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{{DISPLAYTITLE:''Kentucky Route Zero''}} | {{DISPLAYTITLE:''Kentucky Route Zero''}} | ||
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{{Infobox | {{Infobox | ||
− | |title = ''Kentucky Route Zero'' | + | |title = ''Kentucky Route Zero'' |
− | |image = | + | |image = KRZ.png |
|developer = [[Cardboard Computer]] | |developer = [[Cardboard Computer]] | ||
− | |publisher = Cardboard Computer (PC) | + | |publisher = Cardboard Computer (PC), [[Annapurna Interactive]] (Console) |
− | |designer = [[Jake Elliott]] | + | |designer = [[Jake Elliott]], [[Tamas Kemenczy]] |
|composer = [[Ben Babbitt]] | |composer = [[Ben Babbitt]] | ||
|engine = [[wikipedia:Unity (game engine)|Unity]] | |engine = [[wikipedia:Unity (game engine)|Unity]] | ||
− | |platform = | + | |platform = Windows, macOS, Linux |
− | + | |release = 2013–2018 ({{anchor|Release|info}}) | |
− | |release = | ||
}} | }} | ||
− | + | {{title}} is a magical realist adventure game about a secret highway in the caves beneath Kentucky and the mysterious folks who travel it. The game is developed and published by [[Cardboard Computer]], an independent studio consisting of [[Jake Elliott]], [[Tamas Kemenczy]], and [[Ben Babbitt]]. It follows an episodic format, mirroring the dramatic structure of a five-act play. The project was first revealed on January 7, 2011 on Kickstarter. By the end of the campaign, the game had acquired USD $8,583 from 205 backers, exceeding its original goal of $6,500. A heavily-revised trailer with an updated visual style was released on October 17, 2012. | |
− | The game's five acts follow the narrative of a truck driver named [[Conway]] and the | + | The game's five acts follow the narrative of a truck driver named [[Conway]] and the mysterious people he meets as he tries to cross the fictional [[Route Zero|Route {{Zero}}]] to make his final delivery for an antique company. The [[Act I|first act]] was released on January 7, 2013. The [[Act II|second]], [[Act III|third]], and [[Act IV|fourth acts]], along with four shorter, free-to-play supplemental games, have since been released. The [[Act V|final act]] is forthcoming. The game is currently available via Steam, itch.io, GOG.com, and the Humble Store, and will release on all major consoles in 2018. Players receive all available acts upon purchase, with future acts and updates free-of-charge. |
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− | The | ||
== Gameplay == | == Gameplay == | ||
− | [[File:Apologies.png|thumb|right|Players choose between different dialogue options.]] | + | [[File:Apologies.png|thumb|right|Players are able to choose between different dialogue options.]] |
− | ''Kentucky Route Zero'' is a point-and-click adventure game. Players are able to control Conway (and other characters) by clicking on the screen, either to guide | + | ''Kentucky Route Zero'' is a point-and-click adventure game. However, there are no puzzles or challenges like those commonly found in games of this genre; instead, the game focuses on storytelling and atmosphere. Players are able to control Conway (and other characters) by clicking on the screen, either to guide him to a location or interact with other characters and objects. Players are also able to choose characters' dialogue during in-game conversations, which are text-based. These choices do not impact the storyline as in a branching narrative, but rather influence the poetic dialogue of characters later on, affect aspects of stories that are told to the player, or change which characters may be encountered. |
− | + | == Release == | |
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− | == Release | ||
{| class="wikitable sortable" | {| class="wikitable sortable" | ||
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! Title !! Medium !! Release date | ! Title !! Medium !! Release date | ||
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− | | [[Act I]] || | + | | [[Act I]] || Video game || January 7, 2013 |
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− | | ''[[ | + | | ''[[Limits & Demonstrations]]'' || Video game<br />Art exhibition || February 8, 2013 <br/>October 4–10, 2013 |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [[Act | + | | [[Act II]] || Video game || May 31, 2013 |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | ''[[The Entertainment]]'' || Video game, Play || November 22, 2013 |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | [[Act III]] || Video game || May 6, 2014 |
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− | | [[ | + | | ''[[Here And There Along The Echo]]'' || Video game, [[wikipedia:Interactive voice response|IVR system]] || October 30, 2014 |
|- | |- | ||
− | | [[ | + | | [[Act IV]] || Video game || July 19, 2016 |
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− | | | + | | [[WEVP-TV]] ([http://wevp.tv/ wevp.tv]) || [[wikipedia:Web television|Web television]] || Summer 2016 |
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− | | [[ | + | | ''[[Un Pueblo De Nada]]'' || Video game, [[wikipedia:Video art|Video art]] || January 25, 2018 |
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− | | {{ | + | | [[Act V]] || Video game || {{n/a}} |
|- | |- | ||
− | | | + | | ''[[Death Of The Hired Man]]'' || {{n/a}} || {{n/a}} |
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|- | |- | ||
|} | |} | ||
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Shannon frees Conway and helps him onto an old mine cart. While exploring, Shannon reveals that the mine flooded at one point, killing the miners trapped inside. The two discover a turntable and explore the mine and its history; turning off the lamplight reveals ghostly visions of the miners. Conway exits the mine alone while Shannon goes back to check on something, and when she returns, reveals her parents were killed in the flood. | Shannon frees Conway and helps him onto an old mine cart. While exploring, Shannon reveals that the mine flooded at one point, killing the miners trapped inside. The two discover a turntable and explore the mine and its history; turning off the lamplight reveals ghostly visions of the miners. Conway exits the mine alone while Shannon goes back to check on something, and when she returns, reveals her parents were killed in the flood. | ||
− | The two head to [[Shannon's workshop]], located at the back of a small bait shop to search for Weaver, but she is nowhere to be found. On the way back to the farmhouse, Conway can choose to return to Equus Oils where he and Shannon meet Joseph's friend [[Carrington]] who is looking for a venue for his upcoming play, and asks the two to keep an eye out for a location. | + | The two head to [[Shannon's workshop]], located at the back of a small [[bait shop]] to search for Weaver, but she is nowhere to be found. On the way back to the farmhouse, Conway can choose to return to Equus Oils where he and Shannon meet Joseph's friend [[Carrington]] who is looking for a venue for his upcoming play, and asks the two to keep an eye out for a location. |
Back at the farmhouse, Shannon reveals Weaver fled after learning of their family's debt, and tonight was the first time she had seen her since then. Shannon attempts to repair the TV by cleaning moss off the vacuum tubes, and Conway looks in again; this time, however, both the picture on the screen and the barn behind the house begin to warp and separate, forming an image of the opening to the {{Zero}} and the truck driving into it. | Back at the farmhouse, Shannon reveals Weaver fled after learning of their family's debt, and tonight was the first time she had seen her since then. Shannon attempts to repair the TV by cleaning moss off the vacuum tubes, and Conway looks in again; this time, however, both the picture on the screen and the barn behind the house begin to warp and separate, forming an image of the opening to the {{Zero}} and the truck driving into it. | ||
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=== Act II === | === Act II === | ||
{{main|Act II#Synopsis}} | {{main|Act II#Synopsis}} | ||
− | [[File:Bureau | + | [[File:Bureau.png|thumb|left|''SHANNON: This is weird, but ... do you think we're ''inside'' or ''outside'' right now? <br />CONWAY: Inside. ''/'' Outside. ''/'' Both.'']] |
Act II opens with a prelude in which [[Lula Chamberlain]], an installation artist whose work is featured in ''[[Limits & Demonstrations]]'', receives a rejection letter from an [[Gaston Trust for Imagined Architecture|organization]] to which she had submitted her portfolio. She continues on to sort through proposals for reclaiming spaces for alternate to their current function, such as one to reclaim a distillery as a graveyard. If encountered in [[Act I]], [[Carrington]] comes up to her and asks her about the space for his performance. | Act II opens with a prelude in which [[Lula Chamberlain]], an installation artist whose work is featured in ''[[Limits & Demonstrations]]'', receives a rejection letter from an [[Gaston Trust for Imagined Architecture|organization]] to which she had submitted her portfolio. She continues on to sort through proposals for reclaiming spaces for alternate to their current function, such as one to reclaim a distillery as a graveyard. If encountered in [[Act I]], [[Carrington]] comes up to her and asks her about the space for his performance. | ||
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At the bar, Junebug and Johnny sing [[Too Late to Love You|a song]] as the roof of the bar seemingly disappears to reveal the full moon overhead. After the show, the group talks with [[Harry Esperanza|Harry]] who admits he can't pay, as he was left with nothing but an I.O.U. from the [[Hard Times Distillery]] after he traded his customers' debt for whiskey and the events in ''[[The Entertainment]]''. He suggests they head to the distillery to claim their payment, but that they must take the {{ZeroLink}} to get there. As Junebug and Johnny decide to accompany the trio, Harry gives them directions based on following radio signals, and they set out. The group drives until they see a team of horses standing in the middle of the darkened highway, and immediately appear on the {{Zero}}. | At the bar, Junebug and Johnny sing [[Too Late to Love You|a song]] as the roof of the bar seemingly disappears to reveal the full moon overhead. After the show, the group talks with [[Harry Esperanza|Harry]] who admits he can't pay, as he was left with nothing but an I.O.U. from the [[Hard Times Distillery]] after he traded his customers' debt for whiskey and the events in ''[[The Entertainment]]''. He suggests they head to the distillery to claim their payment, but that they must take the {{ZeroLink}} to get there. As Junebug and Johnny decide to accompany the trio, Harry gives them directions based on following radio signals, and they set out. The group drives until they see a team of horses standing in the middle of the darkened highway, and immediately appear on the {{Zero}}. | ||
− | [[File:Too Late to Love You.png|thumb|left|'' | + | [[File:Too Late to Love You.png|thumb|left|''HARRY: Well, that's just the ... dammit, I was trying to tell you two, I can't pay! They cleaned me out. I've got nothing left but a G.D. I.O.U. from the distillery.'']] |
The group soon comes across a large chamber dominated by a rock spire, known as the [[Hall of the Mountain King]]. There they find broken, vintage computers in large piles surrounding a tall, burning fire of discarded electronics. They come across an old man named [[Donald]] who is fixated on a grand project – his life's work – named [[XANADU]], involving a computer growing black mold and an artificial intelligence simulation of his life's missed opportunities from long ago. He claims Lula and Joseph helped design XANADU and, while Lula left long ago, there may be a way to use it to find her. However, Donald says a group of people who he calls "the Strangers" repeatedly sabotaged the computer, leaving its text garbled and unable to be read. The group decides to locate the strangers so they may fix XANADU and find Lula. | The group soon comes across a large chamber dominated by a rock spire, known as the [[Hall of the Mountain King]]. There they find broken, vintage computers in large piles surrounding a tall, burning fire of discarded electronics. They come across an old man named [[Donald]] who is fixated on a grand project – his life's work – named [[XANADU]], involving a computer growing black mold and an artificial intelligence simulation of his life's missed opportunities from long ago. He claims Lula and Joseph helped design XANADU and, while Lula left long ago, there may be a way to use it to find her. However, Donald says a group of people who he calls "the Strangers" repeatedly sabotaged the computer, leaving its text garbled and unable to be read. The group decides to locate the strangers so they may fix XANADU and find Lula. | ||
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After the tour, Doolittle tells them how to repair XANADU, shows them the adding machine which calculates interest, and tells Conway he is hired, offering him a "shift drink" to mark the occasion. Conway, in a daze, is unable to refuse and takes a sip of alcohol. As Shannon insists they must leave, Doolittle reminds them that Conway is now in debt for taking both the alcohol and his time, and will start the next day, as the scene blurs and fades to black. | After the tour, Doolittle tells them how to repair XANADU, shows them the adding machine which calculates interest, and tells Conway he is hired, offering him a "shift drink" to mark the occasion. Conway, in a daze, is unable to refuse and takes a sip of alcohol. As Shannon insists they must leave, Doolittle reminds them that Conway is now in debt for taking both the alcohol and his time, and will start the next day, as the scene blurs and fades to black. | ||
− | Back in the Bureau, the group stands silhouetted in front of Conway's truck, mulling over what's to come next. A tugboat arrives | + | Back in the Bureau, the group stands silhouetted in front of Conway's truck, mulling over what's to come next. A tugboat arrives, and as it pulls into view, a horn blares, revealing a gigantic, trumpeting wooly mammoth. |
{{clear|left}} | {{clear|left}} | ||
=== Act IV === | === Act IV === | ||
− | {{main|Act IV#Synopsis}} | + | {{main|Act IV#Synopsis}} |
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{{expand}} | {{expand}} | ||
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== Soundtrack == | == Soundtrack == | ||
{{main|Music}} | {{main|Music}} | ||
− | + | {{expand}} | |
== Development == | == Development == | ||
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{{expand}} | {{expand}} | ||
== Reception == | == Reception == | ||
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− | + | ''Kentucky Route Zero'' has been well-received by critics. It won the award for Excellence in Visual Art at the [[wikipedia:Independent Games Festival|Independent Games Festival]] in 2013, and was named game of the year by ''[[wikipedia:Rock, Paper, Shotgun|Rock, Paper, Shotgun]]'' the same year. In 2015, ''Kentucky Route Zero'''s Act III won Best Narrative at the [[wikipedia:Game Developers Choice Awards|Game Developers Choice Awards]]. | |
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[[Category:Games]] | [[Category:Games]] | ||
[[Category:Real world]] | [[Category:Real world]] |