Heading Out PC Review

For talking about Heading Out we must mention that the road trip video game genre has a long and storied history, stretching back to titles like California Games (1987). These early entries focused on pure racing thrills and capturing the scenic beauty of wide-open landscapes. Over time, the genre broadened its horizons, incorporating elements of exploration, vehicle customization, and even narrative. Heading Out, a recent addition to the genre, takes a unique approach by blending road racing with roguelike mechanics and a choose-your-own-adventure style story.

Unlike traditional racing games with a predetermined finish line, Heading Out throws you behind the wheel with a nameless protagonist. Your objective? Escape a shadowy fear by driving endlessly across a stylized version of the United States. Throughout your journey, you’ll encounter a cast of colorful characters, each with their own tale to tell and motivations. The choices you make in these interactions will not only affect your relationships with them but also shape your backstory and anxieties. This creates a sense of discovery, as each playthrough can offer a different perspective on the protagonist’s internal struggles and the reasons behind their seemingly never-ending road trip.

Heading Out’s gameplay is where the true innovation lies. It seamlessly combines aspects of racing games, roguelikes, and role-playing games to create a truly unique experience. The core mechanic involves navigating a variety of environments, from bustling cityscapes and winding mountain roads to desolate deserts and sun-baked plains. While the driving model itself is competent, with a focus on smooth handling and avoiding obstacles, it doesn’t reach the complexity of simulation racers. Here, the emphasis is on making strategic decisions – do you speed past a police chase and risk getting pulled over, or stop and help a stranded motorist who might offer valuable assistance? These choices can have a significant impact on your resources, like fuel and car health, and influence the narrative path you take.

The roguelike elements come into play with procedural generation. Each time you start a new game, the map layout, encounters, and events are randomized. This keeps the experience fresh and encourages exploration, as you never quite know what dangers or opportunities lurk around the next bend. However, unlike a traditional racing game where a simple restart rewinds you to the beginning of a race, death in Heading Out has consequences. You lose progress and must begin again with a new car and limited supplies, adding an extra layer of tension and risk-reward to your decision-making.

The RPG elements are subtle but impactful. By completing tasks and making certain choices, you can upgrade your car with improved performance parts, unlock new abilities that enhance your driving or interaction with the world and personalize your vehicle’s appearance. This adds a layer of progression that keeps you engaged over multiple playthroughs, as you strive to optimize your car, uncover the secrets buried within the ever-changing landscape, and piece together the fragmented narrative of the protagonist’s past.

Heading Out’s visual presentation is striking. The game utilizes a bold black-and-white aesthetic with splashes of vibrant color to highlight key elements, reminiscent of graphic novels. This creates a unique atmosphere that is both stylish and evocative. The world feels desolate yet strangely captivating, with the stark contrast between the black and white landscapes and the bursts of color drawing you deeper into the protagonist’s journey. The color choices are deliberate – a pulsating red might mark a dangerous situation, while a warm yellow might highlight a potential ally. This use of color goes beyond mere aesthetics, becoming a storytelling tool that subtly conveys emotions and guides your attention.

The soundtrack is another strong point, featuring a mix of genres that perfectly complements the mood of the journey. Upbeat, bluesy rock compels you to push forward during high-speed chases, while melancholic acoustic guitar pieces underscore the introspective moments of the narrative. The music dynamically adapts to the situations you encounter, further immersing you in the world and adding another layer to the strategic considerations – a change in the music might warn you of approaching danger or signal an opportunity to interact with a character.

Heading Out is a compelling experiment in genre-bending. While the core driving mechanics might not appeal to hardcore racing enthusiasts who crave intricate physics simulations, the narrative focus, strategic decision-making, and roguelike elements create a truly engaging experience. The striking visuals and atmospheric soundtrack further elevate the game. Suppose you’re looking for a road trip video game that offers more than just speed, but a captivating world to explore, a story that unfolds with every mile driven, and strategic choices that impact your journey. In that case, Heading Out is worth a spin.

The review code was provided by the publisher