Final thoughts on Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
I finished the game after 30 hours. Last time I wrote that Indiana Jones and the Great Circle (IJatGC) might have a chance of replacing my favourite IJ game, Fate of Atlantis. And I have to say, at least they now share first place. Story-wise, IJatGC is a really, really good game. Much better than some of the films. Gameplay-wise, well, this is something else.
The story
I’m not going to spoil anything. What I can honestly say is that the story of the game is exceptionally good. It has all the elements of a good IJ film, even better because you can play it. When I reviewed the last film, I said that it might be a good idea to use 3D technology to make more films with a younger Indiana Jones. I was wrong. A much better idea is to make more video games like IJatGC!
When I was young I read a lot of IJ novels and there were some really good ones. Why not make a game out of those stories? It would be worthwhile and Bethesda already has a great game engine for it. That would be a no brainer, but back to the story of IJatGC. It has great characters and a phenomenal ending. If you get the chance, play it on a TV as big as you can find.
The game machanics
Some negative points go to the game mechanics. It all works fine as long as you do what is expected, but playing the game is never really challenging, except when you have to race against time. Combat is fine, but it doesn’t feel realistic. Of course, it is difficult to achieve realism in a fistfight as opposed to a gunfight. The puzzles are comparatively easy, but I don’t mind that at all. There are two game mechanics that I really like.
The first is the cards you use. Normally in a game you open the map to see where you are and then close it again. In IJatGC you hold the map in your hand and have to look down to see it. I actually like this because it really feels like using a map (back in the days when we actually used maps…). The other mechanic is the camera. I love that you have to take pictures to get hints or extra points.
The overall verdict
The last game I can remember that had such a good story was Detroit: Become Human. And IJatGC actually reminded me of that because the stories are more or less linear and the storytelling is the most important thing in the game. IJatGC is definitely one of the best storytelling games I know. But is it better than Fate of Atlantis? I think so, but Fate of Atlantis still has a lot of nostalgic value for me, so I can’t push it over the top. But that is just my personal opinion.
One last wish: Wouldn’t it be great if IJatGC had an editor? Let’s imagine we could put our own digs into the game and use Indy (or any other character) to explore the site. With these graphics, that would be awesome!
Find the official site here: https://indianajones.bethesda.net/
