Road 96 takes players on a politically fueled interactive adventure in an ultimate storytelling road trip.

When I first saw the trailer to Road 96, I was instantly drawn to its aesthetics. Here was a game that took the vibe and music flow from the likes of Life is Strange and Firewatch and wrapped it up into an enticing narrative nest that allows the player to experience a political war, escapism and the great outdoors.

Road 96 places you into the shoes of a young teenager in the year 1996 with the hopes of fleeing Petria, a country ruled by the iron fist of president Tyrak, and making your way across the border. This is a tense time as Petria is nearing the ten year anniversary of a terrorist attack at that very border you are wanting to cross, killing hundreds of bystanders when the side of a mountain exploded. As terrifying as that sounds, making the journey is the scary part as the border is squirming with government officials and if caught crossing, you are sent to a place called "the pits" where you will call home.

Your only way out is by illegal methods and this is where the adventure of Road 96 really takes place. From the opening moments, you are plopped straight into making your way to a better place and how you get there is up to you. Depending on how much money you have, you can catch a ride from a stranger, get the bus or a taxi. Each of these modes of transport will allow you to interact with a variety of characters, some fairly dodgy to others who are willing to help you - depending on their political stance of course.

For me, meeting these diverse characters was the most interesting part of the game. Some of my favourites was a big trucker teddy-like man called John and a very clever run-away kid named Alex who I ended up playing minigames with that included Pong and a game they happened to invent. Of course, these are only a few of the wide range of people you will meet and interact with so just wait until you come face to face with the two dopey robbers, self-centred Sonja and a taxi driver who has his eyes on something more than the road.

Throughout your journey, you will get the chance to make pit stops at places that include garages, restaurants and motels where you get the opportunity to buy food, rest or take part in helping another teen/adult in a puzzle-like situation. If you happen to be broke and find your energy matter declining, how about stealing that food that caught your eye or resting for the night in a roadside cardboard tent? It's better than nothing, after all.

You'll be happy to know there are ways to make money though. Helping folks out can land you some coin, stealing it can also be a good option or you can provide an honest period of labour for a few bucks, too. Either way, I'd highly recommend always have some change in your pockets which will make life much easier for you and also give you the feel-good factor in being able to help another desperate teen out.

What gives this interactive game its fire, aside from its wide range of storytelling, is there's no guarantee that even if you reach the border, you'll get to cross. With a number of obstacles still in your way and dangerous routes that see you climbing up a treacherous mountain, putting your trust in strangers or sneaking onto a truck, fleeing isn't as easy as it looks but you do get an another chance if you happen to die or you're arrested by replying another episode as a different missing teen but this time, you'll have the memory (and skillset) to, hopefully, make it a success.

Each episode comes with it a new set of situations and brand new narratives to explore. However, a handful of episodes in and Road 96 can become slightly tiresome. Even with new dialogue, you stumble across the same characters with the same problems. This can make the gameplay feel like a chore at times. I would have loved more items to interact with, although you do get the chance to pick up plenty of collectables along the way like tape cassettes you can actually play on your car's radio.

Where you go is also stifled and linear. There were times I was walking through a beautiful forest and I wanted to explore a little bit off the beaten track or walk across to the other side of the road but the game's invisible wall held me back. The game also doesn't give a whole lot of evidence on why these teens want to escape so badly. You're given vague clues, but the dire political nature of the game is painted in broad strokes.

Thankfully, Road 96's mesmerizing landscapes, unique characters and chilled soundtrack will allow players to kick back and enjoy some really good storytelling in a world that feels strangely familiar to many.