Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Review — A Cinematic Adventure

From a movie series to LEGO Games, Indiana Jones has really done the rounds as a globe-trotting action hero/archaeologist. Harrison Ford’s legacy as the ever-charismatic Indy is definitely no easy feat for a game to embody, so how does Indiana Jones and The Great Circle make it happen? Developed by the fascist punching experts themselves, MachineGames has you quite literally step into his shoes and experience it all from the first-person – complete with the iconic brown fedora and whip!

As game adaptations of cinematic IPs go, Indiana Jones is definitely a hefty one to set out to do justice. Harrison Ford is Indiana Jones for a lot of people. Not only does Indiana Jones and The Great Circle have to give players that action-adventure they crave but it also has to live up to the appreciation fans have for him. MachineGames definitely understood the assignment on this one, with the game opening being a recreation of the first film opening. As cold opens go, it’s the perfect hook for a game willing to brave the comparison. Getting your first taste of the game’s puzzles and first-person gameplay, complete with the whip, shows just how deep this game is willing to go to get it right. This sequence ends up being a dream, yet it’s that first taste of all Indiana Jones and The Great Circle wants to be.

Set after Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sees Indy’s life uprooted after a break-in at Marshall College. The thief gets away with a cat mummy – an artifact recently recovered by Jones, so none other than Marcus Brody and him begin to piece together what happened. This is definitely where MachineGames kicks it back into gear and shows just how committed they are to the Indy fantasy, yet there’s more going on as well. Not only has care been taken to recreate the college, including Jones’s classroom, but even Marcus Brody feels the way fans will remember. This is held incredibly by how the college has been fleshed out as a space for players to explore as well. Wandering the halls feels intended, and it’s something we never quite get to appreciate in the films. 

The call to adventure in the game is incredible, with Indiana’s need to find out why the Cat Mummy was stolen the player is fully strapped in on a trip to the Vatican. Marcus does try to keep Indiana out of it, but even a journal left by Marion in his suitcase spurs him into getting to the bottom of the theft. At Vatican City, Jones has to blend in, and thanks to a friend, he’s able to investigate for clues – and also smack some fascists! As adventures go, it’s hard not to get swept up in Indiana Jones’s exploits. His iconic charm and smarts give players that feel of the films while they uncover secrets and even come across a decent amount of other mysteries in each area. As we uncover more about the Great Circle, Jones’ determination to keep it out of enemy hands becomes a necessity. Jones hides it, but it’s clear he’s nursing an ego after breaking up with Marion. It does feel like a huge part of this game is him trying to prove he’s still got it in him when other characters, such as Marcus, don’t think he’s ready for another adventure just yet.

The scale of the game really takes hold, with the Vatican being the first huge open-world area to explore with secrets galore. The emphasis on discovery and immersing Indy in these locations feels really sincere. From The Holy City, Gizeh, Siam, and even the Himalayas – the game spares no effort to showcase the scale of the adventure. It’s interesting as well seeing how the game approaches different areas. The Vatican and Gizeh both feel really open, while other parts of the game vacuum that space down to tighter portions like a tomb or even a naval ship. Through it all, the game retains that cinematic wonder of the films, with the twists as well as the lighter moments with other characters only furthering that sense of adventure that oozes from the game.

The game has a particular curiosity when it comes to exploring and solving the puzzles players come across. Thankfully, Indiana’s camera becomes a helpful tool for not only capturing the world but also revealing hints about solving some puzzles. While it’s no photo mode like many would hope for, it does scratch that adventure itch to capture the world around you. Players also use a journal that progressively gets filled with details uncovered through each area, such as mysteries and other pieces Jones finds. Some of the photos from the camera also appear here.

Those open areas are packed full of mysteries and culture, too. Everything from the architecture and language right down to the food seen in areas really builds out the authentic world. Exploring The Vatican and Gizeh were some of my favourite sections because of how unique they are, yet the details are still meticulous. Seeing biscotti around Vatican City and then later Aish Baladi and Prickly Pears in Gizeh shows that detail. Indiana’s knowledge of the areas he travels is unparalleled, and this game really showcases that when you’re exploring and finding these unique details. In a lot of ways, it’s like Harrison Ford is right there with you!

Indiana Jones is no easy character to recast, but with Harrison Ford not returning, thankfully, Troy Baker does it effortlessly. At times, I even questioned how Baker could pull off the perfect Harrison Ford voice so well. In a lot of ways, it’s easy to believe it wasn’t a recast at all. It feels like Troy took a lot of care to really nail that gruff earnestness in Harrison’s performance. This also adds to the cinematic feel of the game. This is really the closest you are ever going to get to adventuring around the globe with Jones. 

It also wouldn’t be an Indiana Jones story without a supporting cast of characters. Gina and Indiana cross paths at The Vatican and soon they team up. She’s searching for her sister, who, as they soon learn, has been taken by the fascists. Gina holds her own through much of the game, and while there are some hints between her and Indiana, she’s not just in the game as a romantic subplot. Gina’s story is definitely her own in the game, and as an investigative journalist, her curiosity makes her invaluable in solving the mystery at the centre of the game with Jones.

Combat-wise, Indiana really has this chaotic element in how he interacts with the world. When he’s not throwing punches or using the trusty whip, other weapons around the environment are integral to really showing the fascists who’s boss. From shovels, brooms, guitars, and bottles along with the usual guns – it gives players a lot of freedom to use what they find. All items have durability, but guns also double as blunt-force weapons if you are trying to be a bit more stealthy. The whip is also a really fun addition to Jones, allowing players to not only traverse around areas but also disarm enemies. It’s undeniable how much fun it is to use. 

As Jones progresses through the game, players can unlock some stronger abilities. In a unique spin on the usual skill tree, players must instead find books in the world before spending AP to unlock improved health, stamina and other additions to Jones’ kit. AP is found by completing objectives and discovering stuff through the game, which really drives the player to explore a bit more. One of the abilities I enjoyed through the game was the lucky hat unlock. It was really helpful in combat because when Indy got downed, players could search for his hat and recover. It’s a brief reprieve, but it adds to the character mythos when he gets back up and dusts himself off.

Where it did waver was in the enemy AI. For portions of the game, while exploring, players are often moving in stealth, waiting for the right time to strike enemies, yet even on the harder difficulties it was pretty easy to fool the fascists. In sections when you were caught, the risk of being killed was easily mitigated by either running far enough away or simply hiding. In other sections, though, Indiana would be squaring up to several enemies, and it was easy to see that they did have some interesting tactics going on. From using weapons to throwing rocks and items at Indy, they do at least prove troublesome in larger groups or when you don’t have an escape in mind. The whip is also incredibly functional in fights, allowing you to disarm, pull and even scare some enemies.

As action-adventure games go, I feel like it can’t get much better than this. Even with the weight of the cinematic IP, MachineGames proves just how well they can launch a new era for Indiana Jones. I do feel like this series will continue, given how much potential there is for other adventures between the margins of the films. It’s definitely not a case of this game feeling shoehorned in, though. If anything, this is just a new way to live that Indiana Jones fantasy out while enjoying new adventures!

All in all, Indiana Jones and The Great Circle really proves just how exciting this next chapter is for the franchise. This is a love letter for fans of the films, though it definitely refuses to be held back by this. Troy Baker carries the torch with unwavering dedication, allowing fans to really feel immersed and along for the ride with Indy and Gina. While the enemy AI might not be that great, for a game that lets you bash fascists, it’s more than apt. MachineGames is really onto something with this one and I hope this new era for Indiana Jones continues.