Indiana Jones and the Great Circle preview — As Indy as it gets

I got into the Indiana Jones movies later in life, but I love them as if I saw them as a kid. The sense of adventure they elicit is entrancing, and something oddly missing in the more recent films. That feeling is what you expect from the franchise, and now we have a chance to experience it in video game form from Machine Games. After watching the footage from GamesCom in an early presentation, along with exclusive gameplay we were also shown, the respect for that sentiment is on display.

After seeing the new trailer that dropped at GamesCom (and you can find that news coverage here), Indy is looking on point. Our look featured a ton of first and third person gameplay, with Pete Ward, audio director from Machine Games going over all you would want to know, from where this story begins, to how you’ll play the game.

You play as Indy at Marshall College, where a break-in results in something more sinister. The Nazis are back at it again, led by archeologist Emerick Voss, looking for power amongst ancient relics. This break-in presses Indy back into the game along with Italian journalist Gena, and a bunch of other eccentric characters I can’t wait to meet. Even with this menagerie of characters, the story seems focused on our titular hero; the player’s connection with Indy looks to matter in The Great Circle. Given the team’s previous efforts in the Wolfenstein series, I’d imagine this is going to go extremely well.

One thing I didn’t expect was the more open spaces you’ll explore. There’s an almost “Dishonored” feel here, with your wits mattering more than brawn. You’ll still use your brawn (and a gun occasionally), but being stealthy or at least making smart choices will go better for you. Of course, the iconic whip returns, and the attention it gets in gameplay is appreciated. It’s not just for fighting, but also for traversal.

That’s not the only tool you’ll have, with lighters and cameras and more available. Indy leans into you solving puzzles, which is undeniably a part of the soul of the franchise, and figuring out how to use what you have to progress is paramount. One moment that caught my interest in particular was when Indy picked up a trident on a ledge, threw it into a wall, then used his whip to swing across a gap. It’s ideas like these that stick out to me, and I hope we see a bunch of them in The Great Circle.

Open spaces also means there will be more than just story missions to progress through. For instance, you’ll have to uncover or find disguises in your travels. Just walking into a German work camp would be a suicide mission, but give Indy a worker’s disguise and you can walk in through the front door. You’ll still want to be on guard and pay attention if someone notices you, but it’s another weapon in your arsenal.

All of the areas you’ll explore are gorgeously crafted. Machine Games crafted a beautiful piece of concept art that looks similar to a movie poster, highlighting the details they wanted to focus on for this game. Authenticity was also a goal, making a globe chasing adventure that would take you to impressive and breathtaking locales like the Vatican and Himalayas. As you’ll see in the footage, all of it is simply spectacular. These visuals pull you into the world.

Combat looks much slower than Wolfenstein, but still appears worth your time. You shouldn’t go in swinging, but if you’re backed into a corner, you have a way out. The world is filled with options, like a rolling pin or hammer to smack a Nazi on the head with. Beyond this, there will also be perks to give you a helping hand, like one that gives you a downed state if you lose a brawl, allowing you to crawl to your hat and pick it up for another shot at life. It’s creative, and a utilization of mechanics the team knows well from the Wolfenstein games.

From here, we moved into the exclusive section of our demo, the Great Sphinx of Gaza. Indy needs to work his way inside, as the Nazis have found some sort of door to a room that could contain something important. Given the context of this mission, I would think this is one of those side missions the team discussed earlier.

Everything started with Indy beating up a few guards, choking one out with a whip before punching another down and shooting the final one. The door in question needed a key, and in a nearby note we find a log that mentions a medallion found in the ruins. Indy dons the work garb mentioned earlier before entering the space where the medallion is kept. What was most interesting in this section was a German officer screaming at you to bring him a drink as you searched for the medallion, getting more and more impatient. Our demoist gave it to him, but I’m curious if not doing so could really upset the mission, or simply leave you dead amidst a room full of Nazis.

Once the door was opened by the medallion, Indy had to survive a trap door when trying to pull a lever. Here, the whip comes in handy, allowing you to climb into the ceiling and then pull a chain to open a door for Gena, who is following along. All throughout this ordeal, the banter from Indy is fantastic, with Troy Baker absolutely nailing the iconic adventurer.

This leads into the main room, where Indy takes a photo of art depicting the guardians of said ruins, and then explores a puzzle of mirrors in front of him. According to the earlier footage, each of these puzzles are built to be a part of the environment, so watching for clues will be key to solving them. A ceremonial mask is uncovered, Gena takes it and sits on a rock-hewn throne, and I heard that unfortunate click of a trap being set off. One last clip shows Gena and Indy fleeing a room filled with scorpions, and here, the additional demo closed.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle looks like a love letter to the franchise. While I originally wasn’t sold on it after the first trailer, all of the new footage has delivered on the potential of what Machine Games can do. There’s one last hurdle to go, whether it plays as good as it looks, but I’m willing to give the team the benefit of the doubt after Wolfenstein showcased their abilities. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle releases December 9th, and will be available Day One with Game Pass Ultimate.

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