Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a 2024 action-adventure game developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda Softworks. It is based on the Indiana Jones franchise and features an original narrative that draws from the film series. Set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), the story follows archaeologist Indiana Jones in 1937 as he attempts to thwart various groups who are seeking to harness a power connected to the Great Circle, which refers to mysterious sites around the world that form a perfect circle when together on a map. The game spans numerous real-world locales such as the Vatican City, Thailand, Egypt, and China.
The Great Circle is primarily played from a first-person perspective with third-person being employed for contextual elements such as environmental interaction. Players control Indy as they navigate through a mix of linear, story-sensitive areas and wider, exploratory landscapes. Combat can either be directly engaged with or circumvented entirely through the use of stealth mechanics, and the character’s signature whip can be used as both a weapon, or as a means for traversing across obstacles and solving various puzzles to uncover alternate paths and obscured collectibles.
Bethesda and MachineGames jointly announced the game’s development in January 2021, in collaboration with Lucasfilm Games. Jerk Gustafsson directed the game, composer Gordy Haab contributed original pieces and reinterpretations of classic themes from the films by John Williams. Todd Howard from Bethesda Game Studios conceived the game’s story and served as an executive producer, considering the game a passion project of his. Troy Baker provides the voice and motion capture of the titular character, whose likeness is otherwise based on Harrison Ford, who portrays him in the films. Alessandra Mastronardi and Tony Todd are featured in supporting voice roles.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle was released for Windows and Xbox Series X/S on December 9, 2024. A PlayStation 5 version is scheduled to release in early 2025. The game received generally positive reviews from critics for Baker’s performance of Jones, the gameplay, storyline, puzzles and combat mechanics. It received multiple year-end nominations, including Game of the Year at the D.I.C.E. Awards.
Reference:
Recent Comments