Soon, however, the player stumbles upon a dark conspiracy buried within the game itself.Īlong the way, The Magic Circle offers biting criticism and commentary on the nature of game design, the affordances and challenges of production and funding, audience expectations, and the tropes, dogmas, and traditions that govern contemporary and traditional development. While walking through unfinished levels, players are slowly introduced to a host of other development team members, from the megalomaniacal lead designer to the obsequious fan-turned-employee, each of whom is given exquisite personality through top-notch voice acting. Players start as a tester on this sequel after it’s been delayed innumerable times. Through clever writing, good pacing, and continually evolving mechanics, The Magic Circle becomes a meta-commentary on the process of making and playing video games today.Īs it begins, the story posits that a fictional game company has been in development hell on the highly-anticipated sequel to their breakout game. It’s a title that sands off the polished veneer of a finished digital product and asks players to stare quizzically into the guts of the thing. Released on the PC in 2015 and now finally available on PS4, The Magic Circle explores the increasingly rapid and intimate feedback loop between game developers and players. ![]() Low: Clunky controls for the “strategy” section. High: Finishing the prologue and discovering it has much more to offer.
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