Indiana Jones and the Great Circle review - the best Indy's been since The Last Crusade
Clever, entertaining, and reminiscent of Indiana Jones, The Great Circle is an impressive stealth action experience that signifies an exciting new chapter for MachineGames.
Indiana Jones' legacy has been facing some challenges recently. His last two films didn’t resonate well, and it’s been a long time since a video game has truly captured his essence. Developer MachineGames seems to recognize this concern right from the start of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. If they needed to demonstrate that they grasp what makes Indiana Jones special, recreating the classic prologue from Raiders of the Lost Ark with nearly identical dialogue and scenes is certainly a strong approach.
One might take a skeptical view and argue that this project seems like a careful tribute that could create doubts from the start, suggesting that the exploration of the equatorial locations featured in the title might just follow predictable patterns and feel like a blatant play on nostalgia. However, those skeptics would be completely mistaken. Once you get past the introductory elements reminiscent of the Raiders series, it becomes obvious that this isn’t just a recycled old attraction. The Great Circle stands out as a unique Indiana Jones adventure—a thrilling, globe-trotting experience that combines the fun, cleverness, and humor of The Last Crusade with engaging, player-driven investigations, truly letting you step into Indy’s shoes as you unravel a global mystery. Even better, it surpasses typical rehashes of franchises like Tomb Raider or Uncharted. Each stop along Indy’s journey surprises you in unexpected ways, making the experience even more exciting.
I have to admit, I was skeptical when The Great Circle was first announced. Seriously, The Great Circle? That subtitle doesn’t exactly inspire excitement, does it? But if you look beyond the title, this adventure ranks among the best Indiana Jones stories, whether on TV or in theaters. Taking place between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, once again the Nazis are scheming, trying to harness dark powers in their quest for an advantage in World War II. As Indy follows their lead, the true nature and significance of the treasures they seek remains intriguingly elusive. The pacing of the journey keeps you on edge the entire time, with story missions seamlessly interwoven with substantial 'Field Work' side quests, drawing you from the Vatican all the way across Asia and back.
While you'll want to uncover the details of the story on your own, the key takeaway is that MachineGames has successfully delivered a captivating and unforgettable plot centered around a global conspiracy. This narrative is enhanced by a fantastic supporting cast. The studio has a talent for creating villains that are truly detestable, and Marios Gavrilis excels in his role as Emmerich Voss, the lead Nazi investigator. His imposing presence, characterized by a hefty build, clenched jaw, and menacing glare, establishes him as a serious intellectual antagonist right from the start. He effectively leads you through the main storyline, but it’s the companions of Indy that really elevate the experience to a new level.
Alessandra Mastronardi's portrayal of Indy’s clever reporter friend Gina quickly becomes a favorite and is far more enjoyable than the lackluster characters BJ Blazkowicz had to deal with in various Wolfenstein titles. Even the smaller roles add a memorable touch to Indy’s different base camps, with standout performances from Enrico Colantoni as the vinyl-loving Vatican priest, Necar Zadegan as the affluent supporter, and the late Tony Todd as the imposing yet kind-hearted giant. I also appreciate the variety of native languages featured in this game, not just from Indy, who obviously speaks several languages, but also from the larger cast. It's an impressive achievement in localization overall, adding rich texture and cultural depth to every location.
The locations themselves are incredible places to discover. The towering structures of the Vatican, the scorching sands of Giza, and the lush waterways of Sukhothai form the primary trio of areas to investigate. However, they are also complemented by a selection of smaller, more straightforward settings that are equally impressive and creatively designed. You'll spend most of your time in these major three areas since they are compact yet rich in detail. Unlike typical, cookie-cutter spaces filled with familiar props, these locations offer a unique experience. While there is some connectivity between them, they stand apart from the ordinary Ubisoft formula often used in expansive open-world games.
The Vatican stands out as the most fascinating location, with its maze-like arrangement of hallways, scaffolded courtyards, and hidden passages both above and below ground. This complexity invites exploration far more than the barren stretches of sand and swamp found in other areas. However, it's worth noting that the team at MachineGames has crafted plenty of engaging elements in those seemingly empty spots. For instance, you might come across a simple lock puzzle in an abandoned tent, capture a photo of a sleeping cat with Indy’s camera, or lend a hand to a stranger trapped in a barn. Importantly, the game avoids the common issue of excessive filler by focusing on what truly matters.
In The Great Circle, the most significant side quests are categorized as 'Field Work' tasks. These are like mini-story missions that lead you to more remote areas of the map and offer a tailored experience similar to the main missions. There are also collectible-focused objectives called 'Discoveries,' which require you to find unique medicine bottles that local doctors can exchange for collectible skill books. Additionally, many of these books can be discovered in camps or various other interesting locations throughout the game. Lastly, smaller, standalone puzzles are referred to as 'Mysteries.'
Everything else, however, goes unmentioned. Unlike Skyrim and Starfield where simply walking through a town can bombard you with ten new side quests to tackle, random tasks like assisting a guy in a barn in The Great Circle aren’t something you’re specifically told to handle. They aren't tracked anywhere and don't really hold much significance. Your rewards throughout this game are merely Adventure Points, which you can use to unlock new abilities that you have to find in comic books scattered around. You rarely find yourself lacking points to spend, which is a delightful experience. The world feels vibrant and filled with the troubles of its inhabitants, but you, as the player, aren’t obligated to resolve any of them. Instead, these optional moments are allowed to just be opportunities for lighthearted exploration, and it’s incredibly refreshing to witness that in such a grand and extravagant game.
The way The Great Circle handles puzzles is truly exciting, both for its flashy presentation and the way you engage with it. The game relies on players to use their intuition and the clues around them, showing trust in your problem-solving skills. This is a refreshing change from the overly chatty sidekicks seen in titles like God of War and Uncharted. You feel a sense of empowerment when you're faced with just a room filled with objects and you must figure out how to arrange or use them to uncover their mysteries, relying only on what you can see and hear. Sometimes, you'll come across an inscription in an ancient language that gives you a hint, or you might spot a note in a hard-to-reach area, leaving you to find a way inside on your own. The solutions aren’t overly complex, but the game avoids the heavy-handed prompts that are common in many big-budget games today, especially at its 'Moderate' puzzle difficulty level. When you finally solve a puzzle, it feels like a real achievement, reminiscent of the cleverness we associate with Indiana Jones.
The focus on being aware of your surroundings also applies to Indy's overall movement skills. The Great Circle features solid platforming mechanics, mixing heart-pounding jumps with smooth whip swings that Indy performs effortlessly—sometimes even combining both actions. He can also use his whip to climb steep cliffs or slide down into dark abysses, but only at specific spots. While it may not have the nuanced approach of Stray, I prefer its occasional use of faded walls to flashy yellow markers any day.
It's crucial that the pathways you take aren't too predictable because one of the delights of The Great Circle is uncovering the various routes to reach a single destination. Though it may not reach the level of a Deus Ex, it still embodies a design that will have fans of immersive simulations celebrating with a bittersweet smile. When you discover a new approach, you’ll find a satisfying, hands-on experience in the way you interact with handles, locks, and chests, pushing, turning, and twisting them with deliberate movements of your analogue stick. You can imagine Indiana Jones appreciating a finely crafted mechanism, and it's wonderful to see this attention to detail reflected in your experience.
MachineGames has made a notable shift in its approach, moving away from the more aggressive styles of its well-known Quake and Wolfenstein series. However, it’s evident that the studio has a wealth of creativity to explore, and their skillful handling of a new type of combat feels like a transformation. In The Great Circle, reaching for a weapon often seems like a last resort—not because using guns isn’t enjoyable, because it really is, and not solely because the loud gunfire can quickly attract the attention of enemies, which it certainly does. Rather, it’s a matter of considering why you’d want to force your way through such complex and expansive environments when there are numerous other, more effective options readily available all around you.
I'm reminded of the forgotten guitars, violins, and metal chimes you occasionally spot near security posts. They emit a delightful blend of sounds as you strike enemies with them. Then there are the rakes, shovels, and lead pipes that Indy can cleverly maneuver to trip foes or hit them where it hurts, following up with a solid punch to the head in a hilariously brutal take-down. Personally, I always got excited when I came across a spatula, a dustpan, or a grill pan covered in egg residue. Sure, these items tend to break more easily than the heavier pickaxes and hammers nearby, but the hilarity of using such ridiculous tools to take down increasingly vigilant guards is truly unmatched.
There's definitely a hint of Breath of the Wild in the game, but if the thought of managing the wear and tear of your gear makes you uneasy, you can breathe easy. Almost everything in The Great Circle is bound to break at some point. Even the guns can be turned upside down and used as temporary baseball bats once they run out of bullets. Or you can choose to use them as they are. The choice is yours. The reality is, you have an abundance of makeshift weapons at your disposal during the game, so you’re never at a loss for something to wield, whether you’re creeping through the Vatican or uncovering hidden secrets in an ancient temple at a Nazi excavation site in Giza. This aspect is quite generous and effectively captures the essence of Indy using his cleverness to make the most of his surroundings. Plus, when you see his hands hesitantly reaching for anything interactable nearby, it’s hard not to feel the wheels of mischief start turning in your mind. Sure, I’ll use that dirty salad spoon to take down that soldier. Why not?
Looking at it this way, the possibilities are incredibly exciting, and the vast number of these items doesn't lessen the game's overall difficulty. At its core, this is a stealth game, but it's not like those where you can easily spot hidden enemies with a quick ping like in Assassin's Creed. Indy lacks that kind of fancy technology. Instead, it's evident that The Great Circle takes cues from the stealth tactics seen in the Hitman: World of Assassination series. Here, the responsibility to avoid detection falls squarely on the player. You need to be cautious while navigating restricted areas and be mindful not to leave any bodies in plain sight, especially since they won’t just disappear into the ground at the slightest touch of grass. This approach creates an exciting tension reminiscent of IO Interactive's groundbreaking work in social stealth, making players feel truly involved in the suspense and risk of being in forbidden territory.
As if that wasn’t enough to keep you engaged, there's an element of costume play as well, allowing Indy to wear disguises to navigate specific areas more easily. However, Indy can't simply grab outfits from anyone in a hidden alley. Instead, there’s a limited selection of costumes that must be discovered or are provided at certain locations. Some of these outfits are cleverly concealed and can only be obtained by completing side quests that reward you with special keys. The hunt for these costumes is definitely worthwhile, especially since they can greatly assist you in completing side quests, solving puzzles, and collecting items later in the game. Although the adventure is primarily linear, you can return to earlier locations anytime to gather anything you might have overlooked. Just keep in mind that even with the right disguise, cautious captains and other characters in authority may still raise suspicions. Similar to games like Hitman, there are always certain enemies who can see through your ruse if you get too close.
In contrast to Agent 47, Indiana Jones has a wider variety of ways to escape tricky situations if he finds himself in a bind. When there's not an everyday item available to grab, Indy can always rely on his fists for some brawn. The hand-to-hand combat in The Great Circle is chaotic and almost whimsical, featuring pushes, dodges, and the occasional whip snap—all vital for managing groups of enemies. As the various tough characters collide with you, you can sense the influence of MachineGames' impressive shooting mechanics in every punch; the impact, speed, and sound are reminiscent of a shotgun blast. Instead of feeling defeated during these encounters, the engaging melee combat encourages a more optimistic approach, fostering a spirit of perseverance and willingness to try things out—even if it doesn't turn Indy into an unbeatable boxing champion. However, enemy attacks can hit hard and fast, similar to a shotgun blast, so sometimes it’s wiser to make a quick exit and let the chaos settle, rather than enduring the fight to the very end.
Overall, Indiana Jones feels like he completes his journey in this latest adventure. Finally, there's an Indy game that captures the essence of the puzzles and exhilarating action fans recognize from the movies, all presented with cleverness, charm, and impressive visuals. Some moments feel so quintessentially Indy that it's hard to believe they weren't taken straight from the films, and there's an endless array of surprises that keep you engaged. I can hardly recall a more enjoyable game this year, or one that so readily invites players to dive in and have a blast for the next 25 hours. For those who were let down by The Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny, this is the Indy you remember. And for those who haven't yet experienced the buzz around this iconic character, this game offers a perfect introduction. The upcoming Tomb Raider and Uncharted titles certainly have a high bar to meet following this, as will whatever project MachineGames takes on next. One thing is clear: with The Great Circle, Indiana's legacy feels revitalized, and that's something we can all appreciate for many years to come.
Bethesda Softworks provided a copy of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle for us to review.
