Indiana Jones has seen better days as of late. 2008’s Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull went over like a wet fart. But, somehow, last year’s Dial of Destiny was just as mundane, leaning way too heavily on the nostalgia button. Fortunately, Machinegames – the makers of the Wolfenstein saga – are giving our Fedora-wearing hero the respect he deserves. With that, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle comes along at just the right time – and wins us over.
Falling more in line with the original trilogy of films, Great Circle tells a wonderful story around the archaeologist. But it doesn’t forget about gameplay in the least, with lots of excitement, fisticuffs and whip-slinging to go around. Not to mention the presentation is an absolute knockout – particularly on Xbox Series X – and Troy Baker is right at home in Harrison Ford’s iconic role.
It could use a slight bit of clean-up with its combat and slightly tougher stealth missions. But there’s no question that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle not only continues the fine Lucasfilm legacy, but adds to it immensely. It’s a whip-cracking good time.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Introduces…The Cat Mummy?
The game begins with a flashback to the original Raiders of the Lost Ark, complete with Alfred Molina cameo (“Adios, senor!”) and a great opening sequence. But Indy wakes up after back at his school, only to find a mysterious intruder – the late Tony Todd in one of his final roles – sneaking around. After failing to stop him, Indy sets out on a globe-hopping trek to discover the truth about the Great Circle.
Of course, there are Nazis that are interested as well, since there’s an “ancient power” afoot. Fortunately, this paves the way for Indy to do his thing. Machinegames does encourage a stealth option at times, since Indy isn’t really a soldier at heart. But this might be a boon for some, especially in later stages. It can get particularly tough to avoid the attention of soldiers, particularly larger ones. (They must be related to that one that Indy fought during the airplane fight in Raiders.) It still works, but it may frustrate those that just want to crack the ol’ whip.
Fortunately, the in-game action balances this out. Great Circle mostly relies on fisticuffs, though you can use a gun on occasion (provided you have ammo). The beat-em-up action satisfies, although it could probably use some fine touches. We’ve seen phantom punches that somehow wipe an opponent out for some reason. The item use is outstanding, particularly being able to take down a Nazi with a broom. (“Now that’s what I call a clean sweep!” I literally said this.)
The whip tactics are the real star here, though. You can use your trusty whip to disarm or disorient certain enemies before moving in to take them down. It’s also handy for traversal reasons, so you can reach higher areas or swing across gaps. It’s used quite perfectly here, and will leave a smile on your face.
The variety of missions is terrific. Along with the main story, there are secondary mysteries to solve. These will result in finding books that can help upgrade your character in the best ways possible. This includes increasing your strength, as well as activating a “Lucky Hat” that can save your hide where needed. They’re worth hunting down, and the secondary missions are lots of fun.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle also has some sweet puzzles to solve. The early ones are easy, but the later ones require your diary to really figure out. They’re balanced just right on difficulty, though you can take the easy route if you’re not much of a “thinker.”
Overall, the mix of gameplay here is just about right. The exploration side may be boring compared to beating up Nazis (Machinegames’ specialty!), but it all adds together into a cinematic experience. I really like how Indiana Jones and the Great Circle fits in with Lucasfilm’s iconic cinematic legacy. Fans will feel right at home with Indy – and that’s something they’ve been waiting years for.
We Named the Presentation Indiana
To go with the fine mix of puzzle-solving and beat-em-up gameplay, Machinegames packs Great Circle with a gorgeous presentation.
The game runs best on Xbox Series X, but on that platform, it’s really something. The level design, while a bit vast, is immaculate. You’ll actually feel like you’re hopping around the world with Indy, right down to exploring the smaller villages. Plus the action set pieces are a tour-de-force, snapping into place alongside the films’ best sequences. All this runs pretty well, around 60 FPS, though it can dip in some spots.
Cinematics are handled very well, too. In fact, you can even turn on a “Widescreen” option if you’re feeling nostalgic. I suggest staying full-screen though, as you can see everything that happens. There’s a lot of beauty to take in here, along with some impressive character model work. (Yes, Marcus Brody looks like Denholm Elliott, relax.)
Along with the eye-popping visuals, the sound is marvelous, too. Gordy Haab fills in for John Williams quite well here on the soundtrack, complete with familiar tones and new favorites. And the sound effects are iconic as well, including the punches and, of course, the whip cracks.
“But Harrison Ford isn’t in the game vocally!” you might be saying. Not to worry. Troy Baker handles the role with charm and grace, channeling his best imitation of Ford. He doesn’t miss in the least. Not to mention the other voice actors doing quite well, taking their roles seriously enough that it doesn’t get cheesy. And, man, Marios Gavrillis does a solid job as Voss. Another great Nazi character to despise, I say.
So, yeah, the presentation is just fine. It does stutter a bit when you’re playing on PC, but I suspect that Microsoft will clean that up with a patch down the road.
How About On PlayStation 5?
As you’re aware by now, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle arrived on PlayStation 5/PS5 Pro this past week. I know Bethesda’s already busy with prepping Doom: The Dark Ages for next month, but it was kind enough to send along a code. And we’re glad they did.
There are some interesting improvements with the PS5 version. Most of the performance aspects from the great Xbox version are intact. But there are little touches as well, particularly with animation and loading times, that are noteworthy. Not to mention it looks as spiffy as ever, especially when you break out the whip.
It also plays great using the DualSense game pad. It feels just as comfortable getting into fisticuffs or exploring certain areas, while making use of its fine features. It still has more stealth segments than I would prefer (Indy is a rough and tumble guy!), but that’s just part of the core design.
Bethesda’s port of Indiana Jones to PS5 is nothing short of immaculate — and just as good as the Xbox version. If this is a testament to Microsoft’s platform hopping strategy, hey, I’ll take more games. Heck, isn’t Forza Horizon 5 parking in its garage later this month?
The Great Circle Is Great, Duh
We’ve seen some wonderful Indiana Jones game over the years, including the underrated Greatest Adventures SNES game that still rocks. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle finds its place among them, an awesome time for new and old fans alike.
The mix of puzzles and action is satisfying, though the stealth may frustrate certain players. And the presentation is a knockout, complete with beautiful level design and character models. Also, Troy Baker does a fine job as Indy, so don’t knock him.
Criticize certain elements all you want. But Indiana Jones and the Great Circle brings our beloved hero back right where he needs to be. And at just the right time, too. We tip our Fedoras to you, Machinegames.
GAMERHUB RATING: 4.5 (out of 5) JOYSTICKS
Thanks to Bethesda for the review code! Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is available now for Xbox and PC, and coming soon to PlayStation 5!
Need more fun adventure? Check out our reviews of Castlevania Dominus Collection and Killing Time: Resurrected!
