Following its initial exclusivity on Xbox, Indiana Jones makes his long awaited return to PlayStation with The Great Circle. Is it another classic Indy adventure or should Indy have retired by now?
It’s Not The Years, It’s The Mileage
I need to make something very clear from the start to help understand my feelings about this game. From as early as I can remember I have loved Indiana Jones. I can remember the very first time my dad sat me down to watch Raiders Of The Lost Ark; I instantly became hooked on the adventure and action. It’s a franchise dear to my heart thanks to my dad who still loves the films to this day, and it’s safe to say I adore them too. Simply put, all five films (yes, I love Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull as well) are some of my favourite films of all time and have shaped my love of cinema and media. I say all of this to put into context how deeply I have longed for a game that could match my love for these films and I’ll admit when Bethesda announced Machine Games were developing an Indy game, I was highly sceptical. I am so happy and overjoyed to say my scepticism was misplaced; not only is Indiana Jones And The Great Circle an incredible Indiana Jones game, it might just be one of the best games ever created.
Set in 1937, placing the game in between Raiders and The Last Crusade, The Great Circle is a rip roaring Indiana Jones adventure from start to finish. Like the films, the game takes place before the events of the Second World War with your familiar Indy villains, the Axis Powers, taking centre stage as antagonists once again. The game begins with a wonderful prologue which showcases the now iconic boulder scene from Raiders but cleverly weaved into the plot, as it turns out this is a dream Indy is experiencing after falling asleep at his desk. Working at Marshall College with friend and colleague Dr Marcus Brody, they are awoken by someone stealing an artefact from the museum, setting in motion the events of the game. If you are accustomed to Indiana Jones films, you’ll know each story revolves around an ancient artefact or device which is mysterious and powerful. George Lucas and Steven Spielberg coined the plot device as a MacGuffin and the story of The Great Circle has a brilliant one at that.
Set across seven different locations, this globe trotting adventure tasks Indy with discovering the power of The Great Circle and discovering why the Nazis want it so badly. I want to keep as much under wraps for players as possible as there are many twists and turns the game takes them on, but boy it is one bloody brilliant adventure! Everything in this game oozes quintessential Indiana Jones from the locations, to the action, to the discoveries and puzzles and so much more. It’s got heart, a hefty serving of humour and surprisingly, some horror style elements to add to the mix. At the heart of it all is, of course, Indiana himself and Machine Games and Troy Baker have done a masterful job of imitating Harrison Ford, with superb results. I have to be honest, I did not think Troy Baker was a good fit for this role but I am glad to be proven wrong. His voice inflections and emotions sound scarily similar to Ford – it’s fantastic!
Along with Indy, is a superb set of supporting characters that just fit in so well with the story and are so memorable in their own right. Characters like Gina or villain Voss are so layered and complex it was an absolute joy uncovering their motives and desires in the game. For newcomers to this franchise, you can expect a story of discovery, companionship, mystery and even some self-introspection. For lovers of the franchise like myself, I cannot tell you enough how great and wonderful this story is. Every time I went back to the game I was smiling from ear to ear, waiting for Indy to crack a witty joke or get into a fist fight with some Nazis. Some might even say it rivals the films for the best plot and narrative, but for me it’s just another brilliant, rip roaring adventure with my favourite film character of all time. Machine Games and Lucasfilm take a bow!
Fortune And Glory!
Now of course, it’s all good waxing lyrical about the story of The Great Circle if the game has great gameplay to complement the narrative- and my god it does! Machine Games surprised everyone, including myself, when announcing the game would be told from a first person perspective, but now I can see it was an inspired choice. This choice makes you truly feel like you’re in Indy’s shoes as you throw haymakers at Nazi thugs, crawl through tight spaces and dimly lit caves or crack that whip to disarm an enemy. Combat feels so responsive and smooth I could throw punches all day. The gameplay loop of The Great Circle is unlike anything I have really played before and I mean that in the most positive of ways. Combat is meant to be a last resort for Indy as the game actively encourages stealth which again feels great due to the great enemy AI which scours locations looking for you, making it a constant game of cat and mouse. When combat is required it truly feels like you’re in a film, cracking the whip and swinging away, but what makes combat so fun is the control you have over it.
Virtually anything in the game can be picked up and used to attack enemies, whether it’s a guitar, fly swatter or anything else you can name, you can pick it up and smash it over someone’s head. Gunplay is solid and an interesting option if you feel the need to blast your way out of a fight but it’s clearly not intended to be the main focus of the combat. In fact, it feels like you are actively punished for using the guns which I found to be true to Indy’s character and form. Along with stealth and combat are the great puzzles and mysteries you need to solve in order to progress the story or find collectibles for your journal. Puzzles are superbly designed and complex enough to quench your intellectual thirst. Speaking of the journal, this gem of a book allows you to look at previously attained collectibles and story notes in such an interactive way I could scroll all day long. Every part of the gameplay makes you feel like Indiana Jones and at times, I would actively plot my next move as to how I thought Indiana would; the immersion levels are off the charts here. The fieldworks in each location act as side quests for you to partake in and these are hidden gems in the story that are so brilliant and memorable I longed for more.
What isn’t talked about enough when it comes to this game is accessibility. Players can tweak difficulty, combat encounters, puzzle encounters and much more which is a fantastic effort across the board by the developers. The camera Indiana possesses is a pivotal part of gameplay in terms of collectible hunting and puzzles but is also cleverly used to help the player. If you get stuck on a puzzle, you can take photos of the puzzle, revealing more hints to help you solve the conundrum. These small additions are impactful and too few games have this much depth and complexity. Finally, traversal and platforming are seamless and superb. As you swing across chasms and squeeze through caverns, the perspective switches to third person, allowing you to see Indy swing and jump during climatic moments. This makes you feel the tension and action and it’s a fantastic way to merge both perspectives. A perfect creation of gameplay.
It Belongs In A Museum!
In terms of graphical presentation and animations, The Great Circle is nothing short of jaw dropping. Every single environment Indy globe trots across looks gorgeous in detail; jungles look vibrant and dense, mountains look daunting and eye catching and the pyramids of Gizeh don’t look too shabby either. Previous Machine Games titles like the Wolfenstein games have always looked stunning and this game elevates their portfolio to new heights. Whilst everything looks beautiful, one particular aspect needs highlighting and that is the lighting. Every cave, cavern, corridor and tomb are so beautifully complemented by the stunning lighting system. Setting lanterns alight to illuminate the room is so spectacular, I could do it all day long.
Previous Indiana Jones games on older generations never had the capabilities to fully capture Harrison Ford’s look and likeness, but now with the power of current gen consoles, the results are phenomenal. Each and every character model in this game could have been ripped straight from the live action films – they look that good! Indiana himself is a modern marvel in the details, such as his facial expressions, mannerisms and movements. It’s not just the main characters; each grunt and side character look equally detailed. I personally believe Machine Games are now at the forefront of facial design and animations and this is not talked about enough. It is absolute perfection across the board in visual presentation.
Similarly, the audio design is a complete and utter delight. Each punch you throw has that Indiana Jones over the top twang to it, which made me chuckle with delight. The whip crunches and cracks superbly, with real power and emphasis, showing just how formidable a weapon it can be. Listening to statues and hidden doors creak and crack open is just so damn good and don’t forget a good old Wilhelm scream sprinkled in here and there when taking down a Nazi goon. As previously mentioned, the voice acting is superb, with Troy Baker leading the way. However, special mention should also go to Alessandra Mastronardi and Marios Gavrillis who play Gina and Voss. It’s also a pleasure to see Tony Todd grace my screen one last time; he will be sorely missed.
Finally, the musical score in Indiana Jones And The Great Circle is pure cinema. Scored by famed composer Gordy Haab, the task of taking on John Williams’ mantle must have seemed impossible, but my god has he done it. Taking an approach of honouring the score of the films, whilst adding his own unique flair to it, everything sounds like Indy but with a new modernised twist and it succeeds. Now of course, the main theme will triumphantly play during climatic moments. I am so overjoyed with the beautiful orchestral score Haab has achieved and delicately crafted and, like the rest of the game, it is befitting for such a beloved franchise.
Verdict
When Indiana Jones And The Dial Of Destiny failed commercially, I mourned what could be the end of a franchise that is so dear to my heart, but Machine Games had other ideas. The Great Circle is nothing short of being one of the greatest games ever created with a swashbuckling adventure, brilliant and innovative gameplay, jaw dropping visuals and audio design and score off the charts. All I can say is thank you so much to Machine Games and Bethesda; playing this game felt like taking a time capsule back to my childhood, sat by my dad watching Raiders with not a care in the world. Indiana Jones has found a new lease of life in video games and I’m confident this wont be the last I see of this iconic character. IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!
