Raiders of the Lost Ark is not only my favourite Indiana Jones movie, it’s one of my favourite films of all time. I also tend to soak up everything else this franchise has to offer. I’ve played the games, from Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, Infernal Machine, and the Emperor’s Tomb, and have even gone as far as to play the Staff of Kings.
While the Uncharted series is actually my favourite gaming franchise, it pretty much enticed me initially because it was aiming to provide that similar treasure hunting, globetrotting experience in video game form. So as you can imagine, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has been on my radar ever since it was announced back in 2021.
Now that it’s finally here, I can safely say, I have just played the best Indiana Jones game of all time. That’s a big call, but I’ll do you one better; while it might not seem like a high bar these days, this is the best Indiana Jones property of any sort, that we’ve gotten since the original trilogy of films.
But thanks to functional and versatile gameplay mechanics, it’s also an incredible game in its own right. Mix it all up with an original story that feels like it belongs with the best of the films as far as writing and character development are concerned, and I think it’s safe to say that the team at Machine Games have crafted one of the best adventure games in recent memory.
A Globetrotting Adventure
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle takes place between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade in 1937. After an incredible introductory sequence, which I would rather not spoil, we find Indy woken up in the middle of the night at Marshall College, as he discovers a mysterious figure has broken into the college’s museum to steal an artefact of great importance.
This event immediately sends Indy on a globetrotting adventure in pursuit of this artefact, but soon devolves into a much larger plot that sees all the world’s most famous landmarks connected in one singular line around the globe. Exploring various locations like the Vatican City, Egypt, the Himalayas, Shanghai, Thailand and Iraq feels par for the course, and the adventure itself is filled with witty writing and genuine relationships between Indy and his numerous contacts and friends we meet around the world.
Along for the majority of the ride, however, is Ginetta “Gina” Lombardi, a journalist set on the same path as Indy, but for different reasons. She wishes to find her sister, who is seemingly caught up in the same web we find our protagonists in. Gina is admittedly a true standout as far as her performance and writing are concerned. Her relationship with Indy develops in a way that feels natural, as they begin to discuss deeper topics about their own lives as the narrative pushes on. There are even a few emotional scenes between the two which got me a little choked up.
While voice actress Alessandra Mastronardi is doing a great job as Gina, I would be lying if voice actor Troy Baker didn’t steal the show. Voicing Indiana Jones this time around, it’s uncanny, and borderline creepy, how much Baker sounds like Indy, or even a young Harrison Ford depending on how you cut it. Too often, I forgot I was listening to a performance or interpretation of Indiana Jones, and I think that’s honestly the best compliment you can give.
It wouldn’t be an Indiana Jones story without another antagonistic force racing for the same answers. Enter Emmerich Voss, a Nazi archaeologist wanting to track down the power of the Great Circle for the Third Reich, and he’s a decent villain. It’s always interesting to see how two similar-minded individuals can interpret the same thing so differently, and I admire his wit and intelligence as he not only outsmarts Indy on more than a few occasions but also weasels through his affairs in the process.
I just can’t bring myself to talk about the narrative any more than I have, but trust me when I say it’s an engaging, unique and wonderfully written ride that belongs with the best Indiana Jones stories we’ve seen.
Putting the Slap in Slapstick
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle does such a fantastic job of making you feel like Indiana Jones, and it’s not just the first-person perspective either. For the most part, gameplay is divided into a few important pillars, including combat, traversal and puzzle-solving.
As far as combat goes, you’ll have more than a few items at your disposal to get the job done. The trusty whip and revolver are at your side, but the game surprisingly has you using your fists more than anything. You can pick up certain items around you like hammers, shovels and bottles to gain the upper hand, but the game simply wants you to feel like you’re up against it when it comes to groups of enemies.
You’ll use the right and left triggers to throw punches when unarmed, and can even dodge, block and counter shots, which is generally essential to taking enemies out. As Indy needs to manage his stamina in pretty much everything he does, you don’t benefit from mindlessly throwing hooks to take enemies out. Melee weapons strewn about the environment also break after a few hits, so you’ll generally need to play things smart. Even so, I simply love that iconic whack, ripped straight from the films that you hear when an enemy’s jaw gets spun around a few times.
In this respect, the game does a great job of encouraging you to take every advantage at your disposal. Yes, this can even include the revolver and the whip. The whip is a fantastic tool that has multiple uses in combat. For example, it can disarm enemies, trip them up and even pull them off ledges when they’re higher up. Certain enemies also patrol areas with guard dogs, and whip cracks and gunfire can scare them away too.
The Tools of the Trade
While the revolver is generally at your side, this game is anything but a first-person shooter. While it’s super effective at quickly dispatching enemies, it makes ridiculous noise. You’ll essentially alert every enemy in the area to your presence, and the trouble only grows from there. There are certain segments where you’ll have no choice but to pick up a weapon from a fallen soldier and fire away, but it’s way less than you would think.
When you’re not punching and whipping Nazi and Fascist soldiers in the face, traversal and exploration take up most of your time. Each country you go to generally has its unique hub worlds, open areas which Indy can explore, to find secrets, meet new allies and even take on additional side-quests. But beyond that, the game does a great job of allowing Indy to make the most of his tools. The whip can not only be used to swing across gaps but also to climb to higher areas. There’s generally a fair amount of verticality to each location, so it will get some use.
It’s also during traversal that you’ll find the camera frequently switches between first and third-person perspectives. While the game is primarily played from a first-person perspective, the camera will switch to third-person when Indy is swinging with the whip, climbing ledges and even operating mechanisms during puzzles. Funnily enough, I never really found this awkward or distracting and fell into it quite quickly.
When not in combat or whipping about, Indy can even don disguises to get around certain areas, but it’s worth noting these disguises are never foolproof and can get you into hot water if you start acting up.
Finally, Indy can also upgrade his abilities by finding books hidden about each environment. You’ll be able to track down collectibles and even take shots with the camera to earn what the game refers to as Adventure Points, which can be used to unlock certain abilities once these books are found. There are a few standard abilities like being able to throw stronger punches or hold more ammunition for firearms, but there are some awesome abilities like the Lucky Hat, which gives Indy the chance to grab his hat once downed for a second chance, cutscene and all.
“X” Never Marks the Spot
Of course, I didn’t forget the many puzzles you’ll need to solve in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. While I would rather not spoil them, I think most of them do a fantastic job at presenting enough of a challenge without feeling frustrating or long-winded.
You can generally find enough notes and pieces of information in the area to help, and players can even take photos of objects in the environment for additional hints, should things get a little tough. But through it all, none of the puzzles ever feel repetitive. I struggled to recall when I had to solve the same puzzle twice. As a result, these sections are well-crafted and clever enough to remain consistently enjoyable.
Look the Part
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle simply looks fantastic. Lighting effects and ray tracing are superb and character models are generally spot on, particularly in regards to Indy himself. The Xbox Series X version of the game does put out a dynamic 1800p resolution but generally locks in at 60 FPS. There are a few frame rate drops here and there, but they’re rarely consistent enough to be annoying.
Texture pop-ins do present themselves on the Xbox Series X when travelling through open areas, but I don’t think they present themselves frequently enough either. While players can get slightly better resolutions and ray tracing on PC, it’s worth noting you’ll need some beefy hardware if you’re reaching for those higher standards.
Finally, I also want to shout out the game’s score from composer Gordy Haab, who has managed to craft something that feels familiar from the swell of the Raiders March, while adding to the experience with a laundry list of new tunes. I’m sure John Williams would be proud.
Final Thoughts
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle simply feels like it was made by people who understand both the character and the broader franchise. It’s consistently charming and witty, even when it’s not doing anything special. Simply existing in this world in every corner feels authentic and planned to near perfection.
That being said, it’s a fantastic game in its own right. From the sturdy combat to functional exploration and traversal, not even the minor gripes detract from what can only be described as one of the best Indiana Jones properties since the original trilogy of films, and one of the best games of the year.
FIVE STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Highlights: Fantastic narrative and voice performances; Engaging gameplay and plenty of unique puzzles to solve; Slick visuals; Numerous locations to explore
Lowlights: Melee combat gets a bit confusing when multiple enemies are involved; Open environments are subject to multiple texture pop-ins
Developer: Machine Games
Publisher: Bethesda Softworks
Platforms: Xbox Series X/S, Windows PC, Game Pass
Available: Now
Review conducted on Xbox Series X with a pre-release code provided by the publisher.
