Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Preview: Xbox Adventure on the Horizon

 

The upcoming Indiana Jones game from MachineGames, developed for Xbox Series X/S and PC, has been generating excitement through its stunning trailers. How does it actually play? Tobi recently had the chance to try it out.

After nearly three decades of playing first-person action-adventures, I’m calling Indiana Jones and the Great Circle my first "adventure-action" experience. MachineGames’ Creative Director, Axel Torvenius, uses this term to emphasize the game’s priority: "Adventure first." While trailers have hinted at this, hands-on gameplay had not been possible until now. Eager to dive in, I grasped the controller after Torvenius's introduction.

Exploring Marshall College

Set in 1937, between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle starts at Marshall College, one of the demo’s playable missions. After a college altercation, Indiana Jones rearranges some exhibit artifacts into the correct displays. Upon confronting a towering intruder, he loses consciousness, only to find a mummified cat missing, with Nazis—led by antagonist Emmerich Voss—showing particular interest.

This introductory mission is a laid-back warm-up, showcasing puzzle elements as Jones navigates college exhibits to find clues, eventually packing his iconic whip and heading to the Vatican, complete with the famous map-transition scene and the Indy theme that fans will instinctively hum along with.

Sneaking Through the Vatican

The Vatican mission exemplifies the game’s direction. Here, Indiana Jones must infiltrate Castel St. Angelo to meet an old friend, using only his fists and nearby items to fight since he’s unarmed except for his whip. Stealth is key: Indy carefully moves through the area, utilizing distractions like thrown bottles and sneaking behind guards to knock them out with available objects. The game’s stealth focus is made clear with awareness indicators over enemies' heads and numerous hiding spots.

The hand-to-hand combat feels satisfying, offering block, parry, and attack moves. Indy’s whip is useful for disarming or briefly stunning enemies. However, when multiple opponents attack simultaneously, combat can devolve into button-mashing. Though firearms like Indy’s revolver and other guns become available, ammo is scarce, and gunfire attracts additional foes. The game hints that shooting is often the worst approach, with high bullet resistance among enemies discouraging this method.

Skill Unlocks and Exploration

Alongside the linear Vatican mission, side quests and puzzles in Italy encourage exploration. I unlocked one such mystery at a wall by adjusting two images, while completed tasks, treasures, and side missions earn "Adventure Points," which can be exchanged for skills—discovered as collectible books. Skills and collectibles add replay value, as I unlocked one allowing Indy to crawl to his hat for a "second chance" after a knockout. Additional stamina and health upgrades are also available.

Artifact Hunt in the Pyramids

The Giza Pyramids provide a large, open-world area filled with side missions and mysteries. Nazis are excavating here, rumored to link to the Great Circle. Indy, accompanied by Gina, an Italian journalist, is tasked with locating six ancient artifacts. The landscape is vast and explorable, from the pyramids to Nazi-controlled zones, where secrets and optional quests abound.

These quests engage problem-solving skills, such as activating a lift to access a flooded chamber. Obstacles like locked gates require following power cables to generators, while various tools, like a mirror to redirect sunlight or a lighter to clear brush, help Indy progress.

Even without challenging puzzles yet, the gameplay already hints at captivating mechanics—especially with promised settings like the Himalayas and Thai jungles seen in trailers.

Difficulty Levels and Immersive Perspective

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle offers two difficulty settings: one general and another exclusively for puzzles. The general setting has four levels, from Light to Very Hard, impacting enemy count and resilience, while puzzles have two options, with hints available at the Light level.

The first-person perspective sets The Great Circle apart from similar adventure games, enhancing immersion in both combat and puzzles. Small interactions, like picking up objects, feel more direct, making me feel genuinely in Indy’s shoes.

Visually, the preview version of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is already impressive, with high-quality character models, detailed levels, and atmospheric effects like the heat haze in Giza.

Share this post