South of the Circle

As someone put it, it's a "woke" story - and a good one at that. I enjoy good storytelling, and this has it. But I also like to reach the end of the story and have closure, and this fails in that regard. Did they live happily ever after? Did they not? I really can't tell. I understand this is most probably a creative way of ending the story, but I don't enjoy it. Also, it's not a game - it's a story, a movie if you will, where you control the pace, nothing more. So, for me, not worth the full price. If you get it at a discount, and if you enjoy stories - even incomplete ones - then by all means go for it.

I didn't expect much, but was pleasantly surprised. There's not much of gameplay, no puzzles either, but the story is definitely worth your time. It made me think a lot. I don't understand the negative reviews, if you really can't relate to anything in this game I'm sorry for you. I appreciate the addition of concept art. Thank you GOG and developers for gifting me this experience.

I like the 50's pastel shades illustration style well captured alone for that, worth trying out but I'm not so keen on the controls

This is by the Lume/Lumino City developers and I ended up feeling similarly for different reasons. There are some really excellent aspects of the game but also things I disliked enough that it is not that close to being one of my favorites. I got it in the giveaway but wouldn't have regretted it at the usual sale price range I pay for this type of game. Despite the distractingly stiff movement (due to playing on an underspec system it seems) the animation is a really nice touch and I wish all visual novels put this much effort into the presentation. It is not a point and click adventure or even a walking simulator since there are no puzzles and even the walking and driving is quite limited. There are time limited choices but you don't know what you are choosing between. Your choices are supposed to indicate emotions but you can't tell if "empathy" means empathy with the person you are talking with or the person they are shit talking (it could be either). The other major issue I had with the game was the ending. The choices you make barely affect the ending at all and certain aspects of the ending really ruined the story for me. I really like the art style, similar to GOG's sale banner art style. Click "view original" on the screenshots and zoom in to a 1:1 view; there is a film grain type effect that I like. The voice acting and music are also good. In my opinion there was too much unbelievable stuff for the sake of drama. Also, not closing doors bugs me and being in Antarctica just makes that worse. Other games to consider (rough order of similarity of mood to me): Haven, RiME, My Brother Rabbit, To the Moon, The Longest Road on Earth, Wolfstride, Trails in the Sky series, Little Bug, 8Doors, Card City Nights. Haven I have some issues with and haven't finished (but have seen hints that I likely won't like any of the endings) but if you like the "low key love scene" aspect of this one then Haven is great at that.

I mostly play FPS games, tactical shooters, and some vintage RTS games. But my real passion are RPG games of old with some dark fantasy setting. But, really, all that ever mattered to me, besides a good, bug free user interface, was to find an authentic immersive story. Having said that, as I'm getting older (passed 36 a few days ago), it's getting harder for me to find s ome trully new experience among new PC games. So I got this one free through a GOG giveaway, and one cold morning just decided to try it out. And boy, it was good! Not too short, and not too long - I finished it in about four hours. I don't mind you basically don't use any controls other than the occasional click on the "emotional bubble" to give the conversation a more specific tone or tell Peter where to go. This is more of a interactive novel than anything else, but hey - it's the story and the way this story was told. This can't be a bad thing, this was simply the choice developers make all the time. You either enjoy it or not, vote with your money. And the team did really outstanding work. I was sucked into it completely. I also need to emphasize the work of the voice acting - British drama at it's best. Artwork, visual style? Yeah, we all do have are preferences, but you can't say anything less than "beautiful, artsy, vintage, soothing". Same applies to music and the whole "athmospheric" experience. Finally - the story. I don't agree or find myself to be anything like our main protagonist Peter. I don't even am fond of the whole patriarchy vs. feminism or whatever narrative. Hell, the whole presentation of the Cold War is something I have a very specific view on. This list can go on for a bit... But this game really allowed me to get into someone else's boots, and just try to look the things from different point of view. And I learned a lot by doing that. It was emotional. It's worth your time.