Since the early 1980s, Indiana Jones has captivated audiences with his witty charm and epic adventures. He hunts for relics and whips his way through tyranny in a largely humorous but action-packed manner.
Fast-forward forty years, and the movie media of this great hero has hit a sharp decline from its legendary status earned in Raiders Of The Lost Ark. Perhaps it’s due to new directors or an incorrect pick of cast members. Still, in my eyes, it can mostly be chalked up to the fact that Harrison Ford, the one and only Henry Walton “Indiana” Jones Jr., is just too old to pull off the epic adventures we’ve all grown to love.
This, my friends, is where Indiana Jones And The Great Circle steps forward and shines.
While some of you may not be on the side of reverse ageing the heroes of old, the gaming industry provides us an easy avenue to do just that, and in Indiana Jones And The Great Circles case, it is done flawlessly. Troy Baker’s voice-over work in this game truly encapsulates Indy as we know and love him, and right from the get-go, this game feels like another Indiana epic I can’t wait to sit back and enjoy. However, this time around, there’ll be a little less sitting back.
The game is set in the year 1937, just before the second world war, and perfectly timed for our favourite enemies, the Nazis, to return. After an incident occurs at Jones’ college, a mysterious adventure begins, with the relics of the Great Circle at its heart.
Along the way, players will encounter other characters, including various movie-worthy villains, friends willing to help Indy no matter the cost, and, of course, a love interest. Attach all these characters to an archaeological story that will have you second-guessing historical artefacts, just like Nicholas Cage and the Da Vinci Code. Then, throw in some amazingly detailed environments, and you have yourself more than just a game; you have a playable movie that would smash through the box office.
While I fell in love with the story, the gameplay feels like it has been crafted just right. There are a few different difficulty settings that shift from a more story-driven experience to harder enemies that engage Indy in a more swarm-like fashion. I am attempting my playthrough somewhere in between, as this game was made more for story than combat.
Speaking of combat, players can choose to play the game with a full frontal assault, or they can adopt a little more stealth. The stealth mechanics aren’t anything to write home about, but they suit the game just fine for what it is. Attacking enemies from behind will result in instant death, and hiding around corners or short boxes will usually result in Indy staying hidden.
You will also need to shuffle a few bodies out of enemy paths if you want to remain unnoticed, but for the most part, crouch-walking around most environments will get players from A to B unseen. If you do get into combat, Indy’s trusty revolver is always an option, but there are a multitude of spades, sticks, brooms and pretty much anything else that can be picked up and used to beat down those that stand in your way. The parrying is quite forgiving, making combat feel more enjoyable than a sloggy chore. Indiana is an archaeologist, after all, and this isn’t just some brawl-heavy game.
Of course, there are a few boss fights that will require you to throw some punches, so just be sure you’ve practised your blocking and dodging once or twice. I’d also recommend you pick up the Lucky Hat perk that gives Indy a second wind when he picks his trusty fedora up off of the floor. The perk grants you one extra bar of health if you’ve been knocked down to zero in a fight that just might’ve proven a little to tough to master.
Speaking of choosing how you play the game, the beautifully designed levels that feel researched and well put together give you multiple ways to tackle them. Every objective has a variety of ways to get to. Sneak your way past the guards by pulling yourself onto the rooftops of the Vatican City, or assist another character through a side quest that grants you a key to locked gates. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle allows you to play the game however you want.
This almost open-world gameplay gives you, as the player, just enough control to feel like you’re turning the pages of the book yourself, even if the game is guiding us all to the same ending.
Look, it is worth noting that the stealth mechanic is no Metal Gear Solid grade, and the combat doesn’t even come close to games like Kingdom Come: Deliverance or Call of Duty. Heck, I even emptied 20 bullets from a picked-up MP28 into the skull of a Nazi and still landed up dying anyway, but I could so easily look past all of that because of how well put together the game was as a whole.
Overall, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an ode to the hay days of the Indiana Jones franchise, delivering an excellent adventure that makes me want to watch Raiders of the Lost Ark all over again.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
BOTTOM LINE
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an epic adventure through and through. While it may not be perfect in stealth or combat mechanics, the game as a package is just pure enjoyment. Just like an Indiana Jones adventure should be.
PROS
Well-acted characters
Great maps to play in
Just fun
CONS
You may have to revert to the previous checkpoint once or twice because of weird stealth vibes.
