Road 96

The opinions of the critics regarding the story of Road 96 are overwhelmingly positive. Many critics praised the game for its engaging and thought-provoking narrative, with multiple reviewers highlighting the game's ability to address political unrest and the struggles of its characters. GameCritics commends the game for its progressive story that allows players to empathize with a character trying to survive in a divisive election. Nintendo Enthusiast describes the story as well-told and filled with fantastic characters, while Pocket Tactics emphasizes that the characters and dialogue are the shining stars of the game. These positive reviews highlight the game's ability to create a wide-reaching and evocative tale that is inspired by renowned directors like Tarantino and The Coen Brothers. However, there are a few critics who express some reservations about the story of Road 96. The Washington Post mentions that while the game follows ten different teenagers and their intermingling storylines, it lacks insightful or satirical commentary on politics or weighty topics it flirts with. PlayStation LifeStyle also criticizes the game for lacking clear reasons for the characters' plight and failing to provide a poignant commentary on the issues it touches upon. These criticisms suggest that while the majority of critics found the story of Road 96 to be compelling, there may be some missed opportunities in terms of deeper political commentary. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the story of Road 96 is very good. The majority of reviewers praised the game for its engaging narrative, fascinating characters, and the impact of player choices on the outcome of the story. Critics such as NintendoWorldReport and DualShockers highlight the game's ability to deliver a deeply story-driven experience with a diverse cast of characters and intertwining stories. Additionally, critics like Pure Xbox and COGconnected appreciate the game's exploration of political themes and the impact of politics on people's lives. While there are a few criticisms regarding missed opportunities for deeper political commentary, the overall sentiment is overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising the story as engaging, thought-provoking, and memorable.

The opinions of the critics regarding the gameplay of Road 96 are generally positive. Many critics highlight the interactive nature of the gameplay, with choices and actions having significant ramifications on the characters and the world. Critics such as Nintendo Enthusiast and Shacknews praise the impact of player decisions on the narrative, emphasizing the variety of choices available and how they affect the interactions with other characters. The inclusion of minigames is also well-received, with critics like DarkZero and GameSpot mentioning the entertaining and engaging nature of these gameplay elements. The procedural generation of the game, as noted by critics like Pocket Tactics and Gamepressure, adds replayability and ensures that each playthrough offers different challenges and events. The gameplay also incorporates a unique approach to storytelling, with critics like KeenGamer and Pure Xbox appreciating the scattered and procedural nature of the narrative. However, there are some negative aspects of the gameplay that critics point out. One common criticism is the imprecise controls in certain activities, as mentioned by Nintendo Enthusiast. RPG Fan also notes that the walking mechanics can feel clunky at times, and there are parts of the game that involve excessive walking without much to do. Push Square and PlayStation LifeStyle highlight the repetitive nature of the gameplay, with limited choices and lack of variety in the back half of the game. The UI is another area that could benefit from refinement, as suggested by Pocket Tactics. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Road 96 offers an engaging and unique gameplay experience. The interactive nature of the game, the impact of player choices, and the inclusion of minigames are praised by multiple critics. The procedural generation of the game adds replayability and ensures each playthrough is different. However, there are some criticisms regarding imprecise controls, repetitive gameplay, and the need for UI refinements. Despite these drawbacks, the overall sentiment is positive, with critics appreciating the game's approach to storytelling and the sense of agency it provides to players.

In terms of the positives, several critics praised the graphics and visual design of Road 96. Critics such as Shacknews and Push Square commended the game for its effective use of color and lighting to bring the environments to life. The stylized cel-shaded art style, as mentioned by Pocket Tactics, Nintendo Enthusiast, and DualShockers, was also well-received, with critics noting that it created a distinct and familiar world. The game's locations, ranging from trailer parks to gas stations to outdoor music fests, were praised for their impressive details and charm by Gamepressure. Additionally, critics like Movies Games and Tech and Hey Poor Player described the visuals as delightful and great, respectively, indicating a positive overall impression of the graphics and visual design. However, there were some negatives pointed out by the critics. Nintendo Enthusiast mentioned anti-aliasing issues and inconsistent frame rates, which could be noticeable and detract from the overall visual experience. NintendoWorldReport criticized the small render distance for grass and brush, while also noting that some character animations were off. COGconnected mentioned that while the stylized art was evocative and colorful, the faces and figure models could be distracting due to their primitive look. Impulsegamer also mentioned that up-close details, especially in the main characters, were not as picturesque. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Road 96 has a visually appealing and distinct art style that suits the world of the game. The game's environments, character designs, and attention to detail were praised by critics such as KeenGamer, Noisy Pixel, and RPG Fan. The visuals were described as fantastic by God is a Geek and great by Gaming Age. However, there were some technical issues and inconsistencies that were mentioned by critics, such as the anti-aliasing issues and inconsistent frame rates noted by Nintendo Enthusiast, and the primitive look of the character models mentioned by COGconnected. Despite these drawbacks, the overall sentiment leans towards a positive reception of the graphics and visual design of Road 96.

The majority of the critics praised the sound design and music of Road 96, considering it to be a standout aspect of the game. Several critics, such as Nintendo Enthusiast and Pocket Tactics, commended the game for its selection of '90s-inspired indie music that perfectly suited the atmosphere of a road trip. The music was described as enhancing the overall experience and creating a strong vibe. Additionally, critics like NintendoWorldReport and Pure Xbox highlighted the fantastic soundtrack, which featured a mix of folk-style music, electronic synthwave, and a variety of genres that hit the '90s vibe. The voice acting was also highly praised by critics like Pocket Tactics and RPG Fan, with convincing performances that fully realized each character. While the overall sentiment towards the sound design and music of Road 96 was positive, there were a few criticisms raised by some critics. KeenGamer mentioned that while each song was great individually, the overall mix lacked cohesiveness, which affected the overall experience. GamingTrend also noted that while the music felt nostalgic with its '90s synths mixed in, the voice acting fell short in comparison. Gaming Age mentioned that while the soundtrack was solid and utilized well in the game, there were no standout tracks that were particularly memorable. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that the sound design and music of Road 96 were very good. The majority of the critics praised the game's soundtrack, with its varied genres and period-appropriate mix of synthpop and southern rock. The audio design and voice acting were also highly regarded, with critics emphasizing the fantastic environmental sounds and convincing performances. The robust soundtrack, packed with whimsical folk-rock songs and synth-filled tracks, was highlighted as one of the game's strongest components. Despite some minor criticisms regarding the cohesiveness of the music mix and the lack of standout tracks, the overall sentiment remains positive, with the sound design and music contributing significantly to the joy, atmosphere, and immersive storytelling experience of Road 96.

The opinions of the critics regarding the voice acting in Road 96 are quite varied. Some critics, such as Pocket Tactics and RPG Fan, praise the voice acting, describing it as excellent, convincing, and bringing the characters to life. They appreciate the effort put into ensuring a cinematic experience and recognize the affectations that make each character recognizable and memorable. Additionally, Movies Games and Tech commends the voice acting for adding to the joy and atmosphere of the game. These positive opinions highlight the successful execution of the voice performances in Road 96, contributing to the overall enjoyment and immersion of the players. On the other hand, there are critics who express some reservations about the voice acting. Nintendo Enthusiast mentions underwhelming performances that detract from the narrative, while GamingTrend describes the voice acting as lacking emotion and uncanny. COGconnected criticizes the writing and dialogue, noting that they often sound stilted or not idiomatic. These negative opinions suggest that there are instances where the voice acting falls short in terms of delivering a natural and engaging performance. Overall, the consensus among the critics is somewhat mixed. While some critics praise the voice acting for its effectiveness in bringing the characters to life and enhancing the overall experience, others express reservations about certain aspects, such as stilted performances or a lack of emotion. However, it is worth noting that the majority of critics appreciate the well-written and deeply personal stories of the characters in Road 96, which serve as the highlight of the game. Despite some criticisms, the voice acting generally contributes positively to the game, helping to fully realize each character and their individual narratives.

In terms of the technical performance on the Nintendo Switch, the critics' opinions are mixed. GameCritics and Shacknews both mention minor issues with framerate dips, but they agree that these issues do not significantly impact the overall experience. NintendoWorldReport also acknowledges occasional frame rate dips and long load times between scenes. However, Nintendo Enthusiast highlights consistent technical problems on the Nintendo Switch, including skipped frames, missed quick-time events, and dialogue option selection issues, as well as frequent and lengthy load times. These technical issues mentioned by Nintendo Enthusiast raise concerns about the game's performance on the Switch platform. Starbit also mentions performance problems, such as sterile textures and below-desired resolution, specifically for the Switch version. On the PC platform, GamesHub mentions noticeable inconsistencies in the game's mechanical logic and execution, negatively impacting the sense of story and character. God is a Geek points out occasional screen tearing as a technical issue. These criticisms suggest that the PC version of Road 96 has its own set of technical performance problems. For the PS5 platform, COGconnected mentions technical and structural issues, such as rough transitions and misalignments in the narrative, as well as problematic controls and UI. However, Push Square only mentions some texture pop-in without discussing any other technical performance or stability issues. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Road 96 has some technical performance issues across multiple platforms. While GameCritics and Shacknews consider these issues to be minor and not detracting from the overall experience, Nintendo Enthusiast, NintendoWorldReport, and Starbit highlight more significant technical problems on the Nintendo Switch. The PC version also faces criticism for inconsistencies in gameplay execution and occasional screen tearing. COGconnected raises concerns about technical and structural issues on the PS5 platform, while Push Square mentions only minor texture pop-in. These mixed opinions suggest that the technical performance of Road 96 can vary depending on the gaming platform, with the Nintendo Switch version appearing to have the most significant technical issues.

The opinions of the critics regarding the replay value of Road 96 are generally positive. Many critics highlight the game's unpredictability and different routes and endings, which make it fun to replay and see the consequences of your actions. Nintendo Enthusiast mentions that abilities and choices open up previously inaccessible avenues for traveling and collecting resources, while Pocket Tactics emphasizes the rewards for returning to Petria and the collectible items to discover. RPG Fan also mentions the potential for another seven hours of gameplay in New Game+. These positive aspects suggest that Road 96 offers a unique and engaging experience that encourages players to replay the game multiple times. However, there are some negative opinions regarding the replay value of Road 96. Starbit mentions that the repetition of sequences in the search for different endings can become tedious. GamesHub also notes that the second playthrough can feel monotonous and derivative. GamingTrend adds that events can repeat too often on New Game+. These criticisms suggest that while Road 96 offers replay value, there may be some aspects that can detract from the overall experience and make subsequent playthroughs less enjoyable. Overall, the consensus among the critics is that Road 96 offers replay value through its different choices, routes, and narratives. Critics like NintendoWorldReport, DualShockers, and Pure Xbox highlight the game's different episodes, narratives, and interconnectedness of stories, which contribute to its replayability. Critics such as Noisy Pixel and Movies Games and Tech mention the randomization of narrative sections and choice-based elements that provide replay value. Despite some criticisms regarding repetition and monotony, the majority of critics appreciate the game's unique style, storytelling, and the opportunity to uncover more of the characters' stories through multiple playthroughs.