VIDEO game adaptations, whether it’s game to film or film to game, have long received a bad reputation.
However, our hopes are high for Xbox’s Indiana Jones and the Great Circle after a blockbuster trailer was revealed at Gamescom Opening Night Live.
There are few gaming studios we’d trust to develop a video game based on a film, but when developers from MachineGames turned whatever The Chronicles of Riddick was into a gaming masterpiece, they earned our trust.
The founding members of MachineGames are best known for the modern Wolfenstein games, but we remember them for The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay.
We were given a sneak peek at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle as part of a gameplay presentation before Gamescom, and we were reminded just how good the team is.
Our hero Indy will travel all over the world, from the Vatican to the Himalayas, and the Temples of Sukhothai.
He’ll raid tombs, jump on zeppelins and whip Nazis – essentially everything you’d expect from an adventure with Indiana Jones.
However, there’s more than just whipping, exploring and thieving, as MachineGames add so much more from Indy’s canon.
The Great Circle is about discovery, and the developers told us they were inspired by classic point-and-click games.
Indy finds clever ways to use tools to solve puzzles, using items in his inventory to burn away vines or trigger hidden mechanisms.
Italian journalist Gina will join him on his journey and use her camera to chronicle your feats and unlock progression points.
When the credits roll, all of these snaps, as well as other items you pick up, will remind you of your journey.
Indy’s whip will also serve multiple purposes, from disarming enemies, to swinging or grappling across large gaps.
Indiana Jones is a linear game, and while people seem obsessed with open worlds, this seems to be to its benefit.
Level design looks tight, with hub areas to give you some respite from enemies.
There are also wide stealth areas where you will don disguises and try to blend in with others to access restricted areas.
Our first look at Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a promising one, with an exciting mix of gameplay styles and fun-looking expeditions.
We won’t be able to say for sure until we get our hands on it, but we are quietly optimistic.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will launch on December 9, 2024 for Xbox and PC, and early 2024 for PS5.
If you want to read more about upcoming games, check out our Persona 3 Reload: Episode Aigis preview.
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For PS5 and Nintendo Switch, check out our full game reviews section.
