Game: Journey of the Broken Circle
Genre: Adventure | Platformer
System: Nintendo Switch (also on Steam)
Developers | Publishers: Lovable Hat Cult|Nakana i.o.
Age Rating: EU 7+ | USA E
Price: EU €8,00 | US $8.00 |UK £7.20
Release Date: September 18th, 2020
Review code used, with many thanks to Nakana i.o.
In the past we have reviewed more games that were published by Nakana i.o. and as they write in their description: “we gather games that share a strong experience to remember”. Very true, looking at games like Lydia and EQQO. Not your run of the mill games always games that are designed to make you think. Let’s see if Journey of the Broken Circle fits the bill too.
Rolling Along
From the start, the game throws you right in the middle: you find yourself in an empty and cold landscape with minimal colours. The desolation seeps off the screen, it’s clear from the start that the little white circle that we follow is alone and lonely. Of course, the text gives it away too. 😊 Might be because the circle isn’t completely round: there’s a wedge missing. Luckily it doesn’t hamper you in your rolling and the only way is forward.
There’s no tutorial, you have to find out for yourself that pressing A is jumping and B is letting go. Not that Circle can reach great heights, mind you. It’s all pretty minimal, and you don’t need more to transverse the landscape you are rolling through.
Trying to Fill the Hole
On the Journey, Circle meets creatures that it can talk to or just marvel at in wonder. But there are also other souls out there that are interested in joining Circle.
Like the pine seed (called Sticky) that fits quite nicely in the wedge. It decides to join Circle, but with hesitation. After all, it was quite happy on the little cliff where it was resting. But Circle can be persuasive in its exuberance! So, along they go, rolling with a slight hiccup. Sticky ads a new ability too, it can stick to walls. And in the levels coming, you need that!
The landscape varies, from dark underground caves all the way up to above the clouds. Travelling from icy landscapes through a lava-filled abyss to a vista of balloons. And though at first, their union was going well, pretty soon discontent creeps in.
In the eyes of Sticky, Circle is reckless and careless. It wants to stay out and literally put down roots. While Circle feels Sticky is complaining all the time, holding him back. Clearly in the end this is not the partner Circle was looking for.
Shouldn’t we stop to reflect on things. I get restless quickly, just have to keep moving!
Most pursue pleasure with such breathless haste that they hurry past it….
The Search Continues!
You will meet more fascinating characters like Sticky on your quest to complete the imperfect Circle. And some will try and fill the wedge. These partners bring their unique abilities, like Sticky’s stickiness to let you overcome new obstacles. Level after level, you can keep discovering the world. And like the way Sticky’s personality eventually clashes with Circle, every new partner also brings their own personality to roll with…
The game isn’t long, approximately 4-5 hours of adventure unless you are me. I’ve said it often enough: I’m not a platformer. I’m pretty sure a lot of more experienced gamers will be able to finish the game with one hand tied to their back. Not me.
I reached a point where I had to jump, change directions and be quick to make it through. Plus, midway directional buttons changed because, well, Circle was confused by the heat of the lava. Not as confused as I was though. And I just couldn’t do it. Tried some 30 times and though I’m thankful that the game has no penalty for dying whatsoever, I made me super annoyed. The heart-racing, blood pressure rising and cussing kind of annoyed. Wanted to throw my precious Switch across the room but I tried yet again. And again. And if you know me, that so is not me…always calm and collected!
Conclusion
The Journey of the Broken Circle is based on a lovely idea that is easily recognisable in everyday life. Dilemma’s echoed in all marriages and relationships, I’d say. I loved the minimalism of the graphics and the repartee between the characters. The music is good and gave me the Jean Michelle Jarre feeling of old.
What influences my opinion is that this is, after all, a platformer at heart. The challenges got more difficult the farther I went in, to a point where I despaired of ever progressing. But, it doesn’t seem fair to reflect the fact that I’m awful at platforming gameplay in the final verdict.
So I will say: if you like platformers and like a bit of food for thought, this is a great game. If you are bad at platforming, then you may have to find someone in your family to help you along in tight spots to enjoy the entire story.
Final Verdict: I Like It 