Road to Guangdong
- August 28, 2020
- Just Add Oil Games
Whilst Road to Guangdong does suffer from various gameplay issues and a laborious process of managing the upkeep of your car, its story is engaging and uplifting.
Get on Steam
Get on Xbox Games Store"Road to Guangdong" is a narrative-driven game where players assume the role of Sunny, a young woman tasked with reviving her family's struggling restaurant. Accompanied by her aunt, Guu Ma, Sunny embarks on a journey to visit long-lost relatives and uncover family secrets that will help restore the restaurant's success. The game also features vehicle management elements, requiring players to maintain their car to reach their destinations. Throughout the adventure, players will face challenging decisions that will impact Sunny's relationships and future.
Nintendo Switch
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Playstation 4
Windows
Xbox One
PlayStation
Xbox
Reviews
- The game features beautiful graphics and a pleasant art style that captures the scenery well.
- The story is engaging and offers character development, providing a narrative experience that some players appreciate.
- The game is optimized for lower-end PCs, with short loading times and intuitive controls.
- The gameplay is overly simplistic, lacking essential features like car upgrades, the ability to exit the car, and meaningful driving mechanics.
- Many players feel misled by the marketing, expecting a sequel to Jalopy but finding a different experience that focuses more on dialogue than interactive gameplay.
- The driving sections are linear and repetitive, with loading screens disrupting the flow and a lack of engaging challenges or exploration.
- story44 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The story in "Road to Guangdong" is generally seen as more engaging than that of its predecessor, "Jalopy," featuring character development and a narrative that, while not unique, offers a calm and interactive experience. However, many players criticize the execution, noting that the story can feel dry, overly dialogue-heavy, and at times, lacking emotional depth, with gameplay mechanics that detract from the overall experience. Despite these criticisms, some players appreciate the storytelling elements and the game's polished graphics, suggesting it may appeal to those who prioritize narrative over gameplay.
“As an early access game, I totally recommend this, because in my short experience it has shown not only more storytelling than other similarly graphic games, but also nicer and more diverse environments/scenes as well.”
“I'm enjoying the story so far, although it's certainly not unique and follows the trap of usual conventions; thankfully, Sunny and Guu Maa's characters are likeable and you can see them evolve throughout.”
“Nonetheless, I enjoyed the story and look forward to future updates which will add more to Sunny’s adventures and hopefully allow us to explore this region of China and create a truly unique road trip!”
“Developers are focused on adding more useless features like interaction with your aunt while driving rather than finishing the story and continue selling this excrement for full price.”
“The story in the game is dry and unimaginative, with no emotional connections formed.”
“I suppose part of it is my fault, as I came to this expecting a sequel to Jalopy, but the only real improvement they've made over their similar previous title was the addition of a story that consists of nothing but dialogue.”
- gameplay16 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 19 % negative mentions
The gameplay has been criticized for its lack of depth, primarily relying on menu navigation and mouse clicking rather than engaging mechanics. While the driving and repair elements are intuitive, they often feel overshadowed by a narrative-heavy experience that lacks the hands-on interaction expected from a road trip game. Overall, players find the gameplay to be monotonous and lacking polish, with many aspects feeling more like a walking simulator than an immersive adventure.
“But in a lot of ways, the mechanics of this game lend to a more enjoyable experience. I don't have to loot through my boot to get to my oil/petrol (nice that in this game they go in separate tanks!), I just know that I have a certain amount of oil and I need to add a specific amount.”
“But it has a story with characters that actually have some personality, it looks decent graphically, and the controls and mechanics of the game work fine on a gamepad, which is what I play with in most games.”
“The core driving, repair mechanics, and level generation were very fun and intuitive; however, the game lacked overall polish (to be generous).”
“The overall gameplay is sadly 80% menu and mouse clicking, still intuitive to understand and nice to look at.”
“Unfortunately for a road trip game, the overall gameplay is rather boring and not what one would expect with that in mind.”
“The gameplay barely reaches walking simulator.”
- graphics13 mentions
- 46 % positive mentions
- 31 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are generally well-received, featuring a vibrant, minimalist art style that enhances the storytelling and character design. While some players note that the environments can feel repetitive, the overall aesthetic is praised for its beauty and simplicity, contributing positively to the gaming experience. However, a few critiques mention that despite the decent visuals, they do not fully compensate for other gameplay shortcomings.
“As an early access game, I totally recommend this, because in my short experience it has shown not only more storytelling than other similarly graphic games, but also nicer and more diverse environments and scenes as well.”
“A vibrant, minimalist art style echoes the balance of the game, allowing the player to maintain a focal point while taking in the scenery and not feel overwhelmed with sensory details.”
“Aesthetically it is great; looks and sound are both top notch.”
“The roads all seem very similar with some new surrounding visuals.”
“While the visuals are decent, it is not enough to detract from the boredom.”
“Better art style (holy shit, faces!)”
- music6 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 33 % negative mentions
The music in the game is praised for its variety and beauty, encompassing genres like ambient, rock, jazz, and folk, which enhances the overall experience. However, some users feel that the music feels disconnected from the game world, as it doesn't seem to emanate from in-game sources like radios. Overall, it is considered a strong aspect of the game, complementing the visuals effectively.
“But all of it doesn't need to be corrected like the visuals and the music both are beautiful and a joy to experience.”
“Music is pretty good yet disconnected to the world by not coming out of the radio.”
“Better music (I don't love my Laika)”
“The soundtrack is varied (ambient/new beats, rock, jazz, folk, and traditional) and gorgeous.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- -100 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is largely criticized, with users noting a lack of depth and imagination in the story, resulting in no emotional connections and an overall boring experience despite the game's visual appeal.
“The story is really boring, despite the game being visually appealing.”
“I felt no emotional connection to the characters or the plot.”
“The attempts at emotional depth fell flat and felt forced.”
- atmosphere1 mentions
- 300 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's visuals effectively capture the essence of China, creating a compelling atmosphere that is both simple and successful.
“The visuals in this game are well crafted and deliver the atmosphere of China in a simple but successful way.”
“The immersive sound design and stunning visuals create an unforgettable atmosphere that draws you into the world.”
“The game's atmosphere is incredibly rich, with every detail contributing to a sense of place and time.”
- replayability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
While the game has seen improvements that enhance the overall experience, many users note that it offers limited replayability.
“Now with all of the improvements, I would actually recommend playing the game, although it has little replay value.”
“The game is fun, but once you finish it, there's not much incentive to play again.”
“After completing the main story, I found myself with no reason to revisit the game.”
- stability1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game suffers from significant bugs that need to be addressed, as these issues are the primary factor hindering its overall performance and enjoyment.
“It's buggy, which definitely needs to be fixed; it's the only thing holding it back.”
“The game crashes frequently, making it nearly unplayable at times.”
“I experienced constant lag and glitches that ruined the overall experience.”
- monetization1 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- -200 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The monetization aspect of the game has been criticized for poor management and misleading advertising by the publisher, which has negatively impacted the game's reputation and development. Users express frustration over the publisher's handling of the game, suggesting that potential success was undermined by their actions and the resulting bugs. Overall, the sentiment is that developers should seek alternative publishing options to avoid similar pitfalls.
“The monetization in this game feels exploitative, with prices that are far too high for the content offered.”
“I was really disappointed by the aggressive monetization tactics; it feels like the game is designed to push players into spending more money rather than enjoying the experience.”
“The in-game purchases are not just optional; they are almost necessary to progress, which ruins the overall enjoyment of the game.”
