Whenever I think about art imitating life, I rarely consider video games as having a deeper meaning than that which we see on screen. Quite literally, games about shooting bad guys, racing cars and navigating rivers of lava will, more often than not, do exactly as described. This is true of The Magic Circle: Gold Edition to an extent, but it is also the most satirical, self-deprecating and amusing study of what is wrong in the games industry today that I’ve ever experienced. It is both a game and a statement, and whilst it may not be the best game ever, it is as fun as it is topical, and because it manages to be both of those things, it succeeds.
The Magic Circle is basically a walking simulator (with puzzle and basic combat elements) that is driven forward by an expertly written narrative about a Spectrum-era text adventure that is being revamped as a modern RPG. The game takes place in the run up to a thinly veiled E3 conference where the game is set to be demoed, and players take the role of a tester who is essentially trapped within the unfinished game. Forced to watch the conflicting design team bicker about what should or shouldn’t be included in the final build, the player soon becomes aware that there is no chance of escape without the assistance of another former tester who has learned to manipulate previously deleted code, and change the behaviour of things within the game engine. It sounds complicated, but The Magic Circle plays out in a simple, logical and highly effective way that feels rewarding both because of the interesting story and because the level of challenge is usually pitched at exactly the right level to delay progress, but not halt it.
Here’s what I liked:
Fantastic story —Undoubtedly the most compelling reason to keep on playing The Magic Circle is the amusing, well scripted and highly relevant story which is fully realised with outstanding voice acting and production values throughout. You’ll feel like an integrated part of the broken game at the heart of this story, whilst at the same time, you’ll experience the completely disconnected, ridiculous bickering of the omnipresent developers as they float around your world making unreasonable demands of each other. It serves as both a great reason to keep on playing the game, and at the same time, it feels like an unrestricted insight into the kind of thing that historically caused games like Daikatana to be delayed indefinitely and ultimately, to be released in an unsatisfactory state.
Quite fun to play —My main criticism of most walking simulators, especially those with strong narratives, is that gameplay often suffers. Not so with The Magic Circle, which features no direct combat, but instead challenges players to use a limited set of “developer abilities” to change the behaviour of creatures and objects within the game. Turning an enemy into an ally for example, and having them fight your battle. This mechanic presents both combat options and puzzles for the player to solve, almost all of which are logical, but many of which are nonetheless satisfying to resolve. There is little by way of handholding, but that rarely matters as long as you pay attention to what you’ve been told, and what resources (creatures and inventory items) have been made available to you.
Completely original —The Magic Circle is exactly what I want from an indie game, and despite being weird and niche, I celebrate the fact that games like this are being made. This is a game which could never have been produced by one of the bigger studios because of how critical it is of the gaming industry. However, despite the broadly negative connotations of the in game narrative, the script, humour, non-playable characters and content remain light enough throughout that it never becomes a chore to play. Games that make a statement are nothing new, but a game that can make its point whilst presenting a completely original script and a unique game mechanic, and still be fun and witty is a rare and special thing.
Here’s what I didn’t like:
Very niche —Whilst there is very little that I don’t like about The Magic Circle, it is my role to assess each aspect of every game I play and to provide you, the reader, with enough information to make an informed decision. The Magic Circle is a one-of-a-kind game, and whilst I could suggest that anyone who is interested in video games should find something here that is at least amusing, if not outright enjoyable, that’s a big assumption to make considering the unique look, style and gameplay mechanics within. This is a game unlike any other that I’ve played, and although I commend the narrative and much more, it could also easily be seen as far too abstract, far too dull or just plain weird by many gamers who simply want a more mainstream experience.
Quite short —Perhaps because I did enjoy the narrative and quickly became hooked, and perhaps less so because I rapidly understood the task from a gameplay perspective, I completed The Magic Circle in just a few hours. I suspect most other experienced gamers will manage that as well, and although I did enjoy it, I can think of relatively few reasons to replay the game from the beginning. There are some collectibles and potentially different ways of reaching the endgame for those who do want to revisit, but even then, a second playthrough would feel even shorter.
Wrap-up:
I’m tempted to award The Magic Circle with our coveted “Must Buy” score, but at the same time, I have a reservation that many people out there would rate it equivalent to a “Reader’s Choice” or even lower due to the original and often strange gameplay. With that in mind I’ve settled in the middle because I hope that in this review, I have said enough to justify why The Magic Circle is worth an investment of time and money that might not otherwise have been made. It’s a marmite game, but the story will be of interest to anyone interested in the gaming industry, and whilst the gameplay mechanics are simple, they are also both different and fun, and they certainly elevate The Magic Circle beyond the reach of your average walking simulator.
Score: Highly Recommended
The Magic Circle: Gold Edition was developed and published by Question on Xbox One. It was released on June 29, 2016 for $19.99. A copy was provided for review purposes.
The Author
