Described as “a cinematic story of love and promises” and “a gripping narrative adventure,” I’ve had my eye on South of the Circle since it was first announced earlier this year. How could I not with descriptions like those two?! It helps that the developer is award-winning and the publisher one of the best in the industry. Everything about the game is just so darned intriguing. Now that the launch date has been announced, I can barely contain my excitement!
South of the Circle is set during the 1960s cold war crisis and showcases the true weight of life choices. The game shifts from past to present, following Peter to the frigid Antarctica; the landscape itself is part of the narrative. The game is fully motion-captures to achieve the closest thing to emotional realism possible. The launch date reveal trailer (below) is filled with tense moments, but also has some tender ones.
As if I needed to be hooked any more than I already am, there’s one line in the trailer that really stands out: “Something is definitely going on, but I can’t put my finger on it.” That describes the kind of game I love to a tee. While in Antarctica, Peter’s mind flashes back and forth between past and present. He’s not only fighting for survival in the frozen wilderness, he’s also contemplating his entire life and the big choices he’s made.
I can’t write about South of the Circle without mentioning the impressive voice cast that includes Gwilym Lee (Bohemian Rhapsody), Olivia Vinall (The Woman in White), Richard Goulding (The Crown), Anton Lesser (Game of Thrones), Adrian Rawlins (Chernobyl), and Michael Fox (Downton Abbey).
Developed by State of Play and published by 11 bit studios, South of the Circle will be released for PC via Steam/GOG, Nintendo Switch, PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series, and Xbox One on August 3.
