Road 96: Mile 0

I don't get why this has ''mixed reviews'' to be honest. For me, this was such an unexpected fun. This prequel to the base game brings you closer look at Zoe's (one of the greatest characters in Road 96) life before it all started and her relationship with Kaito, who's trying to prove her wrong about the government. And it's not just Zoe actually, all of the main characters in Road 96 were mentioned or shown there in Mile 0. With some of them you experience more of actual conversations, and the others, you can see them just in short moments during the game, or in the newspapers for example. The interactions overall, again, CAN NOT be compared with the original ones, but hey, it just made Mile 0 feel more like a decent prequel. The game is happening before the rise of the voice of the Florrese's supporters which makes it even more different. And even though Kaito's absence or any mentioning of him in the original made me kind of sad after playing this, it doesn't change the fact that in the end of the game was quite enough of memorable guy. Of course, It doesn't beat the original in any way, no doubt about that. (And I cannot understand the mindset of some of you reviewers, like come on, I guess you expected too much from a little prequel game like this..) But there really is something about that. Personally, I really liked the ''rides'' segment and also the dumb minigames around it. I have no idea why so many reviews are pointing at these as something bad, cringe, etc., and that it's just ruining the whole experience... I don't agree at all.. Like, I know it's a big difference compared with the original story system, but there's something about it, speaking of ''rides'', they are even showing you the progress through the story, making it feel even ''deeper''. (Ofc, nor the original of this were never meant to make you feel deep in the first place I'd say). For me the biggest + was I felt the actual challenge because of achievements, which are making you ''try hard'' a little further and try to get the best grade and score possible. So personally, I believe that ''Mostly positive'' reviews would suit this prequel much more than ''Mixed'' ones. BUT this HAS it's flaws as well. Besides of FPS drops in some areas even on low graphics, like in Tyrak's square or the Presidential park that I've experienced, I think that the developers could make the player feel he's actually progressing the specific mission, and not letting the ''RIde'' solve the whole thing itself. It' just kind of ruining the potential of the missions from the first game. Other unpleasant thing was the ending of this, I don't want to spoil so much so let's just say.. Because of the absence of Kaito in Road 96, they should've made the ending more like it ended like.... more clearly.. and not just on of the two main character literally just DISAPPEAR, and make the player feel like they achieved absolutely NOTHING in the relationship with Zoe. They just made his destiny very unclear and forever open, in a way that I'm rly not a fan of. Anyways, besides of these unpleasant stuff I just mentioned. Unlike some other players, I would not even CONSIDER to give this a thumb down, because at least after my experience, it wouldn't be fair not just for the developers themselves, that made a good job, but even I believe that it just doesn't deserve it. I really enjoyed experiencing this.