BERLIN: Cruising around, good conversations, loud music and some distant destination. Road trips can be wonderful. But they can also be exhausting. PC game Keep Driving manages to capture both aspects.
At the beginning, players can choose from several vehicles, each with its own advantages and disadvantages. A pickup truck, for example, has more cargo space for useful items, while a saloon will accommodate more people.
Players must use their ability cards to neutralise certain symbols that can cost resources.
The selected vehicle is always in the centre of the screen and a dashboard at the bottom shows various information such as how much fuel is left, how much energy the main character has and the car’s condition. You have to keep a close eye on these resources. If one runs out, the road trip ends and you have to start again.
The main destination is marked on a map: a festival on the other side of an unnamed country, clearly inspired by the US. First you have to buy a ticket and possibly a tent.
It’s the 2000s, there’s a festival in another corner of the country, you’re young and set off on a road trip.
On the way there are various places that serve as intermediate destinations and offer different opportunities to replenish resources, buy items or improve the car.
On the roads in between, there are events that can best be compared to turn-based battles. In these events – which can be potholes or traffic jams – you have to neutralise certain symbols, which can cost resources. This is done with skill cards that you place on the symbols.
Which important items still need to go from the shop to the boot?
You’ll also meet hitchhikers along the way. If you pick them up, they’ll not only share entertaining stories and their own goals, but they can also be helpful at events using their own skills.
The real feeling in this game comes from the beautiful indie music on the soundtrack. A nice detail: You can choose which songs play using your own playlists. The game also features atmospheric pixel graphics.
Keep Driving is available on Steam for around €18/US$18 (RM45 in Malaysia). The game is suitable for players aged 14 and older. – dpa
