QCF: Kentucky Route Zero: Act 1

fter watching the initial trailer for Kentucky Route Zero back in its infancy, I thought that the overall design was interesting, and according to its Kickstarter page would be “a magic realist adventure game”. Fast forward almost two years later and what Kentucky Route Zero becomes is something far more than what I could have imagined: a meaningful presentation that keeps the narrative in the forefront, and a game that plays out like an eerie adult pop-up book. Interactive narrative may seem like a buzz word seen too often in the games industry in the last few years, but trust me when I say that Jake Elliott and Tamas Kemenczy of Cardboard Computer are doing exactly that. The result of which is some of the finest storytelling in gaming so far.

The story of Conway begins in front of a pump station as he and his dog travel up and down the road trying to find the mysterious Route Zero. No maps show it, and the attendant at the station informs the driver that he will need to contact some people in the area in order to find his destination. The rest of the remaining scenes kept me in constant interest while wondering what I would find driving down the highways of the Bluegrass State, or at least this version of it. Reading into each conversation, taking in all of the surroundings played into the emerging story, as I continually tried to piece together how the narrative was going to progress. The refreshing thing is that like the roads that Conway was traveling, there were always turns and sharp cuts that would keep me from really knowing what was going to happen next. I enjoyed the fact that each opportunity to converse with a new character opened up new options for myself to build my version of Conway. Even in the very first part of the game, a simple decision like whether my dog was male or female set the pace of how our relationship would progress, and how I perceived the main character to be.

The story plays out with such an amazing backdrop to support it, the use of the foreground and background that only seems to be in close proximity but will reveal more distance the further you travel. Something that seems so simplistic yet is completely deliberate and impactful, and becomes even more so once you are in the complete dark. Those few moments when I dared to turn off my lantern or cut the electricity left me with an uneasiness that I still keep with me after the first play through. The use of ambient sounds and music also puts the player directly in the experience, whether it is the sound of the occasional passing vehicle going down the road, the soft hum of electricity beginning to course through the abandoned mines and especially the inclusion of bluegrass music that seems haunting and comforting all at the same time.

The most important aspect of the game so far, and what makes me so eager to experience more is the excellent writing. Although the other parts of the production are very well done, it is the writing that is the backbone and driving factor in creating an amazing tale. The words paint the picture and set the mood in ways that I have not seen in games, or any media in quite some time. With something like an adventure game, the writing is perhaps the only thing that can truly support the game and drive the narrative. This is especially true in Kentucky Route Zero, since the developer made a conscientious decision to forgo puzzles and other adventure game troupes in favor of the story and character development. I am very pleased that this was their decision, because I believe that one flaw that came from another episodic adventure series The Walking Dead was those few moments when Telltale attempted to throw in “game” aspects into the product. With Kentucky Route Zero it’s storytelling, one mouse click at a time.

Like all great works of art, Kentucky Route Zero captures so many emotions with what seems like the most basic tools. Playing on experiences and sensations from everyday life to truly capture feelings of loneliness, sorrow, and even regret, just by telling the tale of a man driving a delivery truck. Although I have put a bookmark in this ongoing story, I am blown away by what Cardboard Computer has accomplished, and will eagerly await to find out what is coming next. We at Press Pause Radio will continue to revisit Kentucky Route Zero as each Act is released, and we hope that you will support this independent developer and play along with us.