REVIEW: ‘Circus Electrique’ Fails to Amaze (PC)

Circus Electrique, published by Saber Interactive and developed by Zen Studios, is a steampunk circus-themed turn-based RPG. When watching the game’s trailers or observing its surface, it is extremely easy to compare it to the likes of the first Darkest Dungeon. Unfortunately, however, it largely fails beyond its compelling setting. 

With how popular Darkest Dungeon‘s combat system became, seeing Circus Electrique inevitably makes one think of the former. Its battles feature two teams of four facing one another in straight lines facing one another. Then, each character takes a turn using one of the skills associated with their class. 

However, each skill can only be used in specific positions on the battlefield. This forces players to balance their party’s composition and positioning as well as healing, status effects, and permadeath. This will all sound remarkably familiar to fans of Darkest Dungeon, but it is all implemented quite poorly here. 

The issues begin with the range of classes available in Circus Electrique. There are a total of fifteen, which ends up feeling like far too many. The game slowly peels back the curtain on the options available to the player, but the sheer number of classes here muddle them together. Each class comes with six abilities in combat, and while each class definitely has its own skills, none of the classes are focused enough to distinguish them from their peers.  

Combat in a game like Circus Electrique is all about the player optimizing their party to feel accomplished when they survive a difficult combat encounter. With how similar all the classes feel, though, it never really feels like deciding what classes to take on a particular day really matters. 

This is also partially because of how the game is structured. Circus Electrique is split into days. On each day, players can purchase items, recruit new performers, schedule a circus show, and explore the city of London to advance the story. In addition, combat plays a role in the exploration section of the game, with players exploring a web of nodes where it alternates between combat and a randomized interaction. Regardless, players should always expect to fight one battle every day. 

Each day that players explore the streets, they can mix up their party. This makes building a part feel even less important. With only having to worry about getting through a single battle, there are rarely any situations where carefully planning out a party’s composition and positioning really matters. Even if one makes a very bad party, one can usually complete at least one battle before heading back to the circus and healing up the following day. 

All of the exploration is in service of continuing the central plot of Circus Electrique. The narrative follows a journalist tasked with writing an article about her estranged uncle’s circus, the Circus Electrique. The circus is renowned for its technological marvels that stand out even for the steampunk setting but is just returning to London after a years-long hiatus. 

On the night of the performance, however, the circus unveils a new tower invention, and citizens of the city mysteriously start going feral and attacking one another. So, the journalist begrudgingly works with her uncle to try and get to the bottom of what is happening. 

Overall, the best part of the story ends up being the game’s stylish victorian steampunk setting. Some really fun and interesting ideas make up the game’s rendition of London, which makes it all the more disappointing that the game’s story is so underwhelming. Unfortunately, there are too few characters to learn about throughout it, and the ones there are so dull and one-noted that you’ll likely find yourself clicking through dialogue as quickly as possible. 

Circus Electrique’s unique setting is also let down by its lackluster visuals. There are a lot of directions that a game like this one could take its steampunk elements, but the ones in this game are almost entirely spoiled by the low quality of its 3D models and awkward animations. These contribute to the world feeling shoddy and pasted together and the combat lacking real impact.

In the end, the main takeaway I have from playing through Circus Electrique is just how flat it all feels. Playing the game is never explicitly unpleasant but is never memorable or particularly fun, either. Instead, the game is almost liminal. So while the game is unlikely to end up on any lists for worst games of the year, I doubt that most players who try it will remember its release for very long. 

Circus Electrique is available on 9/6/22 for PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Switch, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X/S.