Review: Wheels of Aurelia — Sassy Detective

Summary: 3.0/5.0

Wheels of Aurelia is a unique game that pairs dialogue-driven narrative with isometric racing mechanics. Yes, you read that right. Each playthrough takes about 15 minutes and the game has just as many endings.

It's 1978 and this game has the soundtrack to prove it. You play as Lella, an edgy short-haired feminist on her way from Italy to France. Throughout the game, you will use two primary mechanics: you will choose what to say and where to go. The dialogue choices you make will reveal various characteristics and backstory details about both Lella and her assortment of companions. Arguably the second main character, one of these such companions is Olga, who has joined Lella on this road trip to France, but who may or may not end up with Lella depending on your choices. At certain points, Lella may abandon her, or Olga may refuse to continue together. You may also choose to stop for hitchhikers and deliver them to their respective destinations, which will determine your route and the ending you receive. Different hitchhikers, routes, and dialogue choices will lead you to self-discovery, illegal street races, or unexpected betrayal.

The pairing of these mechanics works surprisingly well, particularly since either on its own would not be interesting enough to keep your attention, even for the short duration of the game. However, neither is demanding enough that you can't manage both simultaneously. I played through the game 3 or 4 times before losing interest, but was intrigued enough to research the remaining endings. There was much more variation than I would have expected, even after playing several times.

Overall, I don't have many complaints about this game, but there's nothing particularly astounding about it either. The graphics are colorful and reminiscent of the time period. The dialogue is purely in writing, rather than supplemented with VO. The choices you make change the ending you receive, but there's not always a clear correlation. Ultimately, this is definitely an interesting game worth picking up on sale, and won't require a huge time investment.

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