Summary
Three years after first announcing the development of a game in theIndiana Jonesfranchise, MachineGames and Bethesda finally unveiledIndiana Jones and the Great Circlewhich is set to release later this year. The reveal ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circlecame out of the recentXbox Developer Directthat showcased a handful of exciting titles alongside it, includingSenua’s Saga: Hellblade 2andAvowed. However, as exciting as the gameplay reveal ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circlewas, it was held back by the underwhelming title of the game, which comes from a franchise known for its exciting titles.
From the gameplay shown in the reveal trailer, it appears MachineGames' history with theWolfensteinfranchise has influenced the development ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circle. While some fans found the first-person perspective of the game to be a little jarring, the game’s primary use of this perspective puts players in the shoes of Indiana Jones, similar to how theWolfensteingames put players in the action from BJ Blazkowicz’s perspective. Gameplay perspective preferences aside, many fans would likely agree that the title “The Great Circle” leaves something to be desired when it comes to hyping up Indiana Jones' adventure in this game.
In a franchise that features movies with titles likeIndiana Jones and the Temple of DoomandIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade,Indiana Jones and the Great Circledoesn’t have the same epic implications that make the player excited about seeing the events of Indy’s grand quest unfold. The prospect of going on a crusade or entering the Temple of Doom seems much more exciting than something as generic sounding as a Great Circle. For a franchise known for its daring adventures and action-packed sequences,The Great Circledoesn’t feel like it belongs in the series, despite beingset betweenRaiders of the Lost ArkandThe Last Crusade.
Even pastIndiana Jonesvideo game adaptationshave had more exciting names thanThe Great Circle, with titles likeIndiana Jones and the Fate of AtlantisandIndiana Jones and the Infernal Machinesounding like much more exciting adventures. The point-and-click gameplay ofFate of Atlantisis betrayed by its action-packed name, which seems to be the opposite of the problemThe Great Circlehas. The title of the game may make more sense once players get to experienceThe Great Circlefor themselves, but on the surface, it doesn’t sound like an enticing outing forIndiana Jones.
How the Game Could Redeem its ‘Great Circle’ Name
It’s never a good idea to judge a book by its cover, or a game by its title in this case, and from what has been revealed about theplot ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circleso far, there is a good reason for this name. According to the game’s plot, the Great Circle is the name for the alignment of major ancient spiritual sites around the world, and Indiana Jones sets off with investigative reporter Gina Lombardi to uncover the meaning behind this alignment. Why these sites form the Great Circle could end up being a fascinating twist, and what secrets the Great Circle holds might be the key to making this game’s story engaging.
The gameplay ofIndiana Jones and the Great Circlemight also make up for the underwhelming title if it can deliver the same level of excitement as theWolfensteinseries. While theIndiana Jonesfranchise involves solving historical mysteries more thanWolfensteindoes,The Great Circlelooks to feature just as much Nazi-fighting action asMachineGames' previous titles. Players who are willing to look past the game’s lackluster title could be in for a treat if MachineGames' pedigree is anything to go by.
Indiana Jones and The Great Circlewill arrive sometime in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
