Analysis of South of the Circle

Love and scientific research collide in South of the Circle

How would you feel if you put your romantic relationship at risk for scientific disclosure? Also, how would you feel if you put your own life on the line to find out what you’ve been studying for years? These questions and many more are the ones that torment Peter, our protagonist of South of the circle that you will not hesitate to visit Antarctica in search of the answers you need. Although his plans don’t go as he expected…

The hard road to the doctorate

State of play y 11 bit studio are responsible for bringing this narrative experience set in the 70s. We will witness the interesting life of Peter, a Cambridge professor who studies the behavior of clouds. With Clara’s help, her love and her support in their investigations, they will verify that apart from the movement of these clouds there is certain radiance that escapes his understanding. Immediately, all this begins to receive an explanation, gaining importance not only in his thesis, but on a much more international level.

Welcome to an ideological revolution

Undoubtedly, the main claim is the story that mixes the two protagonists. A much more interesting story because of the time in which it focuses. It is no longer just the lack of resources that Peter will have for his investigations, but that there will be other equally or more important issues that will define the adventure. For starters, we will be in the midst of a Cold War that is increasing tensions between the British/American and Soviet fronts.

Tensions between the two sides will reach such heights that even the Antarctic Treaty will be affected, and with it our investigations. If we also complement this political framework with other issues of the time, such as the conservative and macho attitude of institutions like Cambridge, it all adds up to an explosive mix that is best discovered on your own.

Feelings at the push of a button

South of the Circle has virtually no playable mechanics. Other than being able to move Peter to certain specific locations, we won’t do anything other than express our opinions with a special dialogue system. There will be very specific symbology that expresses the feelings of our protagonist. The red circle becomes insecurity, skepticism and doubt. The yellow sun signifies joy, humor and positivity. The gray square represents sincerity and conviction and finally, the blue circle comes to signify benevolence and fraternization.

And despite what I have just described, all of this must be seen in a rather abstract way. We will never know exactly what our teacher’s reaction will be,

Theses that shine with their own light

In addition to a catchy argument, we will have a very good audiovisual section. Despite the apparent simplicity of its textures, the study achieved excellent results. The changes of weather with flashbacks, movements and camera shots, the contrasts of the passage from the icy white of Antarctica to the flowering fields of England… everything looks great through the eyes. If we also add an English dub to the pitch, the result could not be better.

Conclusion of South of the Circle

State of Play and 11 bit studios offer us a very special narrative experience. The story itself is interesting thanks to flashbacks and constant location changes. But it is even more so because of the time in which the plot takes place, with the Cold War as a backdrop and the archaic and conservative thought of the upper echelons of the University of Cambridge. It is very rewarding and instructive to be part of this stage and to see the generational culture that has developed.

Despite the fact that South of the Circle stands out in its history, we cannot forget that we are analyzing a video game, and in this aspect we find several nuances not as well resolved as expected. Yes, we will have interaction with the environment, exploration of the scene and conversations with other characters. But none of that affects the course of the argument, as it’s pretty tight and maintains a very well-thought-out storyline.

The most interesting thing might be its response system, where we will respond based on our feelings and not on stipulated lines of dialogue. Despite these small flaws in its playability, it’s a game that I would recommend to anyone who likes conversational proposals and who wants a title that goes beyond the norm. A window on the past that will allow us to experience an atypical and unusual fragment of history from a different point of view.