Info about Road 96: Mile 0:

Official game description:
  
Road 96: Mile 0 is a Narrative-Adventure game with a musical component created by DigixArt, the French studio behind the successful Road 96, 11-11 Memories Retold and 5 Pegases Awards winner. Published by Ravenscourt, players will alternate between the roles of Zoe and Kaito, two teenagers with different backgrounds and beliefs. They live and explore White Sands, a luxurious condominium where Petria´s elite reside and where Kaito´s parents work.  
Zoe is one of the characters of Road 96. She comes from the rich side of the city and her father works for the government. Kaito, a character from Lost in Harmony, lives in the less privileged area. They're good friends, but that could all change quite soon.  
Their journey in Road 96: Mile 0 will challenge their friendship and everything they believe in. They say money doesn’t buy happiness, nor friendship. These teens are dreamers and they are going to learn where they belong. Will they remain friends?  
**Road 96 World**  
Understand the previous event of Road 96 and what made Zoe flee from her home. Play as Zoe and Kaito to shape the evolution of their fate. Besides this, you will run into many of the colorful characters from Road 96. Get to experience another side of the troubled country of Petria.  
**It's All About Friendship**  
This is a story about conflict and difference of opinion between two friends. Zoe and Kaito come from two different worlds, but they are unified by a powerful friendship. They will face many challenges, can they overcome them?  
**Musical Rides**  
The musical segments of the game are a real emotional experience that put you into inner worlds of Zoe and Kaito. You will have to make choices and ride and dodge to find your way through these beautiful psychedelic trips.

Release date: Apr 4, 2023

Categories: Choice-driven Narrative, Rhythm Game, Music-based Gameplay, Exploration, Multiple Endings

Feature scans:
- Proton/Linux: score 10; verdict: Works Well; summary: User reviews contain very few Linux/Proton-specific mentions. One report of a crash on Steam Deck but no corroborating evidence of widespread issues. The game likely runs well on Proton/Linux with no major friction.
- Steam Deck: score 85; verdict: Broken - Crashes and Unplayable Sections; summary: The game has significant stability and usability issues on Steam Deck, including crashes, stuttering despite 60 FPS, and poor UI readability/control responsiveness, making it far from a smooth experience. The official green checkmark is disputed by users.

- Hardware Profile:
  - Summary: Players with less than 8GB VRAM report significant performance issues in free roam areas, with poor optimization.
  - Sample size: 27 (5% coverage)
  - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
  - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 20 reports): Reports poor performance in free roam sections, especially in White Sands, with unexpectedly poor optimization.
  - Caveats: 27 of 505 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based.
Feature extractions:
- Community Price:
  - Community fair range: $5.00 - $10.00
  - Reasoning: Most reviews advise purchasing the game at a discount, with explicit mentions of 50% off and 80% off as worthwhile, indicating that the current base price of $12.96 is generally considered too high. However, one review finds the price reasonable. The community fair price range is estimated between $5 and $10, covering the discount levels suggested while acknowledging the minority positive view.
- Playtime Metrics:
  - Game completion: 5.0h
  - Story completion: 4.0h
  - Session length: 4.0h
  - Endgame: N/A
  - Reasoning: Multiple reviews consistently report story/campaign completion between 3.5 and 4.5 hours, with a typical estimate of 4 hours. One reviewer notes a single-session playthrough, indicating the game can be finished in one sitting, aligning session length with story completion. For full completion including all achievements (e.g., S ranks on all tracks), one review explicitly states 5 hours, which I use for game completion. No reliable evidence exists for distinct endgame hours beyond achievement hunting, so endgame is set to null.
- Time-to-fun:
  - Summary: The game initially entertains with its mini-games but quickly becomes repetitive and boring, with excitement fading within the first hour; only the final departure from White Sands rekindles fun.
  - Stance: Fun then drops
  - Anchor: Leaving white sands
  - Time to anchor: N/A
  - Friction: repetitive mini-games; boring skate sections; lack of impactful choices; tedious gameplay that drags out the game
  - Unlock drivers: reducing mini-game frequency; skipping sections; playing with friends
  - Conditions: playing with friends (co-op); being a fan of the original Road 96
- Player Archetypes:
  - Road 96 Loyalist (deep sale)
    - Motivation: Lore completion and nostalgia for the original Road 96 experience
    - Playstyle: Expects open-ended exploration, meaningful choices, and random encounters; rejects the rhythm-focused gameplay
    - Experience: veteran
    - Purchase stance: deep sale
    - Labels: Road 96 fan; fan of the series; original game lover
    - Reference games: Road 96
  - Rhythm Challenge Hunter (sale)
    - Motivation: Achievement hunting, high-score chasing, and mastering rhythmic challenges
    - Playstyle: Focuses on perfecting tracks, collecting achievements, and enjoying arcade-like gameplay loops
    - Experience: familiar
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: completionist; achievement hunter; rhythm game fan
    - Reference games: Kingdom Hearts: Melody of Memory; Subway Surfers; Temple Run
  - Narrative-Driven Casual (sale)
    - Motivation: Immersive storytelling, character backstory, and atmosphere
    - Playstyle: Moves through narrative beats with light interactive elements; enjoys dialogue choices and cutscenes, not seeking mechanical depth
    - Experience: mixed
    - Purchase stance: sale
    - Labels: story lover; casual player; atmosphere fan
    - Reference games: Road 96; Lost in Harmony


Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category.
Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews.
What players like:
- Excellent prequel story (weight 0.29): The game serves as a strong prequel to Road 96, expanding lore and tying in seamlessly with the original. Players appreciate the added context and character depth.
- Compelling Zoe backstory (weight 0.28): Zoe's background is thoroughly explored, giving players a deeper understanding of her character. The prequel provides satisfying context for her actions in Road 96.
- Great soundtrack and music (weight 0.19): The soundtrack is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the game experience. Music remains consistent with the high standards set by Road 96.
- Strong character development (weight 0.16): Both Zoe and Kaito are well-written and developed, with meaningful interactions that deepen the story. Their relationship is a highlight for many players.
- Beautiful art and graphics (weight 0.15): The art style is charming and fitting, with great visuals and locations that complement the narrative. Graphics are consistently noted as a strong point.
- Well-connected to Road 96 (weight 0.11): The game maintains strong connections to Road 96 through characters, lore, and story elements, pleasing fans of the series. It enriches the overall universe.
- New characters add depth (weight 0.06): The introduction of new characters, especially Kaito, adds fresh dynamics to the story. They are well-developed and engaging.

Common complaints:
- Inferior to the original game (weight 0.57): Players consistently feel this game does not capture the magic, charm, immersion, or grandeur of the first game. Many express disappointment that it fails to live up to expectations, lacking the emotional impact and replay value of the original.
- Minigames are repetitive and boring (weight 0.22): Many reviews criticize the minigames for being repetitive, tedious, and breaking immersion. Players find them unnecessary, boring after a few tries, and feel they are used to pad playtime without adding meaningful fun.
- Story is weak and disappointing (weight 0.19): The story is criticized as bland, poorly written, padded, and lacking the depth and thought-provoking nature of the original. The ending is described as nonsensical.
- Shorter playtime than expected (weight 0.17): The game is frequently described as very short, with playtime around 3-4 hours, even for 100% completion. This brevity contributes to the feeling of insufficient content for the price.
- Less freedom and variety than first game (weight 0.16): Compared to the original, this game offers less character variety, less freedom, and less replay value. The gameplay feels more linear and constrained, reducing the sense of exploration.
- Not suitable for original fans (weight 0.16): A notable number of players feel this game is not a proper continuation and does not match the vibe or gameplay style of Road 96. It is seen as disappointing for fans who expected a similar experience.
- Feels like DLC, not full game (weight 0.15): A common complaint is that the content and quality resemble supplemental DLC rather than a standalone full-priced game. Players feel it is stretched and not worth the full price, diminishing its value.
- Choices feel meaningless (weight 0.12): Players report that choices have almost no impact on the story or ending, except for minor cosmetic changes to the final cinematic. This removes the sense of agency that made the first game engaging.
- Feels like a mobile game (weight 0.07): Some players draw comparisons to low-quality mobile games, noting that the mechanics and overall feel are more suited to a mobile platform, which diminishes the experience.

Gameplay feedback:
- Subway Surfers-like gameplay (weight 0.25): Many reviews note the inclusion of a running or endless runner style gameplay that closely resembles Subway Surfers or Temple Run. These segments involve dodging obstacles and collecting items on a skateboard or on foot.
- Choice-based narrative (weight 0.22): The game features a choice-driven narrative where player decisions influence dialogue, story outcomes, multiple endings, and character perspectives. Choices have consequences that shape the overall experience.
- Prequel to Road 96 (weight 0.21): The game is widely recognized as a prequel to Road 96, telling the story of Zoe and set before the events of the original game. It explores the backstory of Petria and how it led to the collapse seen in the first game.
- Rhythm-based skateboarding segments (weight 0.19): A major portion of the game involves rhythm-based skateboarding or roller skating sections, often described as an obstacle course or mini-game. These segments are a primary gameplay element that shifts the focus to musical timing.
- Combines rhythm and runner (weight 0.14): The game blends rhythm-based mini-games with endless runner mechanics, creating a unique but repetitive hybrid. Players must time actions to music while navigating a forward-scrolling path.
- Includes various mini-games (weight 0.08): In addition to the main gameplay, there are several mini-game-like activities such as Connect Four and other simple challenges. These are interspersed to break up the narrative and provide variety.
- Different from Road 96 (weight 0.07): While set in the same world, the gameplay is notably different from the original Road 96, being smaller in scope and more focused on rhythm and runner segments. The narrative still follows a story-driven adventure format.
- Narrative adventure with rhythm (weight 0.06): Overall, the game is a narrative adventure that incorporates rhythm game sequences and music-based elements. It balances storytelling with interactive, musical challenges.
- Parkour game elements (weight 0.05): The game includes parkour mechanics as a main element, with players performing jumps and vaults over obstacles. This adds an acrobatic dimension to the traversal and mini-games.
- Two playable characters (weight 0.05): Players control two main characters, Zoe and Kaito, through the story. This dual perspective allows for different experiences and choices that affect the narrative.

Performance notes:
- Consistent crashes during gameplay (weight 0.09): Several reviews mention the game crashing consistently at the same point during gameplay, including specific levels like Central Square and the residential park.
- Frequent crashes on startup (weight 0.06): Multiple users report the game crashing to desktop on startup or after a few minutes of play. This is a critical blocking issue for many.
- Poor optimization compared to first game (weight 0.06): Users note that the game has worse optimization than its predecessor, with performance issues in certain scenes and general poor optimization.
- Crashes and issues on Steam Deck (weight 0.06): The game crashes, stutters, and has screen tearing on Steam Deck. Users recommend switching to Proton 7.0 and question the official verified status.
- Performance drops in free roam areas (weight 0.06): Big performance issues occur in free roam sections, especially in White Sands. Frame drops to 50 and FPS drops when looking at central points are reported.
- No FOV slider (locked at 50) (weight 0.05): The field of view is locked at 50 with no FOV slider available, which caused headaches for one user.

Recommendations:
- Comparison to Road 96 (weight 0.7): Many reviews compare this game to Road 96, with some recommending it for fans seeking more lore and others advising to play Road 96 first or instead. The feedback is split between those who appreciate the connection and those who prefer the original.
- Recommended for Road 96 fans (weight 0.54): A significant number of reviews suggest this game is primarily for dedicated fans of Road 96 who want deeper backstory or lore, often advising to play Road 96 first for best experience.
- Mixed reception for fans (weight 0.33): Feedback from fans of the original game is mixed, with some strongly recommending it for lore enthusiasts while others caution against expecting the same experience or recommend skipping it entirely.
- Play order importance (weight 0.29): Reviews emphasize the importance of play order, with some recommending playing this before Road 96 for lore context, and others strongly advising to play Road 96 first.
- Wait for sale recommended (weight 0.25): Many reviews advise waiting for a sale or discount before purchasing, indicating that the game may not be worth full price. Some suggest only buying at deep discounts or on sale.
- Low value at full price (weight 0.17): Multiple reviews indicate the game is not worth its full price, recommending discounts or sale purchases. Some say it's only worth buying with a significant discount.
- Focus on Zoe backstory (weight 0.05): A few reviews highlight that the game is specifically recommended for fans wanting to explore Zoe's backstory from the original game, adding depth to the narrative.
- Subway Surfers comparison (weight 0.04): One review compares the gameplay to Subway Surfers, suggesting it may appeal to fans of that style, though this is a niche observation.

Other player notes:
- Ukrainian language support request (weight 0.02): Players are requesting official Ukrainian language localization, suggesting that adding it would improve the game experience for Ukrainian-speaking audiences.

Emotions:
- Disappointment (weight 0.25): Players expressed deep disappointment due to the game's significant departure from the original Road 96, citing a loss of freedom, atmosphere, and meaningful choices. The shift to repetitive skateboarding and rhythm mini-games, a weaker storyline, shorter playtime, and inferior characters were major factors. Technical issues like crashes and unmet expectations from fans of the original compounded the negative experience.
- Frustration (weight 0.18): Frustration stemmed from poorly designed and repetitive skateboarding and rhythm mini-games with broken hitboxes, bad camera angles, and high difficulty spikes requiring multiple retries. Technical issues such as crashes, FPS drops, and unskippable cutscenes, along with forced gameplay segments that broke narrative immersion, were key causes. The perceived lack of impactful choices and a juvenile story added to the irritation.
- Satisfaction (weight 0.09): Satisfied players praised the game for its engaging story, well-developed characters, and excellent soundtrack, which provided valuable backstory and context to the original Road 96. The music-driven gameplay and world-building were appreciated, with some finding the rhythm segments satisfyingly challenging. The game was also seen as good value, especially on sale, and its ending was considered rewarding.
- Enjoyment (weight 0.07): Players enjoyed the game for its strong story, fun music-driven skateboarding sequences, and engaging character development, particularly the expansion of Zoe's backstory. The art style, soundtrack, and integration of mini-games with the narrative were highlights, with many finding the experience entertaining despite some flaws. The game was described as a cool spin-off that successfully adds to the universe.
- Excitement (weight 0.03): Excitement was generated by the game's beautiful soundtrack, emotional story, and innovative music-driven mechanics, which many found topped the original. The art style and new perspective on the characters were thrilling, with the ending sparking anticipation for a potential sequel. Players expressed eagerness for the next music ride and appreciated the fresh gameplay approach.
- Boredom (weight 0.03): Boredom arose from slow pacing, repetitive mini-games, and an uninteresting story that failed to maintain engagement. The ride sections were considered dull and too easy, and the game lost its appeal quickly, with flat character relationships and a lack of compelling content. Many found the activities monotonous and the narrative sparse, leading to a desire to finish the game quickly.
- Appreciation (weight 0.03): Appreciation was expressed for the game's amazing storyline, emotional tone, and great sound design, which successfully built on the series' themes. The character development and world-building were valued, with creative mini-game integration and innovative narrative design praised. Improved graphics and nuanced political depth were also highlighted as positive aspects.
- Surprise (weight 0.02): Surprise came from the interactive skateboard gameplay and the game being much better than expected despite initial skepticism. Some were shocked by the emotional depth of the story from both perspectives and the enjoyable nature of the rides. The choice of gameplay style and the jarring ending also elicited surprise, with a few even liking it more than the main game.
- Annoyance (weight 0.02): Annoyance was caused by redundant dialogue options requiring constant clicking, unskippable cutscenes, and tedious skating mini-games that grew tiresome. The lack of a chapter select for missing collectibles and checkpoint save issues were frustrating, as were audio bugs and poor lip animation. Players were also irritated by the need to waste time on races and the irritating anthem of the main city.
- Love (weight 0.02): Love for the game was driven by its captivating storytelling, beloved universe, and the overall experience of the music, rides, and characters. Some players found it even more enjoyable than the first game, appreciating its soul and awesome soundtrack. The game's vibe, graphics, and addictive S+ achievement hunting were also reasons for deep affection.
- Nostalgia (weight 0.02): Nostalgia was evoked by the first-person camera recalling Dishonored and the soundtrack's inclusion of known bands, which captured the essence of the original Road 96. Seeing Zoe and other familiar characters near the end triggered longing for the original game's road trip atmosphere and tension. Players missed the feeling of being on the road and the desire to replay that the original offered.
- Anger (weight 0.01): Anger resulted from the terrible, short story, meaningless dialogue, and broken gameplay with terrible hitboxes. Forced rhythm races that could not be skipped were a major source of frustration, along with binary choices and pointless mini-games. Players felt the game ruined characters from the original and was a waste of money, negatively impacting their view of the franchise.
- Engagement (weight 0.01): Engagement was driven by branching paths and narrative choices that kept the story compelling and immersive. The engaging story, told through a unique division between worlds, and the thematic exploration of privilege and awakening were highlighted. Some players reported playing straight through in one session due to the gripping nature of the beloved character's story.
- Sadness (weight 0.01): Sadness was caused by repeated game crashes leading to PC reboots and an unhappy ending that was emotionally painful. Players felt sad because the game did not evoke the same feelings as the first, which they loved, and because it reflected personal realities. The hope for a journey like the original was unmet, adding to the melancholy.
- Confusion (weight 0.01): Confusion stemmed from the prevalence of rhythm sections that were not heavily advertised, leading to unexpected gameplay changes from a decision-based game to a Subway Surfers clone. The lack of explanation at the beginning and story contradictions regarding character knowledge left players puzzled. Some were also confused by the game being overhated despite its perceived quality.
- Interest (weight 0.01): Interest was sparked by the opportunity to see Petria pre-collapse and learn about characters' pasts through engaging storytelling and arcade-style rides. The mix of slow narrative and fast-paced mini-games was found compelling, with the ride sequences being well-orchestrated and interesting. The music and mini-games also contributed to keeping players intrigued.
- Regret (weight 0.01): Regret was expressed for not heeding advice to refund the game, as players felt they wasted time and money even though it was cheap. The story could have been told differently, and the lack of meaningful choices compared to the original was a major letdown. Some regretted that the game added nothing positive and could have simply been DLC.
- Joy (weight 0.01): Joy was derived from hearing The Midnight music in the game, along with beautiful graphics, music, and scenery. The excellent story and first-half gameplay brought delight, as did seeing familiar characters again. The beautiful music and course designs contributed to a cheerful and uplifting experience.
- Hate (weight 0.01): Hate was directed at the game for making players dislike the entire franchise, with the rides described as annoying. The game was labeled as trash, and a specific ginger character was cited as particularly irritating, leading to a strong negative emotional response.
- Hope (weight 0.01): Hope centered on the possibility of Kaito and Zoe meeting again, with players expressing wishes for a sequel or prequel despite its low probability. There was a desire for the developers to reflect on the feedback and come back stronger, suggesting optimism for the future of the series.}