Road 96: Mile 0

66%
Game Brain Score Based on 745 reviews
  • story
  • music
  • gameplay
Road 96: Mile 0 Game Cover
Road 96: Mile 0 is a strong narrative adventure that not only builds on the original, but offers new and exciting gameplay elements.
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"Road 96: Mile 0" is a narrative-adventure game that follows the story of two teenagers, Zoe and Kaito, who have different backgrounds and beliefs, living in a luxurious condominium of Petria's elite. As they explore White Sands, their friendship and beliefs will be challenged, leading them to question where they belong in the world. This game is a prequel to the successful game "Road 96" and contains a musical component.

  • Nintendo Switch
  • PC
  • Phone
  • Play​station 4
  • Play​station 5
  • Steam Deck
  • Windows
  • Xbox One
  • Xbox Series X|S
  • Play​Station
  • Tablet
  • Xbox
Genres & TagsPlay Modes

Reviews

66%
Audience ScoreBased on 745 reviews
story203 positive mentions
grinding9 negative mentions
  • The game offers a compelling story that expands on Zoe's character and provides context for her actions in Road 96.
  • The soundtrack is excellent, featuring a mix of original music that enhances the overall experience.
  • The visuals are beautiful and capture the essence of the 90s aesthetic, making the game visually appealing.
  • The gameplay heavily relies on frustrating skating mini-games that detract from the narrative experience.
  • Choices feel less impactful compared to the original game, leading to a more linear and predictable storyline.
  • The game is significantly shorter than Road 96, which may leave players wanting more content and depth.
  • story626 mentions

    The story of "Road 96: Mile 0" is generally well-received, with many players appreciating the deeper exploration of Zoe's backstory and the emotional weight it carries. However, the integration of rhythm-based mini-games has been criticized for disrupting the narrative flow, leading to a perception that the gameplay detracts from the storytelling experience. While some find the story engaging and a valuable addition to the original game, others feel it lacks the depth and complexity of "Road 96," resulting in a more linear and less impactful narrative.

    • “The story itself is pretty good, and I really enjoyed getting to learn more about Zoe, her past, and what made her the person she is.”
    • “The emotional moments and storytelling are solid, and the game does a great job at capturing that rebellious energy from Road 96.”
    • “I loved the story and the minigames were okay, as I kind of like beat games.”
    • “The lackluster story, underwhelming gameplay, and shallow exploration leave much to be desired.”
    • “The mini-games make no sense in context, the story seems rushed and incomplete, and it was overall just really underwhelming.”
    • “The story is bland and doesn't seem to be truly impacted by player choices.”
  • music224 mentions

    The music in "Road 96: Mile 0" is widely praised for its high quality and diverse soundtrack, featuring both original compositions and licensed tracks that enhance the game's atmosphere. While many players appreciate the integration of music into gameplay through unique "musical rides," some find these segments frustrating or repetitive, detracting from the overall experience. Overall, the soundtrack is considered a standout feature, though opinions vary on how well the rhythm-based gameplay complements the narrative.

    • “The game features unique 'music rides' that are thematically tied to the story, enhancing the overall experience.”
    • “The soundtrack is incredible, with a diverse collection of music that perfectly complements the gameplay and story.”
    • “I absolutely loved the mixture of story and music, and the soundtrack is a masterpiece that keeps me coming back to play.”
    • “I really enjoyed the first game, but this one with a lot of music minigames is just annoying.”
    • “The music game should not have been added.”
    • “These music parts of the game are not enjoyable and detract from the experience.”
  • gameplay211 mentions

    The gameplay in "Road 96: Mile 0" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over the shift from the original's mechanics to a focus on rhythm-based and skating segments, which they found frustrating and unpolished. While some appreciated the creative storytelling and music, others felt that the new gameplay elements detracted from the narrative immersion and overall experience, leading to a perception of the game as lacking depth and replayability compared to its predecessor. Overall, the gameplay is seen as a significant departure from the original, with a blend of enjoyable moments overshadowed by clunky mechanics and a less engaging structure.

    • “Extended on the story in a very creative way whilst still upholding the original story with new and fun although frustrating mechanics.”
    • “The replay value is through the roof, there's a wide cast of characters with unique stories that breathe life into the pitiful world of Petria, the gameplay loop is engaging and interesting because your choices are reflected to you immediately and with impact, and honestly the music and vibes were immaculate.”
    • “I absolutely loved this - I won't lie and say I wasn't hesitant on the mechanic change initially, but once I actually got down to it, I fell in love!”
    • “Good example of a great story ruined by bad gameplay.”
    • “The music during those sections is fantastic, and I’ll give the game credit for nailing the vibe, but the actual gameplay in those parts was just frustrating.”
    • “The gameplay is shallow and far from what made Road 96 enjoyable.”
  • graphics79 mentions

    The graphics in the game have seen noticeable improvements over its predecessor, featuring a unique and vibrant art style that captures a retro 90s aesthetic. However, performance issues, including frame rate drops and graphical glitches, detract from the overall experience, leading to mixed feelings among players. While many appreciate the visuals and thematic use of color, some feel that the graphics serve more as an art project rather than enhancing the gameplay or narrative depth.

    • “Big pro for me are the graphics and environment of this game, which is amazing.”
    • “The art style and the graphics have improved since Road 96, as well as characters' animations no longer looking robotic but more realistic with no reused animations.”
    • “Graphics are amazing and thank you devs for making a game I would never forget for the rest of my life <3”
    • “While the graphics definitely are a downside to the game, looking incredibly blurred and often enough ugly or unrealistic, points have to be awarded for the use of color and thematics in the rhythmic parts of the game.”
    • “There are no actual graphics settings and the performance is unstable with framerate dips all the way down to the 20s in open areas.”
    • “That being said, I experienced a lot of graphical glitches, particularly towards the end of the game; the weather looked very ugly and distorted, as well as the foliage if you look close enough.”
  • emotional26 mentions

    The emotional aspect of the game receives mixed reviews, with many players appreciating its solid storytelling and nostalgic connections to the first game, "Road 96." However, some feel that the emotional impact is undermined by gameplay choices, such as repetitive mechanics that detract from key moments. While it has its touching moments and can evoke strong feelings, particularly in its ending, it struggles to match the depth and emotional resonance of its predecessor.

    • “The emotional moments and storytelling are solid, and the game does a great job at capturing that rebellious energy from Road 96.”
    • “🎯 Road 96: Mile 0 is a well-crafted and emotionally impactful experience that provides a good introduction to the Petria world and mechanics of Road 96.”
    • “I loved it like I loved Road 96, but it made me cry more than Road 96 did, so I'll give it that.”
  • replayability22 mentions

    Overall, the game's replayability is mixed among reviewers. While some praise the engaging story and character depth, noting high replay value due to multiple endings and impactful choices, others criticize the limited gameplay and short duration, leading to a lack of incentive to replay. Many recommend waiting for a sale, as the experience may not justify the price for those seeking significant replay opportunities.

    • “The replay value is through the roof, there's a wide cast of characters with unique stories that breathe life into the pitiful world of Petria. The gameplay loop is engaging and interesting because your choices are reflected to you immediately and with impact, and honestly, the music and vibes were immaculate.”
    • “It's short but has great replay value, considering almost every action you do affects the outcome of the ending, so it's hard not to want to replay it after your first go!”
    • “Simply because it's longer, bigger, and has lots of replay value because of the game's procedural aspects.”
    • “For the price it is at, it's okay, but I would still recommend getting it on sale. There is little opportunity for replayability since the choices don't have that big of an impact. Personally, I feel like it's only at the end where your choice finally matters, and not even that much.”
    • “There's less than five hours of gameplay here, including the stupid skating game, and unless you like skating games (I don't), zero replayability, because the skating part is annoying to the point that I have zero desire to replay the rest to see different endings.”
    • “I played a bit over 4 hours and I have beaten the game; replayability is... slim to honestly more like none.”
  • grinding16 mentions

    Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and frustrating, often feeling that it detracts from the overall experience. While some enjoy the auto-runner music segments, many criticize the repetitive mini-games and skating sections as pointless and lacking in engagement. The game is described as needing significant time investment for grinding, which can lead to a sense of boredom and dissatisfaction.

    • “A bit grindy sometimes.”
    • “A bit grindy.”
    • “You'll need a second life for grinding.”
    • “The mini-games felt pointless and tedious and honestly pulled me out of the story.”
    • “The mini-games with the skating are just tedious; I hate it and it just doesn't feel anything like the first game, and it's a shame.”
  • humor15 mentions

    The humor in the game is characterized by a blend of absurdity and clever writing, featuring funny skateboarding segments and engaging character interactions that evoke both laughter and sadness. While the game successfully incorporates comedic elements and entertaining mini-games, some reviewers noted that it lacks the sharp satire and wit of its predecessor, Road 96. Overall, the humor enhances the experience, making it enjoyable and memorable, despite some critiques regarding the depth of the story.

    • “The original game was very subtle, allowing you to act in the moment, taking uninformed decisions based on your goodwill and hunch, while being absurdly hilarious at times, and giving you really surprising outcomes, plot twists, and sub-plot overlaps.”
    • “Just like its predecessor, Mile 0 has a great soundtrack and a very good set of interesting and funny characters.”
    • “The game is funny, enjoyable, sad, and easily one of my most favorite games of all time!”
    • “Mile 0 is an absurdly comical game that is not funny, portraying a political dystopia as a caricature, and tells the tale of two teenagers who don’t feel like they understand the slightest thing about the political world they find themselves in.”
  • atmosphere15 mentions

    Overall, the atmosphere of the game is a mixed bag; while some players praise its immersive music, visuals, and world-building, others feel it lacks the depth and intensity of its predecessor. The shift to more arcade-like elements detracts from the serious tone, leading to a less engaging experience. Despite some beautiful settings, many reviewers note that the atmosphere feels diminished compared to earlier installments.

    • “However, the music, atmosphere, and characters are well made.”
    • “The setting, music, and atmosphere are gorgeous, as always, and just being back in the '96 universe was a joy.”
    • “This prequel to Road 96, a game I loved for its characters, music, and atmosphere, is just amazing.”
    • “The overall atmosphere of the game is dead from the get-go.”
    • “A game like that shouldn't open with a dark and intense dialogue that colors the atmosphere in rather dark shades.”
    • “Unfortunately, the magical and special atmosphere of the first part is missing.”
  • optimization12 mentions

    The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with users reporting significant performance issues regardless of graphical settings, including unstable framerates and texture clipping. Many noted that despite improved graphics, the overall execution feels unrefined, leading to a frustrating experience marred by artifacts and bugs. While some players enjoyed the game overall, the optimization remains a major drawback.

    • “The biggest issue with this game is probably the optimization - bigger performance drops on some maps, but I can overlook that, because, overall, I enjoyed the game.”
    • “The performance of the game is terrible.”
    • “It's unoptimized at all, with mirrors and reflections backed with artifacts and texture clipping all over the place.”
    • “There are no actual graphics settings and the performance is unstable with framerate dips all the way down to the 20s in open areas.”
  • stability11 mentions

    The stability of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant glitches, particularly on the Steam Deck, where it is described as laggy and prone to crashes. While some users experienced minor visual issues, others faced more severe problems that affected gameplay, such as character glitches and graphical distortions. Overall, the game's stability appears to be inconsistent, with a notable divide between those who encountered numerous bugs and those who reported a smoother experience.

    • “I've had several glitches with the game on multiple playthroughs. The run where you are inside the mansion had a section where all the blue diamond items were missing until I restarted the run. I also had an issue during the last run where my character glitched out right after the first QTE section and just kept jumping automatically.”
    • “First of all, it's just unplayable on Steam Deck despite 'full compatibility' claims: it's laggy, it's buggy, and it crashes a lot.”
    • “That being said, I experienced a lot of graphical glitches, particularly towards the end of the game; the weather looked very ugly and distorted, as well as the foliage if you look close enough.”
  • character development5 mentions

    Character development in the game is largely centered around Zoe, whose journey is visually appealing but ultimately feels underdeveloped and lacking depth. While some players appreciate the nods to her past, many express disappointment in the overall character arcs, noting a lack of meaningful backstories and a sense that the characters, including Zoe, do not significantly enhance the narrative.

    • “I love seeing Zoe's character development and the nice easter eggs from the first game.”
    • “While visually appealing and somewhat important for character developments at times, they somewhat lessen the experience overall and add a sense of challenge to the game which doesn't really fit the type of game it's supposed to be in my opinion.”
    • “She honestly wasn't needed in the story, and we barely know anything about her other than she died of cancer and was Kaito's friend, and I wish there was more character development than wanting to just simply get out of Petria and having a friend dying.”
    • “I really feel disappointed about Zoe's character development.”
    • “She honestly wasn't needed in the story, and we barely know anything about her other than she died of cancer and was Kaito's friend. I wish there was more character development than just wanting to get out of Petria and having a friend dying.”
    • “If you were looking for any meaningful backstories or character developments outside of Zoe, you'll be disappointed.”
  • monetization5 mentions

    The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized as a cash grab, with players feeling that it lacks the depth and quality of its predecessor, Road 96. Many reviewers express disappointment that the focus seems to be on quick financial gain rather than delivering a compelling narrative or character development, leading to a perception of the game as a cheaply made product.

    • “My inner self started to yell, 'This is a cheaply made Unity engine game that was a quick cash grab on the success of Road 96.'”
    • “I hope the developers understand that this looks like a cash grab riding off the success of the first game.”
    • “I don't normally leave bad reviews, but playing this game made me feel like it was nothing more than a cash grab. I expected a road trip simulator again and got a cheesy skill check-based Tony Hawk remake. I played through just because I loved the first one.”
Positive mentions (%)Positive
Neutral mentions (%)Neutral
Negative mentions (%)Negative

Critic Reviews

58% average critic score

Buy Road 96: Mile 0

Play time

3hMedian play time
3hAverage play time
2-4hSpent by most gamers
*Based on 5 analyzed playthroughs

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