Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - XB, PC (2024), PS5 (2025)

Mr Crispy · 18-01-2024 9:11pm #1

Set between "Raiders of the Lost Ark" and "The Last Crusade", Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is a first-person, single-player adventure that will take you all over the world, uncovering clues and solving an ancient mystery. Become the adventurer in a race against sinister forces. Your journeys will take you from the hallowed halls of the Vatican and the arid deserts of Egypt to the lush and sunken temples of Sukhothai and the frigid peaks of the Himalayas.

Source

Gameplay trailer;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0e17p2IVDUU

Full Machine Games section from the Dev Direct;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yp7_ImMV1Iw

CastorTroy · 18-01-2024 9:24pm

Looks like it could be good. Seems they're going the Metroid Prime route of changing to third person for some movement.

johnny_ultimate · 18-01-2024 11:05pm

Looks solid enough, but boy Troy Baker’s voice performance gives off real ‘Harrison Ford’s non-union equivalent’ vibes. Strange dissonance between the visual likeness and the uncanny valley voice.

SuperBowserWorld · 18-01-2024 11:15pm

Looks decent. Indy has a weird smirk, that's a bit annoying. One part reminded me of a crypt in Skyrim. But, if this is really good, then MS could have a very popular exclusive on their hands.

Mr Crispy · 19-01-2024 1:32am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121637073#Comment_121637073

The weird, disinterested tone makes me wonder if Baker thinks he's impersonating Ford as Han Solo rather than Indiana Jones!

pixelburp · 19-01-2024 9:00am

Troy Baker, truly the Chris Pratt of video-game voice work; honestly I've noting against the guy but those line readings are awful. I wouldn't expect a Harrison Ford impression but it needs more drawl & a lot more energy.

As to the "gameplay"? It had me until we saw indy jump from the wing of one plane to another, yeesh. There's a very delicate balance when it comes to good "stupid" and bad "stupid" with the Indy property - and that's a bit too into the bad for my liking. Not sure what to make of the rest really; do we have any sense of what you'll be doing moment to moment in first person? Seems like it might be kinda stealth, but also kinda of FPS too?

johnny_ultimate · 19-01-2024 1:33pm

It’s a weird move to me to have a visual likeness when you don’t have the voice performance. It’s a tricky one for developers though. Look at Guardians of the Galaxy or The Avengers for two games that have ‘knock-off, b-team’ vibes for the main crew as they’re clearly trying to emulate the cinematic counterparts of those heroes without being able to actually do so. I think GotG (I haven’t played Avengers) ultimately just about gets away with it, but never really escapes the fact it’s drawing such heavy ‘inspiration’ from Chris Pratt’s version of Star Lord (Rocket and Groot are easier to get away with as they’re CG characters on screen).

Indiana Jones is obviously a role so closely associated with one actor, so not sure there’s any ‘perfect’ solution - would’ve been a lot easier if it was all first person without an actual character model, but not sure that’s feasible. But yeah, not feeling Baker’s impersonation here as it just comes across as being fundamentally ‘off’. But will see how the full game fares.

pixelburp · 19-01-2024 1:59pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121639029#Comment_121639029

It is kinda weird that the Fate of Atlantis sound-a-like from 20 million years ago sounds more energised, and like Ford - but without sounding like an impersonation either. Baker just smells awfully like a "famous name" (insofar as game VO artists are such) hired for the sake of it ... but then it doesn't sound like Baker's trying very hard either. Or maybe he's making a very poor attempt at that lazy Fordian drawl.

It's a damned-if-you-do scenario for sure, but arguably the trick was not to go for a photorealistic look to avoid the uncanny valley - but that's positively forbidden in AAA gaming now with specific brands - and hire someone who had a degree of Ford's accent but also that almost cowboy articulation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_c1Ax3W4bk

Mr Crispy · 19-01-2024 2:14pm

Regarding the looks, I thought GotG did a decent job differentiating their take on the characters from the MCU equivalents, but agree that Avengers really botched it (amongst other sins). The big issue with Indy is that he has never existed anywhere else outside Ford's movies (discounting the point and click, or Lego games). Ford IS Jones, and has been for over 40 years. Marvel's roster on the other hand have only been on screen for a decade or so, but have also appeared in decades worth of comics and cartoons where their appearances changed regularly.

CastorTroy · 19-01-2024 2:28pm

Should've hired Sean Patrick Flannery, since he's technically had more screen time as Indy than anyone else.

Mr Crispy · 19-01-2024 2:30pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/121639384#Comment_121639384

Ha, completely forgot about that show! Disregard my points above. 😅

johnny_ultimate · 10-12-2024 3:45pm

Just bumping the thread so general discussion doesn’t got weighed down with Indy talk. Copying my own initial thoughts from there:

Have played up to getting the camera as you’re free roaming in the Vatican. It makes a bad first impression with the recreation of Raiders, which I think was a bad move as it really underlines the uncanny valley aspect of the graphics and performances. But when you’re out of the tutorial proper it picks up swiftly and definitely has a lot more immersive sim vibes than I was expecting. The writing and pacing aren’t a patch on classic Indy, but as a Machine Games game it seems really fun and solid. And to be fair they’ve done a lot of work to make it feel different than an Uncharted or Tomb Raider - one more on line with the character, rather than just an endless shooting gallery (it’s a ‘punching and hitting people with easily smashed objects’ gallery instead).

Retr0gamer · 10-12-2024 4:16pm

No shader compilation issues.

No shader pre compilation step.

It just works.

That's difference when you have a game engine made by actual coders and not script kiddies.

Royale with Cheese · 10-12-2024 4:34pm

Quite liking it. I never owned a PS3 and only picked up a PS4 at the end of its lifecycle so Uncharted 4 was the only one of those games I actually played through. I felt that game was trying way too hard to be a summer blockbuster film in game form. Much prefer the slower pace of this, it definitely has its own vibe.

Retr0gamer · 10-12-2024 5:18pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122943314#Comment_122943314

With you on the opening being poor. I don't mind that there's a bit of uncanny valley to it but it's just a bad introduction/tutorial stage that doesn't really teach you how to play the game. The opening in the colege is kind of where it should have opened.

Grumpypants · 10-12-2024 7:13pm

I don't know what to make of it, I'm a good few hours in and it's yet to take off. I'm well into the Vatican area. I thought this area would just be a quick 30 mins of story building and learning controls, and then I'd be off on an a fun adventure. But hours later I'm still here.... 😭

johnny_ultimate · 11-12-2024 9:06am

Did a fair bit of the Vatican exploration stuff last night. Really enjoying the gameplay flow - nothing truly exceptional, but definitely scratching the immersive sim itch in very fun ways. Great map design for the most part, full of cool stuff to discover and little subplots to dig into. So far it’s rather on the easy side on standard difficulty settings - enemies go down easy with a few punches, puzzles are pretty trivial, and there hasn’t been any real consequences to leaving a few knocked out fascists lying around the place.

It also falls into the classic video game issue of there not being any real urgency to proceedings - this is after all Indiana Jones, and the game hasn’t really captured the old school serial action adventure vibes of the films thus far. But lots to go, and on its own terms this is proving a fine December diversion. I do have to chuckle at how none of the trailers or marketing material I saw gave any real sense of the game it has ended up being (though I do see a gameplay deep dive a few weeks ago gave a somewhat better sense of things).

drunkmonkey · 11-12-2024 9:28am

I'm maybe 2hrs in, I completed the 2013 Tomb Raider earlier in the year which I loved, I was expecing something similar, maybe the pace will pick up but I have my doubts, It's not the edge of your seat adventure thrill ride I was expecting.

recyclops · 11-12-2024 9:35am

I feel if you stuck to the main story it would be a fairly solid linear plot similar to the movies, nipping off to rescue a young lad from fascists does hinder the urgency side.

Fascists must see a load of priests climbing and sprinting around the vatican they dont seem to care too much

johnny_ultimate · 11-12-2024 10:27am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122945149#Comment_122945149

It zoomed out to third person at one point and ‘priest Indy’ had his whip blatantly draped down his side, which didn’t seem to be bothering the fascists. But then that’s the level of situational awareness I’d expect from the average fascist grunt 😂

Grumpypants · 11-12-2024 10:54am

I think what was getting to me is that there are too many ways to approach things. I always feel like I'm not doing it the right way, or I am missing some secret if I don't explore every available option.

Similarly, I was getting bored by the stealth as it took ages, and if you got seen you just punched your way out anyway. But now I realise that the game isn't forcing me to play in any certain way. It's letting me choose. If it's too stealthy, there's actually nothing stopping you from just blasting your way in. There are multiple ways to approach each area, sneak around the side, climb up onto the roof, kill people and hide the bodies, just slip past them, shoot them etc.. and they all work no matter what you do.

I guess I've just been conditioned by the hand-holding that it now feels weird to be left alone.

I think the bits popping out of your disguise is a feature. Not only will the captains will see through your disguise if you linger around too long. But it also gave away someone else that was in disguise, it remains to be seen if this was a one-off or might actually be a feature and a way to spot others in disguise.

Retr0gamer · 11-12-2024 11:33am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122945291#Comment_122945291

Par for the course for Opus Dei weirdos.

brady12 · 11-12-2024 12:58pm

Been wandering the Vatican . Loving it so far .

recyclops · 11-12-2024 11:07pm

I think really sums up how I feel about it. Collectathons and platinum rarely add anything to a game.

https://www.thegamer.com/the-less-you-play-indiana-jones-the-better-it-gets/

DarkJager21 · 12-12-2024 10:50am

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122947774#Comment_122947774

What a stupid **** take on it, borderline ridiculous. Does he play the likes of Far Cry as well and complain about the extra content available?

If you want to mainline the story go for it, there's nothing stopping you. Nor is there any push from the game to force you to seek out the side quests or collectables. However by skipping them you miss some interesting stories and the chance to dig a little deeper in to the hidden areas of the main hubs.

I've never watched an Indiana Jones movie in full but I haven't been able to put this down for the last 2 days, brilliant game and 100% GOTY for me.

McFly85 · 12-12-2024 11:34am

Eurogamer said it in a nicer way - the optional stuff feels very optional. It’s there but if you don’t do it you don’t really miss out on much, which is fine. This guy obviously had to do it for his job and found it grating which I understand. I think it’s fine for him to point out that if you’re going to try and do everything then it’s less enjoyable.

I’ve enjoyed what I’ve played so far but will save the rest for Christmas week I think.

Retr0gamer · 12-12-2024 12:19pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122948517#Comment_122948517

I have to agree it's a bad take as well. It's basically saying inhaling the game under review pressure is a bad way to play the game and will make you hate it. I did reviews for a while and it's a horrible way to experience games and can turn you off games that you would love if you took your time with them.

Grumpypants · 12-12-2024 1:02pm

Playing the main storyline is prob the best way to get a streamlined story alright. But I've found the "Nun" side mission to be the part of the game I've enjoyed the most. My first laugh-out-loud moment was the confession. And it actually feels like I'm on an Indiana Jones adventure now I've opened up the fountain of confessions.

DarkJager21 · 12-12-2024 1:54pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122948943#Comment_122948943

There's not many scenes in games that get a proper laugh out of me but that confession box did 🤣 Just wrapped up the Vatican last night with everything done, the finale is brilliant ;) Looking forward to getting stuck in to Gizeh later.

recyclops · 12-12-2024 2:12pm

https://www.boards.ie/discussion/comment/122948517#Comment_122948517

TBH I agree with them, the rhythm and flow of a game like uncharted is helped by its linearity, God of War Ragnarok suffered the same way Indy dos story wise.

I also agree nobody is forced to do it ( Actually think the author says the same ), its also a brilliant game for me but I am not really going out for everything unless its there beside me especially if the end result is something marginal

Grumpypants · 12-12-2024 3:28pm

There is some good stuff in the side quests though. The Underground Boxing for example has two books you can buy once you figure out how to get past the door. If you skipped that then you do miss out. You get a lot of points for doing them that can be put towards unlocking more skills too. I spent the last few hours trying to get all the side stuff done and I managed to unlock every skill I had found a book for. Now perhaps they would naturally unlock through the main quest rewards but it's certainly not pointless side quests.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle - XB, PC (2024), PS5 (2025)

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