Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Already Feels Like A Classic

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a globe-trotting adventure to find treasure. It opens with the player experiencing a scene from Raiders of the Lost Ark as a tutorial. From there players are immediately thrust into the game. It manages to keep up the tension throughout the game, while sticking to stealth gameplay over flashy gun fights. There’s also lots of humor that keeps things from feeling too serious.

Each level is meticulously modeled. It feels like a handcrafted love letter to the franchise. Down to even the tiniest detail. While also filling the settings with just enough to make it appear lived in. The game’s score fits so well you can’t help but feel a little nostalgic despite The Great Circle being entirely new. That makes it a great jumping off point for new fans. 

The combat is fun though it can be disorienting to players unused to first person. Quick use of Indy’s whip can disarm or daze enemies so they can be knocked out. But sometimes a drawn out fight can’t be avoided. Movement feels brutal and weighty without crossing the line into gorey. Enemies tend to respond to whether players choose to use their fists versus pulling their pistol. The stealth sections can be frustrating and can drag. It makes sense with Indy being a professor instead of a soldier, but are far from the game’s most exciting moments.

The Great Circle gives players an engrossing story. It allows missions to be completed after the campaign ends. And there are a lot of side missions. Which can be entertaining but don’t seem as dire beforehand. The game has various ways to tweak difficulty but overall doesn’t seem focused on keeping players from progressing. It has tight gameplay though it may not be the most innovative. The Great Circle shows a satisfying experience is just as, if not more, important