One of the most common points of praiseIndiana Jones and the Great Circlehas received over the last week has been how authentic the game feels. This is a pretty weighty term that can mean an array of different things, but in the case ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle, it’s the perfect word to describe the game and all it achieves.
Practically every mechanic and technical feature inIndiana Jones and the Great Circlefeels authentic to the beloved movie franchise it’s based on. From the lighting in tombs, to the sound ofIndy’s whipcracking, to the weighty feeling of fists hitting Nazi faces, every moment ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle’s runtime captures the magic of the adventure series, even going as far as to embrace a core part of the franchise that’s often overlooked.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Has Some Great Companions
Companions Are a Core Element of Indiana Jones
While Indiana Jones is obviously the star of the franchise, he never adventures on his own.Raiders of the Lost Arksees Indy team up with Marion Ravenwoodand Sallah,Temple of Doombrings Willie Scott and Short Round along for the ride, andThe Last Crusadeinvites Sean Connery to join the party as Indy’s father. Even the disappointingKingdom of the CrystalSkullandDial of Destinyfeatured companions, with the former seeing the return of Marion and the introduction of her son Mutt, and the latter bringing Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helena into canon.
These companions may not be the first thing fans think of whenIndiana Jonesis brought up, but they’re a core part of the franchise’s identity. These companions usually bring two key elements to the table, the first being a sense of stakes, and the second being a sense of heart, with Indy often caring deeply about what happens to them.
Antonio Ticks All The Boxes For a Classic Indiana Jones Companion
Indiana Jones and the Great Circleembraces this often overlooked aspect of the franchise, delivering its first companion almost immediately. Upon entering the Vatican for the first time, players meet Antonio, a priest who quickly becomes a memorable ally. In their very first conversation together, it’s implied that Indy and Antonio have known each other for almost two decades, with the pair having met onthe Italian frontlines in World War 1.
To bolster the duo’s connection, and to start forging a bond between the player and Antonio,Indiana Jones and the Great Circlehas Antonio guiding the player through the early stages of their adventure, mirroring the mentor role that the character had in Indy’s youth. Though players aren’t with Antonio for long, the character’s charming performance, personal connection to Indy, and their early-game actions should cement them as amemorableIndiana Jonescompanion.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Gina Lombardi Is One of The Series' Strongest Companions
While Antonio is only present forIndiana Jones and the Great Circle’s opening level, Gina Lombardi hangs around a lot longer, and is much more likely to make an impact on players. When players first meet Gina in the Vatican, she’s posing as a nun, trying to find more information on the whereabouts of her missing sister.
Players soon find out that Gina is an investigative journalist who believes her archaeologist sister has been kidnapped by the Nazis. It’s a fairly simple motivation, but it’s an effective and personal one that adds another natural layer of stakes to the story. As the game progresses, players gradually learn more about Gina’s personal history, and quickly discover she’s quite complex.
On top of her intriguing complexity, Gina Lombardi is also a good companion in terms of gameplay. Gina can pick locks, she suggests hints if players are stuck on puzzles, and she’s pretty good in a fistfight.Alessandra Mastronardi’s performance as Gina Lombardishould also be commended, with it being the final piece of evidence to suggest Gina is one ofIndiana Jones' most memorable companions.
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?
