Circadia Review
Circadia Review
Timing is everything in Circadia, an effortlessly elegant puzzler set upon stark black backdrops. Tapping a colored circle emits a circular wave â€" not to mention a harmonious tone â€" with the goal to have all such waves reach the white dot at the same moment.
Early on, this means merely considering the pace of each creeping current, simply watching as it crosses the screen. Differently colored bursts move at varying speeds, though there's no long-term memorization at play here -- simply tap, observe, and learn with each new challenge. The advent of moving (and later, multiple) dots makes for an almost obscenely difficult challenge later in the game, but luckily, Circadia builds up bit by bit; still, it won't take most players long to start struggling.
Much of what makes the game so surprisingly appealing is its smart trial-and-error approach, which puts zero barriers in the way of figuring out each challenge. You don't "lose" simply for failing to make everything click on your first attempt; you remain in the moment until you succeed (or quit), ever manipulating the colored dots until harmony is achieved. It might not look like much in still images, but thanks to its slick and appealing interface, this iOS original hangs on tight throughout.
The bottom line. Initially simple but ultimately devious, Circadia's rhythmic approach makes for an alluring touch screen experience.
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