After running into some trouble getting The Distant Circular World’s Steam demo approved last week, Japanese indie creator Hyogo Onimushi has happily announced that the latest reworked version passed Steam’s review and is now available to play.
According to Onimushi, a scene depicting the game’s heroine taking a shower in another character’s home was what got the demo rejected initially. Despite the original scene having no sexual or suggestive content, it was allegedly deemed “too sexual,” even after the scene’s CG was replaced with a completely black image and re-submitted for approval. It was only when the scene was completely removed that the demo passed Steam’s criteria and was made available, according to the dev. Despite the initial hurdle, Onimushi is relieved that fans can play the demo.
Set after the events of Return to Shironagasu Island, The Distant Circular World is a two-sided sequel starring private detective Sen Ikeda and his assistant, Neneko Izumozaki, as they find themselves living separate lives that are intertwined through an unusual time rewind mechanic. While “Side A” is set in New York and follows Sen’s investigation into an illegal organization, “Side B” is set in a provincial Japanese town, where Neneko must identify a deceased person linked to her mother’s disappearance.
The Distant Circular World features a “Zapping” system, where you can switch between the two protagonists. It also has a time leap mechanic that allows you to rewind time to undo specific events.
The Distant Circular World is currently in development for Windows (Steam). While the game is currently only confirmed for a Japanese release, the developer is exploring the possibilities for localization.
