Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

by William Thompson
previewed on PC
Hands-on with Indy
I've said previously that I'm a big fan of the Indiana Jones series (well, the first three movies in the series), and am cautious about the Indiana Jones name linked to Bethesda's latest release. The trailers and preview screenings had piqued my interest, but I was still wary. So, when we at Hooked Gamers were lucky enough to receive an invitation to visit the Bethesda office in Sydney to get a hands-on preview of the forthcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I jumped at the opportunity. After being given a rundown of the game and what we were likely to expect in the hands-on session by Ezekiel Virant - the Lead Game Developer at MachineGames - we were let loose as Indy to begin uncovering some secrets.
We began our time with the game in Marshall College, where we find Indy and good friend Marcus Brody dozing in an office after a celebratory drink. However, they are alerted to the sound of crashing and find that the College museum has been broken into and an item stolen. However, the thief has left a clue to where he was going with the stolen artefact, and thus Indy begins his adventure.
Puzzle solving adventure
If you're looking for a gung-ho Indy, you may be disappointed, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is an adventure game first and foremost with an emphasis on exploration and puzzle solving. Stealth and disguising yourself to fit into your surroundings is a preferred play style, although there is more than one way to complete the puzzles. Our hands-on had us travelling to the Vatican and then to Gizeh (Giza) to wander the dig sites. When dressed in standard Indy attire, guards would immediately ask what we were doing here. However, once we donned a worker's outfit, we weren't hassled by the Nazi troops patrolling.
Although Indy is equipped with his trusty revolver, firing it alerts guards to your position, so you're better off keeping it holstered as much as possible. Indeed, the locations are littered with numerous items that Indy can pick up and use to defend himself with. Some ingenuity and a bottle over the head can work wonders. Most items that Indy can pick up will have limited uses though, so the shovel that you collect will break apart after you've clonked a couple of guards.
Actually, objects such as bottles often have a dual effect. They can be used as weapons as in the above scenario, or they can be used as a distraction. Picking up a bottle and throwing it will ensure that a nearby guard will investigate, leaving his post so that you can stealthily move past. If things go bad though and Indy finds himself face to face with a Nazi soldier, he can resort to hand-to-hand combat. I’m glad that this game is set during Indy’s younger days, as there is a Stamina meter and this comes into play during such fights and when running around. If the game was set after the most recent movie, Indy would be in trouble.
A helping hand
Indy is not alone in his quest for the Great Circle though. As well as Gina, who is looking for her sister whose disappearance is somehow related to the location of the prize, Indy has a network of various colleagues and allies that will aid his cause. Many of these characters will provide Indy with hints, all of which will be written down in his journal for access at any time.
Indy's journal, along with his camera and map are almost as important as his trusty whip and revolver. Indy's journal is a log of your adventure, and players can refer to the journal at any time to update any clues or quests. The camera will often provide Indy with extra visual clues, and if you're not sure where you should be headed to complete a puzzle, simply opening up your map will show points of interest. Moving off from the main story line and exploring each of the carefully researched locations is encouraged, with points earned for finding hidden secrets during this fieldwork. The points gained will allow players to build upon Indy's skill tree, further allowing different play styles.
Classic Indy
Although we only had a short period of time with the hands-on preview, it is clear that the developers at MachineGames have a fondness for the Indiana Jones series. They have ensured that gamers are taking on the role of the famed archaeologist and as a result, exploration and puzzle solving are the key. The trademark Indiana Jones ingenuity is prevalent, whether it is using his trusty whip to get from one ledge to another, or using scattered objects to distract or incapacitate those that stand in his way. The homage to the movies goes even further with the iconic red line moving across the sepia world map indicating the flight pattern as he travels from one location to the next, and the signature score from John Williams that plays in the background at vital stages. My flight to Sydney was not nearly as exciting as the globe-trotting adventure that Indiana Jones is on, but I am more excited than ever to uncover more clues to the Great Circle.
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