I cannot remember the last time that I enjoyed a First-Person style game.
All of my favourite games in the last 5 to 10 years have been Third-Person Action Adventures. All the First-Person games I have played recently have been very overwhelming and visually overstimulating, nowhere near as enjoyable as I would have hoped them to be. But with one of the most anticipated releases of 2024 being a First-Person game, I was hesitant. I was also cautious as the game is an adaptation of one of the most iconic film series of all time and is one that I adore – Indiana Jones.
For the purposes of this review, I played on Windows PC via Steam using my PS5 controller. I progressed through two of the main mission stories and have put in over 20 hours of gameplay.
This new Action-Adventure game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks is a brand-new tale in the world of Indiana Jones. Set somewhere in the mid 1930’s between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, we follow our favourite archaeologist Indiana Jones as he embarks on a new adventure.
As a massive fan of the films, I was cautious on how the story would hold up against the lore of Indy that we’ve all come to adore. Well, in a stroke of genius, the game starts out by recreating the iconic opening sequence to Raiders of the Lost Ark. I was instantly taken in and excited to play as such an iconic character. It is a wonderful prologue giving insight into the vibe of the game and a fantastic way to learn the controls. The game design is incredibly detailed, and the mechanics feel natural. The introduction also gives the player their first look at solving a puzzle and the use of Indy’s main tool, the iconic whip!
The cut-scene cinematics at the end of this sequence are a direct copy out of the film, complete with the swapping of the Gold Idol, running from the giant stone boulder and even almost losing his hat. Soon enough, the cut-scene ends and Indy awakens as he slept at his desk whilst a storm rages outside. To say I was excited to play the game after experiencing this would be a gross understatement.
Written by Tommy Tordsson Björk, the original story is brilliant, arguably better than some of the recent films from the franchise. The narrative begins at Marshall College where Indy is teaching and studying. Awakening from his dream, Indy hears footsteps and investigates. A giant figure has broken in, attacks Indy and steals a Cat Mummy in the process. Seeking the artefact’s return, Indy sets out on a mission to the Vatican. However, Indy discovers more than just the location of the artefact, he uncovers an ancient power known as the Great Circle and must stop evil powers from obtaining it.
Visually, the Great Circle is stunning. Led by artist Mattias Astenvald, the level of detail that has gone into recreating the ancient city of the Vatican is mind blowing. Having never physically been to the Vatican myself, I now feel like I have. I constantly found myself taking in the scenery, staring at the incredible architecture and period artworks, including the roof of the Sistine Chapel. Yes, that is in there too in all its glory.
Like all great Action-Adventure games, there is a main story quest that you follow to complete the game, but there are also various side missions, collectibles, and hidden secrets to find. And in classic Indy style, these extra activities are discovered by your own natural curiosity.
Of course, walking around the Vatican in your leather, hat and whip isn’t the smartest thing to do, so you are gifted with a disguise; a Clerical Suit, perfect to mix in with the clergy. You also still have your trusty leather pouch to carry around objects, keys, treasure, other disguises, weapons, your whip, food for health and fruit for stamina.
Plus, as a photographer, I love the inclusion of a camera that is used throughout the game to uncover clues and capture images of artefacts and other historical objects. However, I was disappointed to discover I cannot just take photos of anything that I wanted, no could I access them later. This would be a cool feature to include in a future update.
It’s not all archaeology and mysteries though, there is fighting to be had. The Vatican is occupied by Benito Mussolini and his Blackshirts, who sometimes get in the way of your mission. Whilst you do have a revolver when dressed as Indy, this weapon is not available if you are dressed in the Clerical Suit. Thankfully, there are fantastic melee combat controls available, from classic boxing techniques to picking up almost any object in your environment to knock-out the fascists standing in your way.
However, I must admit, I am not a fan of the hand-to-hand combat as I’m just not that good at it. I am sure, with time, and as I unlock new abilities, I will get better at it. But whacking a fascist unconscious with a glass bottle is extremely satisfying!
On the abilities mechanic, the Great Circle stands apart from most Action-Adventure games in the genre with how you upgrade them. As you navigate your way around the environment, there is plenty of intel, notes and other items to find. Each time you find one or take a photo of a historical artefact, you gain Adventure Points.
Now, instead of simply exchanging these points on a skills tree, you can only unlock new abilities by finding Adventure Books with detail on said ability. For example, to unlock a new brawling ability that replenishes your stamina when you knock out an enemy, you first need to find the book. I found this very clever and definitely very Indiana Jones like.
The most fun I have had playing this game came when I ventured to Egypt, specifically Gizeh (Giza). I was beyond excited when I learnt of the next destination in the game. I have always had an affinity for Ancient Egypt lore and culture, and I was beaming when I discovered that I would be able to walk through Pyramids, Tombs and even the Sphinx.
Although I have not progressed past the completion of this part of the game, I feel that the time in Gizeh was the most Indiana Jones like experience. There is just something about walking through a dark tomb while holding a fire torch in your hand that was very satisfying. To add to the already stunning landscapes, is the visual representation of Indiana Jones himself. But not as you would expect! After all, this is a First-Person game. I am talking about his shadow! Best represented here in Gizeh, the shadow image of Indiana Jones is beyond clever.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is also an excitingly challenging puzzle game. Reminiscent of the Tomb Raider games in recent years, but with less platforming. The most platforming you will do is swinging from your whip, jumping, crawling and traversing ledges. However, if you are not that great at puzzles, you can typically obtain hints by using your camera to take a photo of the puzzle that you are trying to solve. Each shot unlocks a new hint, to the point where it all but gives you the answer. There are also varied difficulties that you can customise to increase or decrease the hints on offer.
The only criticism I have of my time in Gizeh was how much walking was involved. Whilst there is plenty of this at the Vatican, it doesn’t feel like much as there are plenty of buildings to walk through and courtyards to cross. Although, in the desert of Gizeh, everything feels much larger. I wish I could commandeer a motorcycle or one of the numerous trucks that I passed as I traversed the desert. I am thankful that I found the Stamina Adventure Books though, as it made running last much longer before my stamina ran out.
One of the main aspects of the game is your trusty journal. Used to collect photos, notes and intel throughout your travels, track your progress of missions, side-missions, discoveries and collectibles, to unlock the aforementioned abilities, and also used as your map. However, the map is not as you might expect. It does not open up in full-screen, or is shown as a HUD or Overlay, but as an actual map, held in your hands.
Opening the map triggers the journal to open, displaying the map on the pages, but if you are looking directly ahead, the map is only partially visible. To see the full map, you have to look down to view it. This mechanic is so simple and yet quintessentially Indiana Jones. Like, am I actually reading a map as I explore Egypt? That is so cool!
With the overall visual design being almost perfect, the sound design is just as good. The ambient sounds as you walk through the Vatican to the conversations held in the native language of the region, it felt like I was actually there. Many games take the easy way out and have NPC conversations in English, even if you are in the middle of Gizeh, but not the Great Circle! I really appreciated this thorough touch as it makes the game feel more authentic to the lore of Indiana Jones. And if you can’t understand these languages, not to worry! There are very clear subtitles for when interactions take place.
The writing and voice acting is another wonderful nod to the world of Indiana Jones. Visually, the character is a digital recreation of Harrison Ford and whilst Ford isn’t in this game at all, Troy Baker is a perfect vocal representation of the character. Combined with the dry humorous dialogue written by Tommy Tordsson Björk, this is the closest I will ever come to actually becoming Harrison Ford as Indiana Jones. There are even little slices of genius that solidifies this digital recreation as the character itself. Just look out for the confession cut scene in the Vatican, it is hilarious.
There are plenty of other characters you meet and interact with along the way. From friend to foe, they each play a pivotal role in the narrative and are expertly portrayed by a wide range of talented voice actors. Main characters such as ally Ginetta ‘Gina’ Lombardi voiced by Alessandra Mastronardi, foe Emmerich Voss voiced by Marios Gavrilis, and the late Tony Todd who portrays the Vatican Giant, Locus.
We also have Enrico Colantoni who portrays the main ally in the Vatican, Father Antonio Morello and Necar Zadegan as Gizeh ally, Nawal Shafiq-Barclay. Not only are each of these actors fantastic at voicing their respective characters, but the developers also used motion capture to bring their likeness to life in game.
Having already been a fan of Colantoni from his time in Veronica Mars, his character in game even moves like him. Another clever little detail that makes this game more of a cinematic experience mixed with gameplay. There’s more than I have noted, however, I have not progressed far enough in the game to experience them as yet.
The music is also very Indiana Jones, with nods to the original film scores whilst adding their own symphonic flair, enhancing the overall experience more than any game I have played this year. Little achievements and progressions in the story are met with a subtle play of the iconic main theme motif composed by John Williams, which brought a smile to my face every time.
The music also dives into the dramatic tones when you are being chased or your cover has been blown, getting the heart racing as you try to hide and escape. Massive props to composer, Gorgy Haab, for keeping enough nostalgia in the music, whilst making it as original as possible.
There is so much to love about this game, and I feel that I’ve only just scraped the surface. I have plenty of hidden notes and treasures still to find in the Vatican and I’ve all but completed everything in Gizeh. And at over 20 hours of gameplay done, with Peru, Thailand, Shanghai, Iraq and the Himalayas still to discover, I have many more hours of gameplay left, and I cannot wait!
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is easily the best game I have played all year of 2024, and it came just as it was ending. No doubt that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will take out some awards this year, because it damn well deserves it.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is available now on Xbox Game Pass, Xbox Series X/S, Windows and Steam. However, if you are wanting the game on PlayStation 5, you will have to wait a bit longer as the game is slated for a Q1/Q2 release.
For more information and details on where and how to obtain the game, visit:
https://indianajones.bethesda.net/en-AU