The most controversial element ofIndiana Jones and The Great Circleis actually one of its greatest strengths, even if players do not realize it at first. The decision to make the game first-person was met with skepticism on release, as many felt third-person is clearly better suited for the adventure genre. MachineGames is more experience in first-person development, butThe Great Circle’s gameplay isn’t just a product of habit. Players may realize this controversy was not a problem after all, with the perspective fitting right into whatThe Great Circledesires to be.
The Great Circletakes place between the events ofRaiders of The Lost ArkandThe Last Crusade.This is also the first time Indiana Jones has been on modern consoles since the release ofIndiana Jones and the Staff of Kingsback in 2009 for the Wii, Nintendo DS, PS2, and PSP. Such a familiar character making his return was sure to be a hit for many, but restricting the character to first-person tempered expectations initially. Regardless of preference on the matter, there is no denying what this simple choice does to strengthen the game.
Indiana Jones & The Great Circle Is Great In First-Person
Players Will Fully Become Indiana Jones In The New Game
The Great Circlejustifies itself being from the first-person perspective, something that players were taken aback by when footage of its gameplay was released. Nowadays,adventure games tend to be from the third-person perspectivewhere players see the character. This familiarity with over-the-shoulder gameplay madeThe Great Circlea surprising outlier, but the game proves its choice as the appropriate one for the classic character’s modern return to the gaming scene.The Great Circlecreates a first-hand experience as players can feel like they’ve become Indiana Jones, uncovering a new ancient mystery (without theannoying trend of puzzle hints popping up automatically) and an original story.
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Although we see the game briefly switching to the third-person for platforming sections to interact with the world more, the majority places the player directly from Indiana Jones' point of view and creates a more immersive experience. Exploring ancient tombs and uncovering the mystery directly is straightforward, but alsoestablishes itself in its own series.Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machineback in 1999 worked to follow in the steps ofTomb Raider, butThe Great Circleis unique even within its own franchise with the new perspective choice.
First-Person Highlights The Great Circle’s Strengths
The Biggest Controversy Actually Makes The Great Circle Better
Unexpectedly, playing in the first person highlights the adventure experience greatly and picks out what makesThe Great Circlespecial. The perspective is perfect for a game where players expect to be uncovering ancient artifacts and exploring ancient ruins. It actually feels most similar toDishonered, where sleuthing through each level is usually the ideal strategy, withThe Great Circleboasting some light immersive sim elements. There is also something fun about the cartoonish combat (like bashing a Blackshirt with a violin) being seen in the first person, helping the game feel reminiscent of the physical comedy in the films.
The first-person perspective also has its smaller advantages on more technical levels, ones that players may not even notice. There is the fact that thefirst-person creates smoother transitions between cut scenes and gameplay. It appears less awkward when players switch from being Indiana Jones to watching him. If the game was from a third-person perspective, these transitions would feel a little strange. Even though players should be used to this, it risks taking the player out of the immersion for a second. This is not seen inThe Great Circle, displaying its smaller successes in anoverall great game.
The Perspective Separates The Great Circle From The Uncharted Series
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle valiantly attempts to recapture what makes the movies special, and like Indy himself, it usually lands on its feet.
The over-the-shoulder experience while playing Nathan Drake feels appropriate as he, as a character, was introduced in those games. Bringing the famous character of Indiana Jones, who players have really seen on the big screen, into a game hasthe opportunity to see everything from a new perspective. Instead of watching anIndiana Jonesmovie, players are directly becoming him in this way. It is a first-hand adventure that becomes a unique experience in the adventure genre, delivering a brand-new point of view for a classic character while not seeming like anUnchartedclone.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circleproves itself within the modern adventure genre as a unique installment with its first-person perspective. Despite not being what players may be used to, the game fully embracing this perspective highlights the best parts of it, justifying itsMetacritic score breaking some records. From fully becoming Indiana Jones to standing out among games it has been compared to, the newest game about the classic adventurer displays how there should not even be a controversy around the perspective choice in the first place.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a first-person action-adventure game developed by the creative team at MachineGames. Set in 1937 between Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade, players take on the role of the titular globe-trotting adventurer/archaeology professor Dr. Indiana Jones, as he races across the world to stop a dangerous organization from utilizing the power of the mystical Great Circle.
