Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: finally, an adventure worthy of Indiana Jones [critique]

Lovers ofIndiana Jones will be well served with the game Indiana Jones and the Great Circlean adventure worthy of the original films.

I was afraid to play Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The previews were “okay”, and the last two films in the series were less than memorable.

I grew up with movies Raiders of the Lost Ark, Temple of Doom et The Last Crusade. My brain associates Indiana Jones to beautiful Sunday mornings with family, watching films. So, I was a little afraid of ruining this beautiful memory by being disappointed by the game.

Fortunately, the opposite happened: I loved it The Great Circleand the game even reignited my love for this franchise.

The adventure

The story ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle takes place in 1937, when a valuable artifact is stolen from Marshall College, where adventurous archaeologist Indiana Jones works. Let us emphasize here that it is the actor Troy Baker (Joel in The Last of Us) who lends his voice to Indy, and the effect is very successful. I already know Baker’s voice well, but I often forgot that it was his during this epic. It’s really excellent.

This flight will take Jones to the four corners of the globe: to the Vatican of fascist Italy, to the Egyptian pyramids, to the Himalayas and to other places that I will let you discover.

Following the clues, Jones discovers that some sites of spiritual significance are built to form a circle around the globe. It’s a nice excuse that the game gives players to explore stunning historical locations. And that’s exactly what you want from a game. Indiana Jonesafter all: wear a nice hat, wield a whip and travel everywhere.

Jones will be accompanied by Gina Lombardi, an Italian journalist who is desperate to find her missing sister. Her presence makes the adventure less lonely and she sometimes helps solve puzzles. I also like the somewhat competitive relationship she has with Jones.

You think about the game series Uncharted? I understand. After all, this one is probably inspired by our friend Jones. But it is in the gameplay that the distinction between the two games is very clear.

The mechanics

I probably had too much Uncharted in the lead when starting The Great Circle. But the latter is more of a game where you have to solve environmental puzzles and complete stealth missions. It’s also played in first person, adding a perfect layer of immersion to the experience.

However, this is still an action-adventure game, with a lot of exploration and item collecting. And yes, the famous Indiana Jones whip is essential, not only to defend yourself, but also to cross or climb platforms. You can engage enemies more directly with a pistol, but the stealth approach is favored. If you don’t like stealth mechanics, this game may not be for you.

Some puzzles are optional, but the mechanic in question is essential in the main quest. So you have to enjoy solving puzzles, too. Most of the time, however, the answer is a little obvious.

I played on Xbox Series X. The graphics look nice, but the facial expressions can be a little strange. And sometimes, Indiana Jones appears in the third person, especially when he climbs or during cutscenes. But, I wasn’t bothered by these third-person sequences; it was a good reminder that we are Indiana Jones!

MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks

Let’s talk about the cutscenes: there are many of them. So many that we sometimes have the impression of watching a film where we have the option to play from time to time. It might cool some people down. I’m not a fan of long cutscenes myself, but I was flexible with The Great Circle. In fact, I even liked feeling like I was watching a good old movie.Indiana Jones. The best since The Last CrusadeBesides. But there were still a few moments where I said “Let’s see, again? Stop chattering!”

Some downsides

My only real disappointment with The Great Circlethese are the controls, sometimes imprecise. I have often tried to jump onto a platform that seemed accessible. And, in my attempt, I found myself facing a bunch of angry Nazis, because my character couldn’t actually get there. Bou.

MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks

Fortunately, Jones can use several objects from his environment to defend himself against the Nazis. It’s sometimes a bit comical, Hitmaneven. I loved throwing a bottle of alcohol at a bad guy’s head or giving him a good whack with a shovel before throwing him off a cliff. I wish I could buy weapons and keep them in my inventory, however, instead of picking up items to defend myself when they become available. I would like to apologize to my parents here: I swear to you that everything is fine. It’s a game! And those are fine steps!

MachineGames / Bethesda Softworks

Indiana Jones is not Nathan Drake. He can’t climb for 20 minutes without running out of breath. His endurance is limited, and he will have to catch his breath after a few punches. This is why the stealth method is preferred. Jones isn’t superhuman enough to charge into the crowd. I don’t have always liked it, and sometimes I would have liked to jump anywhere and “run into it”, but that’s not what the game is about.

Verdict

The Great Circle could have been called “Indiana Jones: This is not Uncharted”, and that would be right. Here we have a beautiful game of exploration and puzzles with a story in which we really feel invested. However, there are points to improve: the fluidity of the mechanics and the sequence between chapters, in particular. The changes in scenery are sometimes a little abrupt, and sometimes it’s too late to go back. These are elements to be refined for a possible next game.

I should point out that there are several accessibility options available in The Great Circle. I was able to enable an option for my type of color blindness, as well as highlight an outline around objects to make them stand out.

Since the game is on Game Pass, I highly encourage you to try it if you like good old fashioned movies.Indiana Jones. This is, in my opinion, the franchise’s best project in 30 years. And no, I’m not saying that to be controversial, but to reassure you: we finally have a good new Indiana Jones to sink your teeth into.

For the question that comes up all the time: The Great Circle can be completed in a dozen hours. I’m over 10 p.m., but that’s because I waste a lot of time exploring everything. And throwing bottles at bad guys.