The man with the whip and fedora is back! Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a thrilling return of one of pop culture’s most enduring characters, only this time you get play as the titular hero! Developed by MachineGames and published by Bethesda, this first-person action-adventure game delivers a classic Indiana Jones story with immersive gameplay that makes you feel like you’re the fictional archeologist. Queue the John Williams score!
Wedged between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game follows our favorite archaeologist on an adventure that spans the globe. Indiana seeks to unravel the mysteries behind “The Great Circle,” an ancient supernatural phenomenon with an origin tied to locations like Vatican City, Egypt, the Himalayas, among others. Every map in this game is beautifully crafted to whisk you away for the adventure.
Portraying Dr. Jones is Troy Baker. This voice actor provides a compelling performance that works as both a respectful homage to Harrison Ford’s original portrayal while also carving some space to add a little bit of excitement and optimism to the character. Though Baker’s Indiana is just as gruff, clever, and determined as Ford (including Harrison Ford’s habit of pointing his index finger to emote), his passion for history and archeology shines throughout the game’s runtime.
The gameplay in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle primarily unfolds in a first-person perspective. The player is encouraged to use all the tools at Indy’s disposal including his famous whip and various melee weapons that are scattered around the map. Ammo is sparse in the game which encourages players to not simply rely on their sidearm. Instead the game embraces stealth to either avoid or subdue enemies. Alerted enemy groups become quickly unmanageable, making stealth feel that much more strategic to the game. When you do engage enemies in hand-to-hand combat, the action plays out as it would in an Indiana Jones movie, complete with iconic sound effects from the films.
Those familiar with the videogame genre of Laura Croft (Tomb Raider) and Nathan Drake (Uncharted) will not be surprised that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle includes some adventure-style puzzles. Most of the puzzles are easily achievable and manageable for most casual gamers, but they might leave some gaming aficionados feeling somewhat unchallenged. An advantage to some of these more simple challenges is Indy’s dialogue which helps to tie the purpose of each puzzle to the greater in-universe lore.
What sets The Great Circle apart is its use of historical myths, legends, and world history that weaves a compelling story of mystery and adventure. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is perfect for those who are not only fans of the Indiana Jones franchise, but also fans of the adventure videogame genre. This game may not belong in a museum, but it certainly belongs on the library shelf for fans to check out and enjoy!
I rate this game a 9.5 out of 10.
This game is available through the library’s catalog.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has an ESRB rating of T for Teen. Content is generally suitable for ages 13 and up.
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