_list":["post-21019","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-game-reviews","category-reviews","tag-digixart","tag-prime-3","tag-indie","tag-narrative","tag-pc","tag-review","tag-road-96"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v25.1 (Yoast SEO v27.6) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Road 96 Review - The Road is My Home - VGU.TV<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Providing an in-depth look at teens in turmoil at the border, Road 96 flips the narrative genre on its head to deliver an emotional journey.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/vgu.tv\/?p=21019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Road 96 Review - The Road is My Home\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Providing an in-depth look at teens in turmoil at the border, Road 96 flips the narrative genre on its head to deliver an emotional journey.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/vgu.tv\/?p=21019\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"VGU.TV\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/VGU.TV\/?eid=ARDE84r-3jN3IdyC7titleE19Nt39CxR8um7mdh83scPowYtsH4cSXt7MKyeYtsaU_GN-XOI5_9qwJ7L\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2021-08-16T09:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/vgu.tv\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/08\/image-22.png?fit=1280%2C720&ssl=1\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/png\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Graydon Webb\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@VGU_TV\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@VGU_TV\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Graydon Webb\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"11 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vgu.tv\\\/?p=21019#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vgu.tv\\\/?p=21019\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Graydon Webb\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/vgu.tv\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/94d1723435708dc07d1af96311e527e4\"},\"headline\":\"Road 96 Review &#8211; 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