Broken Circle (GBA)

Broken Circle – The Lost GBA RPG, Finally on Cartridge

What you have here is one of the most fascinating chapters in GBA history. Broken Circle was developed by 7 Raven Studios and was doomed from the start – not because the game was bad, but simply because the gaming industry wasn't ready for it.

The Story Behind the Game

Development studio 7 Raven Studios won a contract to develop this game in 2004. By the time it was finished, the GBA was nearing the end of its lifecycle and was no longer an attractive platform for publishers. The original version required a 256-Mbit cartridge – too large and too expensive for publishers at the time. The developers optimized it down to 64 Mbit, but by then it was too late: the only remaining interested publisher wasn't authorized by Nintendo to release cartridges. Broken Circle disappeared into a drawer.

In 2009, 7 Raven Studios released the ROM file for free online. Then in 2015, Piko Interactive finally gave the game what it deserved: an official physical release on a real GBA cartridge – tested on real hardware and passing all tests.

Gameplay

Broken Circle is a turn-based RPG set in the world of Norse mythology. The story takes place in Midgard – a land that never knew true peace. Monsters grow more dangerous, earthquakes shake the land, and prophets proclaim the coming of Ragnarök. You take on the role of a hero who must confront the necromancer wizard Hagen – the apparent cause of the chaos in Midgard. Along your journey, friends and foes alike will cross your path, and a Hunter beast from Hell will stalk your every step.

Credits