Kentucky Route Zero: PC Edition

Yes. Sense of wonder, sense of literature -- sense of art. A rare game from a rare team, encapsulating all of these like few others can. I've seen someone say it "tries too hard" or "isn't cohesive", yet my experience is entirely different. Instead of feeling forced, there's this certain lightness throughout Kentucky Route Zero. It flows remarkably, lightly, effortlessly, and combines into a cohesive whole. If you're looking for a so-called realistic story that reads like a strong plot from popular fiction, with "believable" situations and reactions when observed through the lens of everyday understanding, look elsewhere. The core values of this work are entirely different and it rises above story/plot driven entertainment. I gather there must be a ton of hard work below the surface, a great deal of effort in order to achieve this seeming effortlessness. Meticulous attention to detail in both the actual text and the presentation of it. Great craftsmanship and thematic vision. Placing trust in the player to be capable of processing an actual work of interactive literary art. My academic roots are in comparative literature, so I'm biased (aren't we all), but I'm confident there's a lot to be found here for the ones who appreciate high quality works, even if you aren't exactly a literary buff per se. The creators place their trust in you, and you can trust them in return: yes, they really know what they are doing, in the particular sense described above. It's not a common thing in games. They also take all the time they need in between the episodes. That's wonderful. Having this exist is worth it.

You have to play this firsthand to understand how good it is. It's a point-and-click without puzzles, because those would detract from the heady amount of fiction presented. There's dialogue choices kinda like in Telltale's games, but it's never has massive ramifications over the plot's events. The story--touching on debt, economic disaster, and the nature of video games themselves--is complex, confusing at times. But there's no end to the ideas and feelings put into it all, aided all the way by amazing visuals and ultimately grounded characters at its heart. Look on the surface, with story-heavy gameplay-lite dynamic, and call it pretentious or artsy-fartsy if you want, but I don't care. Cardboard Computer has both the knowledge and the soul to create some of the most magical, arresting moments I've ever seen a video game try. I like to think I'm jaded to the idea of taking video game narratives seriously, but Kentucky Route Zero has constantly taken me by surprise with every act put out. If you're waiting for KR0 to be completed, I can understand why, but what's already here is absolutely worth the price in my book.

Telling the truth, I couldn't have imagined I would be impressed that much of that game or, ehm, an interactive story perhaps? I'm not sure whether "video game" term can be fully applied here. Just imagine that you're having a possibility to experiences, yeah that word, not to play but to experience some beatiful air-gasping moments full of visual and sound pleasure which will impose a great sense of relaxation and tranquility upon you. Do you want to experience all of this? Well, you can't miss it then. You've got to walk it all by yourself.

Why would a developer create something so magical only to ruin it by releasing a broken game? This game treads a thin line on occasion between genius and mind numbing tedium. When an innocent icon supposedly designed to allow me to "rest" on the road is actually a "skip this entire section of game" button, forcing me to replay a very dull section of game which then proceeds to freeze, again forcing me to replay the same damn section or accept not experiencing a huge chunk of game. Well, suddenly my wonder, enjoyment and immersion in an otherwise incredibly engaging, original and hauntingly creative game becomes absolute RAGE at the idiots who allowed it to happen. Seriously, it's like being taken to the gates of Disneyland only to be driven away again. Probably getting deleted now 'cause, frankly, i'd rather f@cking U-tube the highlights than waste my time investing any more emotion in this. Gutted, because this was very special.

All games are art. Some are like a child's drawings, simple, meaningful. Some are complex works of geometric beauty, story and aesthetic and sound design all blending flawlessly into something greater than the sum of its parts. Kentucky Route Zero is beyond all of that. It's the best of Americana, distilled. A masterpiece in asphalt and ambiguity, broken street-lights and bargains kept. Its soundtrack is wanderlust. Its art style is a stranger you've always known. And its story... Oh, its story... A bittersweet tale of old, forgotten roads and horizons beneath the earth. Walk and ride and drive as far as you can from your old life. Just let it all go. I'll see you on the ZERO.