A recent hands-off gameplay preivew of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has me convinced Machine Games knows exactly what make Indy, as a character, tick.
Recently, I had the chance to check out an extended look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle thanks to a hands-off demo as part of this year’s Gamescom. With a hefty look at gameplay, and even a quick Q&A with the developers, my hype for this game has reached new levels.
Being that this was a hands-off presentation, I can’t really talk about how the game feels. As such, I wanted to highlight what stood out to me most throughout all the gameplay footage. Namely, how these developers really GET what makes Indiana Jones work in terms of both story and action.
The Great Circle takes place in 1937, which puts it smack dab in the middle of Raiders of the Lost Ark (set in 1936) and The Last Crusade (1938). It’s a pretty solid period of time to use, as there’s plenty of story potential within that time frame, without being hemmed in by the finality of the events in Last Crusade. Even better, it gives us the chance to beat the shit out of Nazis, which is always a good thing.
The bits of story we were treated to revealed Indiana back in his scholarly setting, minding his business, when he encounters someone—with nefarious intent!—breaking into the museum at night. Suddenly thrust into the midst of a new Nazi plot that deals with the world’s most significant historical sites, Indy finds himself partnered up with a young Italian journalist tracking down her missing family member. It sounds pretty much like the globetrotting pulp adventures we all know and love.
The biggest impression I came away with, is how different The Great Circle is than I expected. When the game was first announced, and even after the last couple trailers, I figured we’d get something more heavy on the action side of things. Something more akin to the Uncharted games and more recent Tomb Raiders. Considering how those games were heavily influenced by Indiana Jones, it seemed like taking any modern game down those routes would make a lot of sense. But when you think about it, that’s not really what Indiana Jones is about.
It’s easy to remember the adventure/action sequences, as Indy fights Nazis on top of tanks and what not. But in reality, he’s never been a “guns blazing” kind of hero. Most of the major action/set pieces in the films are the result of his plans falling apart or dealing with traps. Obviously he knows how to handle business when the time comes, but it’s mostly used as a last resort.
The gameplay we where shown really puts this aspect into focus. The developers emphasized that, while there are many ways to complete a mission, using your wits are far more important than engaging in direct combat.
Personally speaking, I was thrilled to see the amount of stealth action involved in the overall gameplay. It makes sense, however, when you consider the many times we’ve witnessed Indy put on various disguises to go deep within enemy territory. Whether it’s acting like a ticket checker, a Nazi grunt, or what have you, Indiana’s relatively anonymity as a College Professor is an effective tool in most situations.
One of the sequences we saw, showed Indy trying to get inside an ancient tomb. The door is locked, and by digging through the papers/clues around him, we learn there’s a specific artifact needed to open it and where the Nazi overseers are keeping it within their camp. As such, Indiana must take on the guise of a local worker in order to sneak in and take it.
It’s a cool little gameplay sequence, and you can immediately tell there are a number of options one could take. Upon entering the tent where the artifact lies, Indy discovers a handful of Nazi officers enjoying a card game, and is ordered to bring them some drinks. In the process of finding the bottle of liquor, you discover the artifact.
From here, there are a few things that could be done, since you’re fully in control of Indy at this point. It’s not some cutscene. Players could go ahead and procure the bottle and place it on the table as requested (which is what happened in the demonstration), but you could also throw the bottle at them or simply ignore them and run out.
The game developers explained those options would be possible, but incredibly risky. Even using your gun could alert the entire camp to your presence, leaving you alone behind enemy lines. Fighting your way out would be tough, as the combat in the game looks to be a bit…slower in pacing.
Don’t get me wrong, there are still some moments that feature plenty of bullets flying with explosions. But like the films themselves, those are reserved for the bigger—more cinematic—moments. Unlike the frenetic shootouts encountered with Lara Croft or Nate Drake, the combat in The Great Circle takes a more “realistic approach” in some regards.
Hits felt like they had a bit more oomph, as you duke it out one-on-one against enemies. You’ll need good timing for dodging, blocking, and throwing your own strikes but if you get tunnel vision on one opponent, you may get caught off guard by others.
Thankfully, you’ll have other tools at your disposal. The whip itself is great for not only dealing damage, or even tripping up enemies. It also gives you the chance to disarm opponents, taking guns out of the fight and evening the odds. More importantly, however, the whip’s importance goes far beyond being just a weapon.
Like how Indiana uses it in the movies (and books), the iconic whip is a vital tool. On top of using it to navigate tricky areas, or reach places you couldn’t normally, the whip is also part of solving the many puzzles you’ll encounter. Whether it’s figuring out riddles inside various tombs, or figuring out how to get where you need to go, you’ll be relying on it quite a bit.
One instance, I thought was particularly cool was when Indy found a metal spear/trident, jammed it into the wall across from him, and then used it as an anchor point to swing across a gap. It’s a simple thing, really, but the combination of puzzle solving and adventure action felt uniquely Indiana Jones in its execution.
Being a hands-off demo, it was hard to get a feel for exactly how the whip works. Even so, it seems like there are a couple options. Something like a “quick hit” button that lashes out when needed to snag enemies or stuff while traveling quickly. But there were also moments where it looked like you have more specific aiming control over where you deploy the whip. While it’s obviously not something as defined as the web-swinging in the Spider-Man games, the ability to have more fine control over the whip is pretty damn neat.
On top of what I covered here, there were a ton of other fun things on display, as well as plenty of cheeky nods/Easter eggs that long-time fans will get a kick out of. All in all, I came away from the gameplay presentation thoroughly impressed and concerned at how much of my life it’s going to consume when it arrives.
Machine Games’ love for Indiana Jones is evident throughout. It seems like they’ve crafted a gameplay experience that not only feels distinct from other action/adventure titles, but one that is wholly in line with what makes the character and his stories so memorable. I can’t wait to get my hands on this one.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle hits Xbox Series S|X and PCs on December 9, 2024. And on PlayStation 5 in Spring 2025.
