Review of the PC version of South of the Circle, a compelling narrative adventure

It took about two years but we finally made it: here it is South of the Circle console and PC review, a small narrative adventure released on Apple Arcade at the end of 2020. let’s talk about the game Game Status (not to be confused with the Sony PlayStation event), which takes us – as the title suggests – to Antarctica.

We already told you what we thought of the original version in our first review, but in this case we’re talking about the PC version that we’re playing on Steam and will be released from August 3, 2022.

Between present and past

South of the Circle is an in-depth adventure. storytellingin which we will move between the past and the present.

Today is represented byAntarctica, from immediate danger and discovery. Our hero, Peter, has just survived an accident with a small plane while trying to reach a British base in the South Pole. The pilot is injured and the only person who can call for help is Peter.

On this lonely journey through the snow, but I’ll make their way memorieswill take us back to the moment that started it all: meeting Clara. The woman, like Peter, is a Cambridge scholar seeking a topic for her first publication, which serves to confirm the transition to a permanent role at the university. Peter, a climatologist, has been working for years but still can’t find a valid thesis. The turning point will be determined by meeting with Clara. The woman is intelligent, and the two become colleagues and lovers.

South of the Circle guides us on a journey that takes approx. three hours, we will have to make a series of “dialogues” and plot choices. The first will be represented in the form of reactions: in some verbal exchanges we will be able to express ourselves cheerfully, calmly or suspiciously, but this will not really affect the progression of the scenes. Then there will be a series of key plot moments where our picks will offer clear custom icons to be saved by the game.

It is not possible to explain the structure of the elections in detail without giving spoilers, but we can say that it is completely. irrelevant and basic at the same time. There is no right or wrong choice, and the game will help us understand what choosing really means and what memories are worth.

This is an interesting way to propose comploIt will gradually emerge, leading us to discover the truth behind our trip to Antarctica. The context is also very interesting: these are the Cold War years, with their difficulties and insecurity. South of the Circle is entirely based on its own fiction, and if you accept the big (and voluntary) fun limitations, we can say that it is definitely one of the works to be considered.

computer

However, the quality of the game in terms of narrative has been known well or badly for some time, and now the question is whether it is appropriate to choose the game. PC / console version or whether you stay in that Apple Arcade.

The first difference graphic presentation. The style remains the same, even if this is minimal but pleasant, the superior power of PC and consoles has allowed State of Play to propose a slightly more defined, slightly more intense work with polygonal elements in some scenes. It’s not a complete conversion, mind you, it’s just a bunch of minor tweaks that might get away with. Some of them have very minor issues with shadows and some animations that are most noticeable on the big screen, but these are minor trifles.

There is a difference between the two versions. login systembut given South of the Circle’s low level of interaction, losing access to the touchscreen isn’t particularly relevant.

It’s more about how you want to approach South of the Circle. State of Play’s work divided into small arraysbetween the past and the present, which usually lasts a few minutes. This is a great choice for the mobile version so the player can easily start the game, complete a chapter or two in a few minutes, then close the adventure and return to the next break.

On computers and consolesOn average, the player tends to start the game with the idea of ​​​​devoting quite a lot of time. Therefore, the presence of some phases that are slightly slower than the rest of the game runs the risk of being a little heavier, because in a large session one gets the impression that these sequences are much less useful than others. . Frankly, nothing in Apple Arcade prohibits you from playing directly with your smartphone for three hours, and nothing prevents you from starting to play your PC for even just 10 minutes and savor the experience in small bites.

Finally, the game translated into italian (interface and subtitles), with excellent English dubbing. The soundtrack is also pleasant and gracefully accompanies every part of the game.