Road 96: Mile 0 explores Zoe’s life prior to the events of Road 96. The narrative focuses on Zoe, who resides in the affluent White Sands, and her close friendship with Kaito, who comes from a less privileged background. Their differing life experiences significantly shape their perspectives, leading to occasional disagreements despite their bond. The game allows players to delve into their world, thoughts, relationships, and aspirations. By playing as both Kaito and Zoe, players gain insight into their motivations and, for those familiar with Road 96, understand Zoe’s reasons for leaving everything behind.
While Road 96: Mile 0 shares visual similarities with the original Road 96, it distinguishes itself as a markedly different gaming experience. Unlike Road 96, which emphasized constant travel, Mile 0 offers a more localized experience, allowing players to explore White Sands in greater detail. A key addition is the introduction of Musical Rides, where players engage in skateboarding and roller-skating sequences representing dreams and thoughts. These tracks are replayable, encouraging players to achieve high scores.
The musical rides offer a novel and engaging gameplay element. However, their integration with the main narrative feels somewhat disjointed. They come across as mini-games that, while contributing to the plot, remain largely separate from it. This integration could be more seamless.
Consistent with the original game, Road 96: Mile 0 features high-quality voice acting and a compelling narrative. The game offers ample opportunities for exploration, with player choices influencing relationships, particularly the dynamic between Zoe and Kaito.
The graphics, while simple, are visually appealing and maintain a distinct style. Testing Road 96: Mile 0 on Xbox Series S revealed no performance issues, such as prolonged loading times or graphical glitches. The Musical Rides section exhibits smooth performance, with rapid respawn times ensuring a consistent flow.
A minor point of frustration with Road 96: Mile 0 is the occasional lack of clear direction, which can make navigation somewhat ambiguous. On a few occasions, progression felt more accidental than intentional. Furthermore, some of the objectives are relatively simple and do not present a significant challenge, seemingly designed to provide minimal engagement while the story unfolds.
In conclusion, Road 96: Mile 0 is recommended as a unique and unconventional title, much like its predecessor. It offers an enriching experience, particularly for those who have played Road 96, providing deeper insights into the world of Petria and its inhabitants.
