The best Indy game ever made.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circlemarks the triumphant return of Machine Games.
Let’s swing into adventure.
That brings us to the modern era.
The Great Circle is an original story, but it opens in a familiar way.
This also demonstrates that character models are largely excellent, better than I expected pre-launch.
The animation, expressions and recreation of iconic camera angles is all beautifully handled during the game’s introduction.
Of course, it’s not just Indy.
The entire cast is brilliant and, like prior Machine Games titles, original languages are often included.
You want that natural lighting to really bring each scene to life.
Beyond the more linear opening, most of the game takes place in huge open-ended maps.
Beyond that, I think this is one of the best licensed games I’ve ever played.
There are supernatural elements, but it’s very much kept within the realm of something like Raiders.
The way the game smoothly transitions between linear scripted sequences and wide-open gameplay really gives it room to breathe.
Things like the stealth system are also very interesting once you get into it.
Basically, Indy can’t discreetly take out foes with just his hands - that initiates a fist fight.
Instead, players will need to use objects scattered around the environment for a quick and stealthy knock-out.
Fire off a few rounds in an enemy base, for instance, and you’ll alert everyone.
