Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Preview: Indy is back and better than ever

As someone who grew up watching the Indiana Jones movies and even played a gender-bending version of the character in a school play, The Great Circle felt like welcoming back an old friend—one who deserved a performance of this magnitude and quality but was never given the chance. until now

Compelling story and perfectly executed character designs

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The best part about Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the story. The game is a cinematic action-adventure with a narrative worthy of the character and his legacy.

The events take place in 1937. Indiana must travel the world to prevent the forces of evil from unlocking an ancient power that could have lasting consequences for the entire world.

It’s exactly what you want from an Indy game. There are high stakes and a large roster of supporting characters who don’t feel inferior to the titular character, but command the same respect and authority as the great treasure hunter.

Unfortunately, Harrison Ford isn’t playing Indiana Jones in the game, but fear not, because voice acting royalty is taking over. Troy Bakerthe voice of Joel Miller in The Last of Us, Booker Devitt from Bioshock Infinite, and countless others, slips on Fedora Indy and truly embodies the character.

The combat is simple but effective

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One of the biggest concerns I had during this hands-on preview was the combat. However, the developers skillfully avoided turning Indy into a commando-like figure, but captured the essence of his adventures.

Besides, first person perspective gives the game an addictive feel, something I was also hesitant about before playing it.

Anything and everything is a weapon

You can pick up anything from a viola or guitar (my favorite weapon) to a brick, a broom, and anything else lying around and use these tools to destroy your enemies.

Even though Indy has a revolver, the risk of firing it and alerting all the guards around him is often not worth it.

A lot of attention to stealth, which pays off in a big way

As such, stealth is an important aspect of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and a gameplay feature that feels authentic and realistic. Speaking of stealth, the game encourages you to hide in plain sight by finding different costumes and disguises.

Again, it’s a smart inclusion from the developers to make this game feel like a real Indiana Jones adventure rather than a simple treasure hunt.

Each location offers several ways to navigate. From finding a set of keys to help unlock a door to stumbling upon a secret passage, there’s more than one way to explore and progress.

What is Indiana Jones without his signature whip?

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You can’t make an Indiana Jones game without making his whip one of the biggest supporting characters, and thankfully The Great Circle doesn’t shy away from really putting that tool in the spotlight.

The whip is used in a variety of ways, but it is used for combat and general getting around. You can use it to help Indy climb over walls or roll over cracks in the floor. Additionally, it can also be used in combat to help disarm enemies and draw them towards you so you can land a big right hook.

Also, props to the audio design team, as the crack of Indy’s whip is just so satisfying, effective and absolutely epic.

However, the whip can be temperamental at times. In the preview, there were times when it struggled to latch on to enemies correctly, or the animation was a bit off. These little things will most likely be fixed when the game is ready to launch, so it shouldn’t be too much of a concern.

The soundtrack strikes a perfect balance of nostalgia and intrigue

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When it comes to iconic OSTs, Indiana Jones is one of the most famous and well known around the world. From what I’ve played, Great Circle makes full use of the original score, adding familiar tunes at key moments to add its own twist.

Of course, Indy’s journey in this game takes him around the world, and the soundtrack makes you feel completely immersed wherever you are.

Whether it’s the halls of Marshall College or the pyramids in Egypt, each place feels authentic and makes you want to explore every corner.

The Great Circle stands apart and does not try to answer

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While Indiana Jones may be the most famous treasure hunter in the movie world, he has tough competition in the video game space. Tomb Raider’s Lara Croft and Uncharted’s Nathan Drake have established themselves as beloved adventurers.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle skillfully sets itself apart from Tomb Raider and Uncharted is what makes this game work. Even though The Great Circle incorporates similar tropes from those franchises, I liked how the game doesn’t try to emulate Croft or Drake.

Instead, it plays like an Indiana Jones experience. He is not perfect; he’s not some killer with a gun; he’s an adventurer, and this new game does a fantastic job of really putting you in Indiana’s shoes, which I think was the biggest takeaway from my time with the game.

This preview has left me wanting more, and I really want to experience it to its fullest Indiana Jones and the Great Circle when it releases on December 9, 2024 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series S/X, and PC.