MachinesGames reveal first look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
By Amy McCrindle
Indiana Jones and The Great circle is Lucas Film and Bethesda’s first attemt at a triple A Indiana Jones game.
MachineGames has shown the first look at its Indiana Jones game, titled Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The Swedish developer - most known for its soft reboot Wolfenstein trilogy - gave a detailed presentation during Xbox Direct which outlined the core aspects of gameplay, story, and characters.
Set between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, the game opens in Marshall College as Dr. Jones chases down a man who stole an unnamed artifact from the school. MachineGames explained that this incident is the catalyst for what then becomes a new and completely original globetrotting adventure, with players taking control of Indy as his investigations lead him down a rabbit hole of mystery. Indy’s journey will take players to many diverse environments from the deserts of Egypt to the frozen peaks of the Himalayas.
The majority of gameplay in the Great Circle will be from a first-person perspective. Machinegames said this direction was chosen to capture the cinematic essence of the movies and really make players feel like they are Indiana Jones.
During the presentation, senior narrative designer Edward Curtis-Sivess said: “Our game is all about putting you in Indy’s shoes, letting you see and feel what he feels. For us at MachineGames, we do that best in first-person. We believe that being up close and personal to the adventure is key”.
Curtis-Sives did clarify that there will be the odd time that the perspective will switch to third person, however it was not specified whether this will be limited to cutscenes or sprinkled in throughout the action.
The gameplay itself is made up of a wide variety of styles. As Indy, players can shoot guns, get into fistfights, sneak around, and use the iconic whip. While the whip’s most prominent use will be in combat, it can be used to help traverse the environment, solve puzzles, and distract enemies.
While Indiana Jones will be using Harrison Ford’s 1980s likeness, it was announced that Troy Baker (The Last of Us, Uncharted, Death Stranding) will be providing the voice for the character.
Machinegames also introduced a secondary protagonist called Gina. She is an investigative journalist that finds an ally in Indy and will help him throughout his adventure. Nazi scientist Emmerich Voss will be the villain of the Great Circle. He’s described as being an “intensely psychological man” who is “obsessed with the human mind, and manipulating it”.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be released later this year on Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.