Summary
Being an adaptation of a decades-old beloved film franchise, MachineGames’Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis already distinguished among other action-adventure titles, especially given its successful efforts to recreate an authenticIndiana Jonesexperience in the gaming space. Most action-adventure titles today are wholly original, with unique characters, gameplay, and worlds to complement that originality, soIndiana Jones and the Great Circleeffortlessly sets itself apart with its adaptation status. However, it is this very characteristic that allows it to be unique from a gameplay standpoint as well, particularly in its pacing.
As arguably one of the mostauthenticIndiana Jonesgaming experiencesever made,Indiana Jones and the Great Circletakes great strides to ensure its gameplay matches the pacing of the films it is based on. Ultimately, this allows it to differentiate itself from most other games in the action-adventure genre, as almost all of them tend to remain at a similar speed when it comes to their storytelling, action, and exploration.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, on the other hand, limits itself to a pace not typically seen and felt in an action-adventure game, and it’s all for the better.
How Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Pacing Sets It Apart
The Action Adventure Genre Is Known for Fast-Paced Gameplay
For the most part, the action-adventure genre is known for featuring fast-paced gameplay. It’s not so much that an action-adventure game needs to keep players on the edge of their seats at every moment, but more so that they often thrive on movement rather than observation, requiring quick reflexes and split-second decision-making, especially when the unknown occurs and things go miserably wrong.Franchises likeUnchartedandTomb Raiderare great examples of this in action, with a feeling of constantly being on the move to either discover, take cover, escape, or retaliate.
Many action-adventure games, especially those categorized asopen-world games, also tend to encourage players to skip the scenery to get from one location to the next. Whether it be by using a vehicle to travel across sprawling lands to reach the next objective or fast traveling to avoid the long trips in between, action-adventure games generally prefer players to think about what is next rather than what is right in front of them. Ultimately, these elements work together to maintain player engagement, though it can all feel overwhelming at times.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Slow and Deliberate Pacing Distinguishes It
Indiana Jones and the Great Circlecontains all the foundational elements of an action-adventure game — namely, the action and the adventure. It emphasizes a compelling narrative, intense action sequences, and a wide-open world for players to explore, all of which are necessary ingredients in the action-adventure pie. However, unlike a typicalaction-adventure game,Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s pacing is slow and deliberate, often encouraging players to walk rather than run, lest they risk missing valuable, puzzle-solving clues and captivating sights that add to the immersion of the game.
Unlike a typical action-adventure game,Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s pacing is slow and deliberate, often encouraging players to walk rather than run, lest they risk missing valuable, puzzle-solving clues and captivating sights that add to the immersion of the game.
Using the many rewarding elements of its exploration (especially collectibles, which often provide the Adventure Points necessary for using Adventure Books and buffing Indy’s stats),Indiana Jones and the Great Circlekeeps its players on a leash, though not necessarily an oppressive one. It still leaves at least some of its pacing in the hands of the player, but since the game actively rewards patient and observant players, attempting to approach it in any other way is a bit counterproductive. On top of that, there are no mounts, andIndiana Jones and the Great Circle’s fast-travel systemis very limited, essentially forcing players to practice a more deliberate playstyle than a typical action-adventure game might require.
At the end of the day,Indiana Jones and the Great Circlestands outas a refreshing departure from the action-adventure norm, offering an experience that feels both familiar and innovative. By prioritizing deliberate pacing and rewarding thoughtful exploration, the game captures the essence of anIndiana Jonesadventure, where every moment feels purposeful, and every discovery adds depth to the journey. This approach not only reinforces its authenticity as an adaptation but also challenges players to adjust their typical action-adventure playstyle to fit whatIndiana Jones and the Great Circlecalls for.
