Circa Infinity (2015)

Circa Infinity is a platformer that feels unique yet so familiar at the same time. Each level involves getting to the centre of a circle filled with enemies. Watching the enemies swirl around me was hypnotic, and it stood out from the other platformers in the genre because it focused so heavily on aesthetics. Did their decision pay off? Find out in this Rapid Review.

I respect the idea that Circa Infinity is going for; a unique puzzle arcade game that will attract speedrunners and those looking for a challenge. If you enjoy punishing titles and can handle motion sickness, then this release may be for you. However, a game's supposed to be fun. With the brain-breaking movement scheme, flashing lights, and constant moving images, I felt sick playing it.

Circa infinity is a game where form follows function and function follows form. If the image of a bold circle on the screen was the chicken, then the mechanic of a wrap-around platformer was the egg. The constant trickery of its concentrated concentricity is confoundingly circular, but once you’ve bought into the premise, it makes perfect sense. Player-friendly level design and a well judged difficulty curve let the fluid intricacy and fiendish challenge shine, while its distinctive appearance will leave an indelible mark on your mind.

The boss stages make for a fun break in the action, but I didn't feel compelled to play for more than 10 minutes at a time or return to previously completed stages. Those looking for a set of tough platformer-like challenges that work better in short bursts should give this one a try. Some post-game unlockables add even more content and incentives to keep returning to the game. It won't be for everyone, but Circa Infinity makes for an interesting, if somewhat repetitive, experience on Switch.

Simplicity in games is always a bit of a double-edged sword...