As a long-time fan of the Indiana Jones franchise, I must say that the demo for “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” has certainly piqued my interest. The developers at Bethesda and MachineGames have done an impressive job capturing the essence of the movies, from the hand-to-hand brawls to the cinematic flourishes.
For several decades, Indiana Jones has persisted in his quest for unattainable treasures and unexplained mysteries across various parts of the world. Although it appeared that his dramatic adventures were over for good, the character is now making a comeback to a familiar setting: video games. In “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle”, Indiana Jones embarks on a journey halfway around the globe in pursuit of the impossible. Publisher Bethesda and developers from “Wolfenstein: The New Order”, MachineGames, are aiming to create an authentic Indiana Jones experience by ensuring that the game is both enjoyable to play and reminiscent of the original films. Shacknews recently got a chance to try out this upcoming Xbox blockbuster for the first time.
The practical part of the game started after a preliminary segment from Marshall College. Dr. Jones, now an academic, finds himself engrossed in university life again, but a theft at a nearby gallery stirs his curiosity. A massive thug confronts him, which serves as an introduction to the game’s close-combat fighting techniques. Throughout the game, Indy frequently gets into fistfights with opponents, using shoulder buttons for punching, dodging, and blocking. The combat system isn’t as complex as a standard boxing game, but it encourages strategic brawling rather than mindless button pressing.
In Marshall, the enigma-unraveling aspect of The Great Circle emerges for the initial time. Prior to delving deeper, Indiana Jones needs to ascertain exactly which items were taken initially. A logical puzzle requires players to rearrange artifacts scattered on the floor back onto their display cases, aligning them next to their nation’s flag. It is only after solving this puzzle and recognizing what’s absent that Indy can start to understand the situation better.
As a gamer, I find myself heading towards the Vatican next, where Mussolini loyalists have swarmed the clergy. My goal is to meet up with my old pal Antonio, but that requires sneaking past the guards patrolling the courtyard undetected. I need to tread lightly here, as a single glance from these watchful eyes could trigger an alarm and bring down a storm of trouble upon me.
The key to avoiding detection, as it turns out, is clubbing foes with blunt objects. Players don’t have to look very hard to find objects like wine bottles, shovels, or even a broom that can be used to knock out foes from behind. Guards are constantly on patrol, so the other thing to note is that if Indy knocks anybody out, it would behoove the player to move the body to a place where it can’t be seen. The last thing to note about stealth sections is that players do have Indy’s trusty revolver available to them, but it becomes a last resort in a situation like this, since the loud bang can attract suspicious patrols.
In “The Great Circle”, gameplay will alternate between structured areas like the Vatican and more expansive landscapes. During this demo, we were transported to Gizeh, an Egyptian city buried in sand, where you’ll encounter bustling markets, military camps, and intriguing locales ripe for exploration. Your initial task is to link up with Italian journalist, Gina Lombardi, and her contact within Gizeh, Dame Nawal. This segment offers a chance to delve into some of the game’s key features that are consistently present throughout the experience.
In each stage, Indy has the ability to locate a map of his present position and record it in his diary. To view this map, he physically draws it forward to see clearly. This feature is useful for identifying goals, but keep in mind that due to the way it’s presented, the bottom part of the map is often hidden or blocked.
Among other intriguing items, the camera belonging to Indy is another point of focus for players. They stumble upon this camera following the Vatican stage and primarily utilize it in open environments such as Gizeh. Snapping pictures of certain landmarks yields intel, but it also serves as a continuous side quest where points, known as Adventure Points, are earned for each photography task finished. A camera symbol will appear on-screen to signal when a photograph needs to be taken. Accumulated Adventure Points through tasks like picture-taking can be redeemed for new skills, which can be discovered across the world by finding scattered Adventure Manuals.
Essentially, Bethesda and MachineGames are striving to capture the essence of an Indiana Jones adventure. The physical fights are part of that experience. The Lucky Hat skill, which is earned using Adventure Points, is presented in a dramatic manner. Similarly, the scenes are crafted to resemble the films. Upon discovering Dame Nawal, players get insights about the main antagonist, Emerick Voss’ objectives in Gizeh. As they receive this vital backstory, Indy can be spotted attempting to feed Nawal’s pet snake in the background. Fans of Indiana Jones movies should be able to visualize how this scene unfolds.
In an Indiana Jones adventure, there are times when a clever disguise becomes necessary. To gain access to nearby camps, Indy can conceal his identity at a designated disguise spot. By assuming the role of a local laborer, Indy can enter the camp without provoking hostility, but players must exercise caution. Any unusual behavior could spark enemy suspicion and eventually reveal Indy’s disguise.
One special feature of The Great Circle stands out when it comes to video games. Unlike movies where Indiana Jones primarily follows the main storyline, games enable him to multitask. Various side missions (referred to as Fieldwork) become available, allowing Indy to hunt for additional rare artifacts, mysterious occurrences, or items worthy of a museum. Some of these may involve extensive searches spanning multiple levels, while others can be found on less traveled paths. These side missions will also feature unique puzzles and brain-teasing sections. For instance, you might encounter a wall that could be destroyed with a sledgehammer nearby, or a door covered in moss that could be burned down using a lighter bought from one of the merchants in Gizeh’s town square.
To summarize, Indiana Jones isn’t complete without his trusty whip. It serves not only for stunning enemies but primarily for navigation purposes. Players can attach to various surroundings and haul themselves up or glide over, which is indispensable in locations like the previously mentioned hidden area where Dr. Jones must swing above a bed of spikes while precisely aiming for a puzzle switch positioned one level beneath him. Despite his frequent escapades, Indiana Jones doesn’t have an abundance of stamina to perform these actions repeatedly.
Bethesda and MachineGames have put in considerable effort to accurately portray the 1937 era, aiming to deliver an authentic Indiana Jones experience. Whether this game will rival classics like Raiders of the Lost Ark or fall short like certain sequels, only time will tell. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set for release on PC and Xbox Series X|S on December 9. The PlayStation 5 version will be available in Spring 2025.
As a gamer who had the privilege of playing an early demo of this game during a private event in sunny Los Angeles, I got a sneak peek into what’s to come. However, please note that the final version you’ll experience might have some tweaks and improvements.
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2024-10-29 17:30