Raiders of the Lost Arkbegins with a now-iconic expedition to the Temple of the Golden Idol, where Indiana Jones makes his way slowly through ancient traps and puzzles to claim the shining prize before having to make a climactic escape through the Peruvian jungle. This opening sequence laid the groundwork for many of theIndiana Jonesfranchise’s set pieces, with tomb-raiding becoming a core part of the series' identity. AndIndiana Jones and the Great Circleembraces this identity wholeheartedly.
The general loop ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circlesees players get dropped into a big open area, such as the Vatican or Gizeh. Players make their way through this area, completing side objectives and main quests until they eventually embark on a final mission to explore some kind of secret tomb or dungeon. Just like every other aspect ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, developer MachineGames has gone out of its way to make these tombs feel authentic to the spirit ofIndiana Jones.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Tombs Feel Like They’ve Been Ripped From The Movies
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Tombs Look and Feel Faithful
One ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle’s biggest strengths is its presentation, and how that consistently captures the look and feel oftheIndiana Jonesfranchise. This is especially apparent in the game’s tombs and dungeons, which all feel as though they could have been ripped right out of the movies.
All ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle’s dungeonsfeature architecture and environmental design that feel faithful to the source material. Tombs are lined with mighty stone blocks, pathways are blocked by gigantic doors, sarcophagi lie against the walls, and broken artifacts litter the floor. Each and every piece of set dressing makesIndiana Jones and the Great Circle’s tombs feel suitably ancient and grandiose, fueling the feeling that the adventure players are on is important.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s lightingreinforces this feeling, and goes a long way in fueling the player’s sense of discovery. In the early areas of the game, players need to rely on the natural light that’s already present in the tomb. These light sources are often sharp beams of sunlight, small circles of torchlight, or the ominous red glow of a fire pit. As well as looking just like the tombs in the movies, these natural light sources encourage players to keep moving forward to find the next light source.
Thesound design inIndiana Jones and the Great Circleputs the final touches on the tombs' authentic presentation, with the creak of ancient gears, the rattling of chains, the loud clack of footsteps on cobblestone, and the low crackle of a torch’s flame all acting as constant reinforcement of the game’s faithfulness to the source material.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Puzzles and Traps Reinforce Its Authenticity
But it wouldn’t be an authenticIndiana Jonestomb without some traps and puzzles, andThe Great Circlehas plenty of those. From brief platforming trials that see players jump past oversized swinging axes, to classic mirror-rearranging puzzles, to solving ancient inscriptions through the use of Indy’s diary and camera,Indiana Jones and the Great Circleensures all of its dungeon puzzles and traps feel as though they’d fit right in with their movie counterparts.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard.YOU ARE INDIANA JONESLive the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist – famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor – you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time.A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITSTravel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, you’ll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces.WHIP-CRACKING ACTIONIndiana’s trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isn’t just a weapon, it’s Indy’s most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERYVenture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps ,and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery – or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
