Heading Out

Heading Out is an original production combining car games, adventure games and roguelikes. The game was developed by the independent Polish studio Serious Sim, which also has the unique project Radio Commander in its portfolio. The source of inspiration for the creators were classic road movies.

Plot

Heading Out takes us on a journey to the United States in the 1970s. During the game, we play the role of a character who travels across America behind the wheel of his muscle car. The adventures that await the protagonist depend on the direction we choose and the decisions we make.

Mechanics

We start playing Heading Out by creating a character. This is done by answering a number of questions related to their past and personality. The game asks us, among other things, who (or what) we are afraid of or who (or what) we are running away from. Once the character is ready we can choose our travel destination and hit the road. The game may look different every time depending on where we go.

Heading to a chosen destination, we regularly take part in various random events - from meeting a group of hippies, through confrontations with dark guys, to police checks. During these moments the game confronts us with the need to make a choice. The decision we make may influence the course of the story and the further journey in various ways. For example, standing up to thugs ends in a fight, while not stopping for a police check results in a chase.

The game allows us to take direct control of the car. Watching the action from an outside camera (TPP) or from the driver's eyes (FPP), we rush through picturesque places intersected by local roads and national highways. We can meet other drivers, with whom we can race or, on the contrary, ignore them, enjoying a peaceful ride. While traveling, we must pay attention to the technical condition of our vehicle. Mechanical damage forces us to visit workshops, while running out of fuel forces us to find the nearest gas station.

Our behavior on the road and our character's past influence how people treat us and what is said about us on the radio. If we make ourselves known to the law enforcement, we can be sure that we will hear reports about a criminal spreading fear on American roads.

Technical aspects

The graphic design of the game Heading Out was done in cel-shading technique. The color scheme is dominated by shades of gray, but it features bright accents. The game is played to the accompaniment of atmospheric music from the Americana genre.