Developer: Domesticated Ant Games Publisher: PID Games Release: 07/13/23 Genre: Action Platform: PC, PS4, PS5, Nintendo Switch
Mega Man is one of the most popular gaming characters of all time. Yet in spite of that Capcom has done little with the character in the last decade outside of re-releases of old titles. But the indie development scene has picked up their slack with many fantastic titles that offer more of that style of gameplay like Panzer Paladin and 20XX. Gravity Circuit has flown under the radar but in my opinion might be the best one yet. Gravity Circuit nails it in every category and is one of my favorite games this year.
In a post-apocalyptic world populated by sentient robots, a mysterious ark is discovered. Before it can be explored an army of violent robots emerge and begin attacks all around the world. Dubbed the Virus Army, the civilians stand little chance of fighting them off. However before all hope is lost nine guardian circuits of the Guardian Corps emerge to defend robot kind. They succeed but in the aftermath only one guardian, the Gravity Circuit Kai survives and is kept in stasis for recovery. Decades later the Virus Army returns and only Kai remains to fight them back. But this time they are being led by familiar faces…..
Gravity Circuit wears its Mega Man influence like a badge. It borrows heavily from that series but puts its own spin on the mechanics. Kai plays similar to Mega Man X as he can dash and scale walls in a similar manner. He can slide and has a grappling hook to assist in platforming as well as attack distant enemies. This is a melee focused game which is different for the genre. Gravity Circuit is mechanically dense as you have melee combos as well as a variety of different attacks. The grappling hook is also used to grab enemies that are stunned to toss them around. Defeated enemies drop bits that you can use to buy upgrades and heal at checkpoints as well as burst energy to power your burst techniques.
Burst techniques add more depth to combat. There are a lot of techniques with a variety of effects. You can create clones that mimic your attacks, counterattacking, a suplex and my favorite, a shoryuken! You can equip four used with simple button combos. Burst energy is common but charges are few until you increase your limit but it is worth it; with the right chips you can make short work of bosses. But wait there is more! Gravity Circuit borrows from Mega Man Zero with civilians that you can rescue you in each stage. For every civilian you save you earn booster chips that you can buy that give a large variety of passive abilities such as double jumping, damage reduction, fall speed reduction, and even creating a platform to help platforming. You can equip three simultaneously and with such a huge list the system is fun to play with.
Like Capcom’s series there are eight circuits you can fight in any order. Technically you do not gain a boss weapon to use against another. But you do gain burst techniques that mimic some of their abilities. Each level takes place in a different part of the city with unique platforming challenges to match. The shift circuit occupies the highway, a disconnected series of mobile vehicles on one long road. I found the junkyard to be one of the easier levels as its platforming is simple and its biggest threat is enemy density. The warehouse takes place in cyberspace and is nonlinear as it offers multiple paths to its boss. The plot plays heavily in to the game and while you can see the plot twists a mile away it is still enjoyable.
The level design is strong as it emphasizes the use of all of your abilities. Gravity Circuit relies heavily on the hook shot for its platforming and it can be tricky at times. But it goes a long way toward giving it a unique feel. The variety in the challenges presented are what keep the game fresh. There is a steady escalation as the stages become more complex. However the game provides the tools to help you succeed as there are many booster chips specifically to help with platforming. Once you enter the Ark the game truly tests everything you have learned in grueling tests of skill that might break you. Only the best platforming junkies will make it to the end but it is a journey worth undertaking.
Another area takes after Mega Man Zero is in its difficulty. This is a tough one, not to the same extent as that series but close. You are extremely weak at the start and even the supposed easy bosses by the game’s ranking can kill you in seconds. Without the life and burst charge extensions you will need expert execution to beat any of the bosses. It is a high challenge but certainly doable; at first I didn’t know there were even any extensions! But despite the difficulty it tries to be fair. The massive number of booster chips provides so many benefits it is almost a crime you can only equip three. Falling on spikes or a pit sends you back to the last safe spot nearby. There are frequent checkpoints and you generally have enough bits to heal as necessary.
When the game decides to take the gloves off you are in for a rough time. The game ranks each stage by boss power and map difficulty. They vary and the more challenging ones will put your skills to the test. The platforming will call on all of your abilities in rapid succession with seconds to execute. Do not be surprised if you are sent back to a checkpoint multiple times. Each boss battle has two phases. After you deplete their first life bar they go in to overdrive and bust out new devastating techniques for the rest of the battle. It is shocking when it happens but makes these fights unpredictable and fun. The final two stages are even worse. If you beat this one it is a badge of honor.
In Closing
What a game. Gravity Circuit is everything you could ask for in a 2d action game, especially if you are a Mega Man fan. The art, music, and gameplay all combine to create one of the best action games this year. This is a classic platformer in every sense of the word and one I will revisit again and again years from now. Play this game people, ones this good do not come around often.
