Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Review

Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Developer: MachineGames
Release: Dec 9, 2024
Reviewed on: Xbox Series

One of the shortcomings of the ninth generation of video games was the absence of an adventure and tomb-raiding game. There has been no sign of a new Uncharted game and no hope for a new Tomb Raider. But amidst this void, a name emerged, one that had captivated audiences not only in the gaming medium but also in cinema from its early days. Indiana Jones was set to revisit his past glories and tell a new story for a new generation eager for adventure and tomb-raiding. The question now is whether MachineGames has been able to handle the weight of the Indiana Jones name and deliver a product that satisfies everyone or not.

The story of Indiana Jones begins with a beautifully executed nod to “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” The prologue is mysterious and short. A thief attempts to steal from Indiana Jones’s personal museum, leading Indie to the Vatican to uncover the events behind the theft. From the start, the story employs the traditional three-act structure for storytelling. A significant part of the game’s narrative design involves Indiana Jones’s interactions with various characters. Sometimes, minor stories are told through reading information from environmental objects. The variety of side characters, their proper development, and the diverse environmental settings with various weathers make the storytelling in Indiana Jones engaging.

This style of storytelling undoubtedly gives you the feeling of watching a movie on the big screen, knowing that you have control over a big part of it. Additionally, the presence of a well-crafted antagonist adds depth to the story. The confrontation between Troy Baker (Indiana Jones) and Marios Gavrilis (Emmerich Voss) is one of the most exciting aspects of the game’s narrative and character development. An acclaimed English voice actor versus a renowned German voice actor, both of whom have appeared in major games, now face each other in a game where a Nazi army antagonist necessitates bilingual dialogue between the two. This extraordinary interaction adds excitement to every inch of the game’s numerous stages.

Although the side missions or talking to NPCs in the game environment don’t necessarily refer to the main story, they play an effective and beneficial role in shaping the story’s structure.

The gameplay of Indiana Jones is peculiar. On one hand, the game is presented as an action-adventure tomb-raiding game, but in reality, the action part is reduced to chases, thrilling cutscenes, and stealth. Direct combat, while present, is entirely useless. Even if you shoot a guard directly in the face with a shotgun, nothing happens. However, sneaking up on the same guard with a broomstick and attacking them from behind can take them down with a single blow. In less crowded environments, this combat system works fine with the presence of the whip; however, in a busy environment, one mistake can make you reload from the previous checkpoint. This makes the game’s combat system limited and ineffective, designed to force you to progress only through stealth. However, the so-called direct combat hasn’t been completely removed, as in some instances, it is unavoidable.

The golden aspect of the game is its peculiar camera system. If you decide to hang from your whip or climb a ledge, the camera shifts to a third-person perspective. Apart from these scenarios, which are part of the platforming, you experience everything from a first-person perspective. This camera system, combined with well-designed levels and an emphasis on stealth, brings the game close to an immersive sim experience. This level of immersion, reminiscent of the great works of Looking Glass Studios, ensures you remain engrossed for the game’s 20 to 30-hour experience.

From a visual standpoint, Indiana Jones is a success. Although the Xbox Series S occasionally lagged in loading game environments, these instances were few and far between, so they didn’t significantly impact the overall gaming experience. The game’s soundtrack adapts to the biome you are in and greatly enhances the immersive experience. While Indiana Jones may not be the best visual experience of recent years, it is certainly one of the top graphical achievements in recent memory.

Overall, Indiana Jones pays homage to a legendary name, offers a delightful gift to adventure and tomb-raiding enthusiasts, and is a polished first-party title for Microsoft. With its upcoming release on PS5 in the next few months, it presents a great opportunity for a successful investment.

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