History YMMV / Road96

** [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v= VpYwKVDWdLc "Home Call"]] is a haunting techno track that suits a roadtrip along Petrea's scenic, albeit lonely desert road towards the border.

* TheScrappy: Fanny falls into this. In a game full of interesting and likeable characters with unique perspectives, Fanny comes across as the most normal and least interesting. This wouldn't be the worst thing, except the game is about a corrupt government and the systems in place that protect that corruption such as the police, which hits differently after 2020 where police corruption went under far more scrutiny. So encounters where she's arresting runaway teenagers despite being the mother of a runaway herself, forcing a teenager to take part in a high speed car chase, and pulling her gun out in a crowded bus make her seem less like the ReasonableAuthorityFigure she's intended to be and more of a hypocrite who protects the corrupt system than she claims to dislike. [[spoiler:The fact that she can potentially kill John, arguable the most likeable and popular character of the game, doesn't win her any points either]]. To reiterate, Fanny is more disliked than Sonya (a unapologetic Tyrak supporter who spreads misinformation), Jarod (a psychotic serial killer) and Stan & Mitch (two hardened criminals who are willing to harm teenagers).
* SpoiledByTheFormat: Each episode ends with the hitchhikers attempting to cross the border, with helping Zoe being a one-time alternative, and after using one it is permanently closed. When the menu indicates that the latest episode will be the final one, with there being no more screens after it, it makes sense that the final hitcher to reach Road 96 will be captured as it's closest to Election Day.

* TheScrappy: Fanny falls into this. In a game full of interesting and likeable characters with unique perspectives, Fanny comes across as the most normal and least interesting. This wouldn't be the worst thing, except the game is about the a corrupt government and the systems in place that protect that corruption such as the police, which hits differently after 2020 where police corruption went under far more scrutiny. So encounters where she's arresting runaway teenagers despite being the mother of a runaway herself, forcing a teenager to take part in a high speed car chase, and pulling her gun out in a crowded bus make her seem less like the ReasonableAuthorityFigure she's intended to be and more of a hypocrite who protects the corrupt system than she claims to dislike.

* TheScrappy: Fanny falls into this. In a game full of interesting and likeable characters with unique perspectives, Fanny comes across as the most normal and least interesting. This wouldn't be the worst thing, except the game is about the a corrupt government and the systems in place that protect that corruption such as the police, which hits differently after 2020 where police corruption went under far more scrutiny. So encounters where she's arresting runaway teenagers despite being the mother of a runaway herself, forces a teenager to take part in a high speed car chase, and then pulls her gun out in a crowded bus make her seem less like the ReasonableAuthorityFigure she's intended to be.

* SpoiledByTheFormat: There are only five methods for crossing the border, with helping Zoe being a one-time alternative, and after using one it is permanently closed. As such it makes sense that the sixth hitcher to reach Road 96 will be captured as there would be no way for them to cross otherwise.

* AudienceAlienatingPremise: The highly political nature of the game's narrative can put off people, especially given the clear parallels of Tyrak/Trump and Flores/Clinton.

* CompleteMonster: [[PresidentEvil President Tyrak]] runs [[{{Qurac}} Petria]] with an iron fist and is willing to go any length to keep it that way. Having anyone who opposes him killed or arrested for treason, Tyrak bribes the police to arrest and lock up runaway teenagers who are trying to escape the country, keeping them locked in facilities where they are relentlessly beaten, and then transferred to the pits where they are likely to be killed. Tyrak also has his guards beat up and gas any protesters who support his opponent in the presidential race. During the climax, it is revealed that 10 years prior to the events of the game, Tyrak was the cause of the rockfall which killed numerous innocent people. When rioters breach the border security, Tyrak gives the security full authority to open fire and kill said rioters. In the endings where Tyrak wins the election, he makes the country of Petria even more oppressive and controlling.

* CompleteMonster: [[PresidentEvil President Tyrak]] runs [[{{Qurac}} Petria]] with an iron fist and is willing to go any length to keep it that way. Having anyone who opposes him killed or arrested for treason, Tyrak bribes the police to arrest and lock up runaway teenagers who are trying to escape the country, keeping them locked in facilities where they are relentlessly beaten, and then transferred to the pits where they are likely to be killed. Tyrak also has his guards beat up and gas any protesters who support his opponent in the presidential race. During the climax, it is revealed that 10 years prior to the events of the game, Tyrak was the cause of the rockfall which killed numerous innocent people. When rioters breach the border security, Tyrak gives the security full authority to open fire and kill said rioters. In the endings where Tyrak wins the election, he makes the country of Petria even more oppressive and controlling.
* GoodBadBugs: The smuggler has three dialogue options when first met: Offer $50, a credit card, or beg for her help. While this seems to be the required payment up front, once the scenario starts she stops and demands to be paid what was "agreed on" - even though if you offered it in the first dialogue she ''already took your money''. While annoying, it's also very accurate to how coyotes can use their power over the people they're smuggling to extort ever more money from them.

* GoodBadBugs: The smuggler has three dialogue options when first met: Offer $50, a credit card, or beg for her help. While this seems to be the required payment up front, once the scenario starts she stops and demands to be paid what was "agreed on" - even though if you offered it in the first dialogue she ''already took your money''. While annoying, it's also very accurate to how coyotes can use their power over the people they're smuggling to extort ever more money from them.
* HellIsThatNoise: After a few encounters with Jarod, you'll soon come to dread when you hear his trademark whistling.

* CatharsisFactor: The smuggler who takes the hitcher across the border is demanding and will quickly bail on you if you don't cough up the dough - in the worst case scenario, it's possible for her to take $135 from the hitcher, despite the initial cost being $50. As such it can be somewhat satisfying to see her get killed by the border patrol while you and another teen escape.

* CompleteMonster: [[PresidentEvil President Tyrak]] runs [[{{Qurac}} Petria]] with an iron fist and is willing to go any length to keep it that way. Having any who opposes him killed or arrested for treason, Tyrak bribes the police to arrest and lock up runaway teenagers who are trying to escape the country, keeping them locked in facilities where they are relentlessly beaten, and then transferred to the pits where they are likely to be killed. Tyrak also has his guards beat up and gas any protesters who support his opponent in the presidential race. During the climax, it is revealed that 10 years prior to the events of the game, Tyrak was the cause of the rockfall which killed numerous innocent people. When rioters breach the border security, Tyrak gives the security full authority to open fire and kill said rioters. In the endings where Tyrak wins the election, he makes the country of Petria even more oppressive and controlling.

* GoodBadBugs: The smuggler has three dialogue options when first met: Offer $50, a credit card, or beg for her help. While this seems to be the required payment up front, once the scenario starts she stops and demands to be paid what was "agreed on" - even though if you offered it in the first dialogue she ''already took your money''. While annoying, it's also very accurate to how coyotes can use their power over the people they're smuggling to extort ever more money from them.

* CompleteMonster: [[PresidentEvil President Tyrak]] runs [[{{Qurac}} Petria]] with an iron fist and is willing to go any length to keep it that way. Having any who opposes him killed or arrested for treason, Tyrak bribes the police to arrest and lock up runaway teenagers who are trying to escape the country, keeping them locked in facilities where they are relentlessly beaten, and then transferred to the pits where they are likely to be killed. Tyrak also has his guards beat up and gas any protesters who support his opponent in the presidential race. During the climax, it is revealed that 10 years prior to the events of the game, Tyrak was the cause of the rockfall which killed numerous innocent people. When rioters breach the border security, Tyrak gives the security full authority to open fire and kill said rioters. In the endings where Tyrak wins the election, he makes the country of Petria even more oppressive and controlling.

* {{Anvilicious}}: Totalitarianism only flourishes when the people aren't willing to stand up against it, either via democracy or revolution.

* BigLippedAlligatorMoment: While 99% of the game is a grounded story with no fantastical elements, two encounters along the road take a bit of a left turn.