With this game crossed off the list, I'm down to the last three games on my Steam backlog. If only similarly impressive progress can be said about the rest of my personal life. BACKGROUND:
Another random Steam sale purchase. Go figure. I got more than halfway through on the old save, but once again, I stopped for some unknown reason. It's strange considering I enjoyed how challenging this game was. PLOT: I feel like there is a plot in here somewhere, but if there is, the way it's presented is way too esoteric. I could just be reading too much into the few "cutscenes" of the game, but there seems to be some sort of cryptic narrative that involves the bizarre journey the player characters undergo. Regardless, the fact that it made no goddamn sense to me is largely irrelevant to my opinion of the game. That said, if you came here for something story-driven, or even just a story that's presented clearly, you may not like what you find. PRESENTATION: Circa Infinity keeps it simple when it comes to visuals: 8-bit style pixel graphics, super simple sprite designs, and a very limited color palette. The game makes up for the limited style by making everything else look trippy as hell: backgrounds and level elements routinely alternate colors, you see all sorts of abstract patterns, and the screen transitions and the like look like straight up optical illusions. A good way to describe it is one of those stereotypical brainwashing/hypnosis devices you see in cartoons that display all sorts of weird shit on the screen. On that note, this is definitely one of those games that requires warnings for those who get dizzy/motion sick when seeing a lot of moving objects on a screen, as well as anybody with photosensitivity issues or a history of epileptic seizures. The music is just as mesmerizing as the visuals, taking on a somewhat techno style that also serves to complement the fast-paced gameplay. I found myself idling on a few levels just to enjoy listening to the tracks for a bit. GAMEPLAY: Circa Infinity is a 2D platformer, and it's the kind that demands quick reflexes, precision, and a knack for adapting on the fly. Though I wouldn't say it's on the level of Super Meat Boy or the harder levels of Celeste, it's still fairly demanding. Unlike most platformers, which tend to keep the action in a horizontal plane, Circa Infinity's action takes place in circles. You'll have to move clockwise or counterclockwise around said circles to position yourself correctly. The controls aren't exactly the easiest to adjust to; your main inputs are left and right, and those are directions that are easier to grasp on a completely horizontal plane. On a circular plane, those inputs can get confusing; even with several hours of experience, I still found myself inputting a direction incorrectly because I got turned around. I see this being a cumbersome barrier for many players. Depending on where you are in the circle, your main button has a different function. Within a circle, it's a regular jump, and you have to use it to reach the next circle (which is a new section of the level). On the outer side, it's a sort of quick crouch, and you have to do that on a specific wedge of the circle to enter it. My description makes it sound fucking confusing, but I promise it'll make sense once you see it. Although these are pretty basic actions, avoiding danger by using them at the perfect time feels pretty satisfying. It's not a platformer without obstacles, and in this game, they come in the form of weird devil-looking things. There are many different types, each with distinct behavior. Some are simply stationary, others move along the circular path, some jump, others fly, and more. The game introduces each enemy in a relatively safe area, so you have ample time to figure out their behavior. It's very important that you learn what each enemy does as quickly as you can, because later levels will start to mix and match different types and make your life a living hell. In the event that you hit an enemy and die (which will happen), you'll be sent to the previous section of the level. This is kind of annoying, because this makes it so you have to clear a section you already beat just to get back to where you were. This gets extra frustrating if you accidentally die in said previous section and get sent even further back. Thankfully, the game does have sort of "rest areas" with no hazards that effectively serve as checkpoints. The game has five zones, each with 10 decently-long levels. Each zone introduces a new twist to the gameplay; for example, the third part really mixes things up by having you control two characters simultaneously, and the final part introduces color-based mechanics into the mix. It's in these new twists where the level design really shines, as each section becomes a sort of puzzle where you have to decipher how to take advantage of the new mechanic to get you through unscathed. Each zone ends in a boss fight where you have to brave your way through the boss's onslaught to hit them (which, in this case, is simply doing your "crouch" move on top of them). I didn't expect boss encounters at all in this game, and they ended up being some of the most creative levels in the entire game. Beating the final boss unlocks a speedrun mode where you try to go through every level in the game, with the twist that you're now being timed. It doesn't change anything about the levels, but if you're all about getting the best times and optimizing your gameplay, this is something you can sink your teeth into. Circa Infinity also has a completely separate mode (which could probably be its own standalone game) called Circle Affinity. It plays pretty much the same as the normal game, except that it's structured more like an arcade experience. Instead of simply getting to the end of the level, it's a survival-type mode where you try to clear as many individual sections as you can. Once you die (either by hitting an enemy or idling too long), the game ends, and the number of sections you cleared up to that point is your score. Circle Affinity is a solid mode that gives this otherwise short game good replay value. Not only is it great if you're into getting high scores, but there are things you can unlock, like more level sets, and even alternate color palettes for the game (which you unfortunately can't use in the main game). I should note that the achievements of this game are quite interesting. In addition to your standard progression achievements and challenge achievements (like clear every level in a zone without dying, reach a specific score threshold in Circle Affinity, or various speedrun achievements), you also have achievements that encourage you to play a game a specific way. For example, there are a set of achievements called Immobile, which requires you to beat levels without moving left or right. It's not everyday achievements encourage you to play the game in different ways, so I wanted to highlight this aspect of Circa Infinity. VERDICT: Circa Infinity provides a one-of-a-kind 2D platformer experience with its circle-based platforming action, interesting mechanics, and challenging level design. It's also distinct in the sense of presentation with its simple yet somehow psychedelic visuals and enjoyable soundtrack. It even has its own arcade mode on top of that. Despite being on the short side, and some mild frustrations I have with some elements of the gameplay, I was satisfied overall with the game's difficulty and assortment of mechanics. If you're in for a decently difficult platforming challenge, or are looking for something a little off-the-wall, this is definitely a game worth checking out. If you're not that into platformers that require some trial and error or are demanding execution-wise, you may not enjoy this as much. Of course, you don't have to take my word for it. Visit the game's Steam page below and you'll find that it has a free demo. See if it's for you. Circa Infinity on Steam (steampowered.com) - end -
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June 2024
Derryck
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