Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is as thrilling an adventure on PS5 as anywhere else

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After playing Indiana Jones and the Golden Circle on PC for a review towards the end of 2024, I’ve become quite familiar with the game’s twists, turns, secrets, and hidden areas. Eager to share this experience with my family in our living room, I was eagerly anticipating the release date when I heard that Xbox Game Studios would be releasing it on PlayStation. Now, in April 2025, it’s finally available on PlayStation 5, and its debut on the PS5 has been nothing short of impressive, with a few unique features exclusive to the platform added as well.

A well-performing professor

In simpler terms, the game Indiana Jones and the Great Circles on PlayStation 5 doesn’t offer much new compared to what I previously reviewed in December 2024 at Shacknews. Most of my original points still hold true, which isn’t a negative considering that some aspects like gunplay could have been more impactful. Upon revisiting locations such as the jungles of South America, the Vatican, and Giza’s pyramid grounds, everything seemed to be functioning well, with improvements in ray-tracing features and performance since my last visit, thanks to post-launch updates by MachineGames and Bethesda.

In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I found it challenging to balance color and clarity effectively, especially in scenes that were both bright and dark. This game seems to have numerous dim areas where visibility is poor unless adjustments are made to the settings. If I increased the brightness enough to navigate the dark spots comfortably, it caused issues with overexposure in brighter sections, making Indy’s hair appear washed out. Finding a suitable balance was tricky, and I had to settle for an option that seemed least incongruous.

I can’t help but point out that while this game offers Streamer Mode to prevent copyright issues with its licensed music, this feature seems less than perfect. The absence of the opening sequence’s captivating music, replaced by nothing, diminishes its impact. However, this might not concern regular players unless they wish to observe scenes without any ambient sound. Apart from these minor complaints, The Great Circle remains a stunning and engaging investigative adventure, and it shines even brighter due to updates and enhancements that take full advantage of the PS5 Pro’s enhanced capabilities, delivering smoother and more stable frame rates and improved visual quality.

Feel that whipcrack

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle makes excellent use of several key features on the PlayStation 5. For instance, the Adaptive Triggers are utilized effectively during combat sequences. Whether you’re delivering powerful punches to opponents, tossing objects at them, or knocking them unconscious with a well-aimed throw, the haptic feedback provided by the DualSense controller adds an extra layer of realism and engagement that intensifies dramatic moments. This attention to detail also applies to the investigation aspects of the game. Activities like examining clues under a magnifying glass, rotating objects for additional information, or turning keys to open doors and mechanisms feel satisfying thanks to the diverse capabilities of the PlayStation 5 controller.

One issue I find with Indiana Jones on PS5 is how some functions are combined into one button. For example, pushing and leaning are both assigned to the same button, while crouching needs its own separate function. Ideally, I’d like to group crouch and lean together instead of the push input, but it seems there’s no option to split up the linked functions on a single button. Overall, it handles well in most other areas once you get past this minor inconvenience.

It’s not the years, it’s the mileage

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle continues to stand out as one of the most stunning action games in recent times, particularly on PS5 where it truly shines with numerous updates. The PS5 Pro delivers breathtaking visuals and performance, while the DualSense enhances immersion for those who prefer tactile gaming experiences. Although some minor issues I’ve noted since its initial release still persist, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle remains a must-play for fans of the franchise or adventure gaming in general.

The opinions expressed here are derived from a pre-release PlayStation 5 version of the game, supplied by the publisher. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be available for PS5 starting April 17, 2025.

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2025-04-14 17:27