Circa Infinity

Developer: Kenny Sun
Steam Release: Sep 2015
Hours Played: 3.6
Similar To: Bit. Trip Void / Duet / Orbit XL / Rflex / Super Hexagon
Rating: 3/5 Parsnips

GAMEPLAY
The swirling world of Circa Infinity is an extremely clever spin on the Super Hexagon formula that plays little tricks on your mind and really makes you appreciate the creativity conjured up by the developer. You control a stick-figure who can run left or right along the inner and outer circumferences of a series of concentric circles. To get to the inner circumference you have to enter the "V" shaped segment by merging inside it from the outside edge. Inside this circle is a smaller sphere that floats around and once you successfully leap onto this, the camera zooms in and you rinse and repeat the process until you arrive at the final black and white swirly exit portal. While as a game mechanic this works incredibly well, it's not quite that simple... 


 

BALANCE & PACE
Needless to say, you are not alone when it comes to inhabiting this topsy-turvy world. Creatures of various kinds such as devils, gremlins and gargoyles leap around or stand in your way. Thankfully, these guys' movements follow a regular pattern and it is your job to study their routines, note where the openings lie and negotiate your way to the centre accordingly. One collision though will force you to take one step back to the last concentric circle. It is a formula that's executed superbly well with the rise in difficulty pitched to perfection. The first levels are straightforward with few enemies following straightforward routines that you can sail past with ease. You'll then graduate to more complex levels where monsters become more numerous, change direction more often and follow more haphazard paths.     

PRESENTATION & DESIGN
The whole experience is enhanced by its thumping soundtrack which fits the mood like a glove and does a glorious job in immersing the player into the gameflow. A plus point is that it varies with each stage thus changing the mood or vibe suitably each time. Graphic-wise we have a simple, pixel art-style that is mainly black and white but with the odd splash of red and then blue and yellow later on. Menus function in the same way as the game in that you jump into segments from outside to inside of the circle to activate it. Merging into the Exit segment at the main menu also exits you from the game without annoyingly asking you if you're sure.  
 

PROGRESS SYSTEM
As far as progress goes, you'll be leaping into the Level-Select or Continue segments at the main menu. Continue is for those who want to beat the game by jumping into a new experience each time while Level-Select is for those who want to replay and perfect previous levels. From here you can either check and then beat your best times or be more cautious by attempting to beat the level without a single death (indicated by a crossed out skull). You'll see five unlockable circles when diving into the Level-Select screen and diving into one of these will open its 11 segments or "Parts" indicating the 10 levels in each plus the final boss ominously named Part 1.! or Part 2.! etc. 

CONCLUSION

Circa Infinity is a mighty fine arcade game for anyone into twitch-gaming with a kickass soundtrack and/or with pattern or beat recognition like a 140 or a Bit.Trip Runner. What might surprise you is the actual amount of variety that's packed into the simple premise of dodging enemies on the inner and outer edge of a circle. Initiating enemy movement through your own motion, enemies who invert themselves from the outer and inner edge (and vice versa) and discovering when to make the right strike at a boss are all to be encountered on the learning curve. Your shattering death is also punished firmly but fairly; enough to piss you off but never enough to make you lose heart or any respect for the game.