Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Preview: Fortune and glory promised in adrenaline fuelled adventure

Putting your own spin on a classic and beloved character is quite a daunting task. You’re at the mercy of a fandom as you try to bring your reimagining to life; one false step and you tumble through a trapdoor to be met by venomous snakes. It hardly has much appeal to it.

Yet, MachineGames felt brave enough to face such obstacles, arguably channelling the legendary archaeologist himself. As its launch date draws near, the question on everyone’s lips is whether such a gamble has paid off.

Although I haven’t had a hands-on experience of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle yet, the sneak peek I was privilege to has eased my concerns over whether the developers can stick the landing. That isn’t to say I wasn’t impressed by the Xbox showcase reveal, but rather I didn’t wish to get my hopes up. I, like many other fans, revere Harrison Ford’s original portrayal of Indy.

I don’t wish to put the cart before the horse, as the saying goes, but it seems MachineGames have pulled it off.

Throughout my time with Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, I kept experiencing waves of nostalgia. Even though Troy Baker’s voice isn’t quite pitch-perfect, it certainly has the same cadence of Ford. Armed with that crucial lure, the game continues to reel you in. Once you hear composer Gordy Haab’s version of the original score, you can’t help but succumb to Indy's charms.

It's time for a new adventure in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

Visually speaking, this Bethesda title looks sensational. We’ve become accustomed to Bethesda products being a little rough around the edges, yet what I saw here was a largely polished piece. The depth of colour, attention to detail, and the care taken to create environments that feel authentically tangible, help you on your transition from observer to active participant.

This fluidity translates into the mechanics of the game and of Indy himself. For the most part, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a first-person experience, designed to allow you to become this iconic character. During the moments when Indy is running from danger, or attempting to break his fall, the stakes feel much higher because of that first-person perspective. There’s a genuine sense of jeopardy.

However, there are portions of the game when the perspective is pulled back and we receive a third-person view of the moment. It’s not exactly jarring – the developers have tried to make these transitions as smooth as possible – but it’s a curious choice to go between one and the other. Although only momentary, it takes you out of the atmosphere of the scene. Perhaps it will feel different when actually playing the game, however, the perspective of the title is sure to encourage heated discussions following its release.

One subject that won’t prove divisive is the curiosity Indiana Jones and the Great Circle provokes. This story-driven adventure takes Indy’s passion for history and embeds it into every tool he uses, every character he meets, and all the side streets you can venture down. To that end, exploration isn’t just rewarded, it’s vital.

We need to think like Indy; be that reaching for our journal to note down an important discovery or take a quick photograph to learn more about our surroundings. Despite the whip being the item we most associate with the protagonist, it’s these other tools that so expertly shape the world of the game. As the developers explained during a Q&A, the journal “acts as the guide”; it’s an invaluable item that shouldn’t be underutilised. The same can be said of the camera, too.

In many instances, Indy will be able to think his way out of a problem rather than resorting to violence. This is where elements from other game franchises start to be more prominently noticeable. Disguises, for example, immediately made me think of Hit Man. Even though we’re not carrying out assassinations like Agent 47, having to stealth our way through an area dressed as someone else is very reminiscent of that series.

A further franchise that crossed my mind on more than one occasion while watching the gameplay was Dishonoured. You can go in guns blazing, swinging your whip around, but you can also choose to distract and subdue your enemies instead. I’m not one for stealth – I’m too heavy handed, and thus I’m spotted almost immediately. Still, the fact that you can choose to take a more pacifist route is a nice addition. After all, Indy may not mind punching Nazis, but he’s hardly a quote-unquote killer.

Each component, and various others that offer a subtler impact, all culminate in an experience that feels like the 80s films. The developers have done an outstanding job of being accurate to the period the game is set (in the 1930s), while also invoking that 80s nostalgia. Considering Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is set after Raiders of the Lost Ark, it makes creative sense to enhance those retro Indiana Jones elements.

I’ve never been one to venture into caves or search for lost treasure, but by embodying Indy’s quick wit and insatiable appetite for adventure, I’ll try my hardest to make him proud.