Hannan Mundia 
How well does Indiana Jones and the Great Circle capture the feel that makes all the Indiana Jones movies so great? Shockingly well.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle had some very big shoes to fill. Despite the Indiana Jones franchise being as big as it is, the last Indiana Jones game came out in 2009. From there, the series went dormant. New and old fans alike were banking on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to deliver a faithful experience.
However, it was anything but smooth sailing for developer MachineGames. From Bethesda repeatedly disappointing fans to the announcement that Harrison Ford wouldn’t voice Indy, many had limited expectations. Fortunately, the studio didn’t disappoint and delivered on its promise of making a real Indiana Jones game.
The Good:
- Retains the feel of classic Indiana Jones movies
- Excellent exploration
- Some clever puzzles
The Bad:
- Side quests could have been better
- Various performance issues
Review Details:
- Reviewed on: PC
- Platforms available: Xbox Series X/S, PC
- Official release date: December 9, 2024
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an excellent callback to classic Indy adventures
Indiana Jones peaked in the ’80s, dominating box offices and becoming a household name. However, things have changed since then, and studios don’t usually go for the same “classic” feel. The folks at MachineGames must love the franchise because they ensured The Great Circle perfectly captures what one would expect from an Indiana Jones game.
From recreating the Raiders of the Lost Ark’s opening to keeping Indiana’s trusty whip at the forefront, the worries that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle would play like a reskinned Wolfenstein game were proven illegitimate.
At its core, The Great Circle’s story is yet another grand adventure of Indiana Jones. It would be disappointing if punching Nazis, raiding tombs, and discovering ancient treasures weren’t part of Indy’s checklist. The game’s antagonist, while forgettable, was justifiably corny, and Indiana had yet another new sidekick he definitely wasn’t flirting with. Without giving any spoilers, the game’s story and key moments were as over-the-top and snappy as one could hope
Unlike most other games developed by the Wolfenstein studio, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has a higher emphasis on storytelling. With more cutscenes and much less running and gunning, the game heavily relies on the voice actors to sell every scene. While everyone does an excellent job, Troy Baker’s performance as Indiana Jones is a definite highlight. The actor almost perfectly mirrors Harrison Ford’s portrayal of the character, even if there are some instances where it’s clear that it’s not actually Ford.
Rounding all this out is that the game is a visual spectacle. From the spooky crypts and caves to the grand desert of Giza, those who like taking in the view will find much to love here.
Unfortunately, this is also where Indiana Jones and the Great Circle shows its first real flaw; the optimization. FPS drops, flickering shadows, and unloading textures were very clear when entering an open area. Many players will likely have to tone down their settings to ensure a smooth experience.
Speaking of open areas, The Great Circle has three key locations that serve as mini open-world exploration areas. The game encourages exploration, especially in these areas. Players can also complete optional side quests here. While these side quests are optional, they lack much purpose or intrigue. Many quests felt like they were there to extend the playing time for completionists and were similar to the repetitive 2018 Spider-Man in nature.
The Lost Circle’s gameplay will likely divide fans
Puzzles are where Indiana Jones and the Lost Circle shines. There are some fairly tough yet clever puzzles, and even the simple ones may have players chuckling to themselves because they didn’t figure it out sooner. While some puzzles require players to backtrack, the hint system ensures players don’t get stuck at a puzzle for too long. Solving an especially tough puzzle to uncover the grand secret was extremely satisfying, especially during The Lost Circle’s more exaggerated moments.
Combat is where Indiana Jones and the Lost Circle may divide fans. Unlike the load and proud gameplay Wolfenstein fans may expect from MachineGames, The Lost Circle requires players to be smart. Indiana Jones was never the type to grab a rocket launcher and announce his presence, and the game mirrors that.
Most action sequences are fairly similar. Players enter an area with multiple guards and have various ways to move forward. They can methodically take down enemies while staying out of their line of sight to make things easier. Pacifists can ignore enemies altogether to reach the other side unnoticed. All guards have the same tried and tested “line of sight” and a meter that slowly fills if Indy is in it. Players have Indy’s trusty revolver, though the ammo is limited. Also, using it once will alert every guard in the area, as will grabbing a fallen enemy’s rifle.
Those who get caught can use some good old-fashioned hand-to-hand combat. Melee in Indiana Jones and the Lost Circle is straightforward, but that isn’t bad. Players can block or parry enemy attacks before returning a fist. Every attack results in a satisfying sound when Indy’s fist hits an enemy. Using the whip to disarm enemies, upgrading Indy, and finding better melee weapons ensured melee combat remained fun until the end.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is ultimately an excellent Indiana Jones game that respects and understands the source material. Some optimization issues hold the game back, but it has more highs than lows.
The Bottom Line: MachineGames surprised many by delivering the first genuinely good Indiana Jones game in over a decade, raising the bar for game adaptations of classic movies.
Score: 9/10
