Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- December 8, 2024
- MachineGames
- 9h median play time
Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark™ and The Last Crusade™. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™. You’ll become the legendary…
Reviews
- Captures the essence of Indiana Jones perfectly, making players feel like they are part of a movie.
- Engaging story with well-written characters and excellent voice acting, particularly Troy Baker as Indy.
- Beautiful graphics and immersive environments that enhance the exploration and puzzle-solving experience.
- High system requirements, making it unplayable for those with lower-end hardware.
- Combat mechanics can feel clunky and the AI is often dumb, leading to frustrating encounters.
- Some players experience bugs and crashes, particularly related to performance and graphical settings.
- story651 mentions
- 44 % positive mentions
- 54 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The story of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" has been widely praised for its engaging narrative that captures the essence of the classic films, featuring a blend of adventure, mystery, and humor. Players appreciate the well-crafted dialogue, immersive environments, and the seamless integration of side quests that enhance the main storyline, making exploration feel rewarding. While some critiques mention pacing issues and minor bugs, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a compelling and nostalgic experience for fans of the franchise.
“The story is captivating and interesting.”
“The story is really top notch and the quality of the dialogue is superb.”
“The story, characters, and plot all feel genuine and organic.”
“The ending provides a criminally insufficient closure: all of the side exploration was in vain, the university storyline appeared and dropped equally unexpectedly, the fate of the characters is unclear, and the war and resistance themes run through the game just as a background instead of being fully fleshed out.”
“The story didn't really get me though.”
“If you want engaging innovative gameplay, a strong narrative, or freedom to choose your own story, then you should look elsewhere.”
- graphics403 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 44 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received a mixed but generally positive reception, with many players praising the stunning visuals, intricate details, and immersive environments that evoke the classic Indiana Jones aesthetic. However, some users have reported performance issues, graphical glitches, and demanding hardware requirements, suggesting that while the graphics can be breathtaking, they may not be accessible to all players. Overall, the game is noted for its high-quality graphics that enhance the gameplay experience, despite some technical shortcomings.
“The graphics are stunning, especially on an RTX 4080 Ti, truly immersing you in the adventure.”
“The visuals alone are amazing! The attention to detail blew me away and showcased just how far graphical fidelity has come.”
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, with breathtaking environments that bring the world of Indiana Jones to life in ways I never imagined.”
“I played the opening scene and the graphics are so bad I'm going to have to request a refund... it's unplayable.”
“These graphics are terrible.”
“At its current price of €70, you're essentially forced to lower graphics settings, making the game look like a decade-old title with ray tracing tacked on.”
- gameplay350 mentions
- 45 % positive mentions
- 51 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its immersive mechanics, engaging puzzles, and satisfying combat that captures the essence of the Indiana Jones franchise. While some players appreciate the blend of stealth, exploration, and action, others criticize the simplistic AI and occasional clunky controls, leading to a somewhat uneven experience. Overall, the game is noted for its beautiful graphics and nostalgic feel, making it a worthwhile adventure for fans, despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“The gameplay strikes a perfect balance between challenging combat, intricate puzzles, and story/exploration sequences, all wrapped in a beautifully cinematic presentation.”
“The gameplay is smooth and intuitive, with challenging puzzles that keep you on your toes and action sequences that are as heart-pounding as anything in the movies.”
“The gameplay has moments of hilarity and sheer excitement, but for the hefty price tag, the experience better be top-tier, right?”
“The gameplay is rather underwhelming, not very engaging.”
“The story is 10/10 but the combat mechanics are the worst I have ever seen.”
“The gameplay is where I think the game falls apart some; the stealth mechanics are just not great, collision detection is super janky, and you often do not feel like you are making any contact with enemies in hand-to-hand combat.”
- optimization227 mentions
- 37 % positive mentions
- 53 % neutral mentions
- 10 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from users. While many praise its performance on high-end hardware, noting smooth gameplay and impressive graphics, others report significant issues, particularly in specific areas that lead to stuttering and frame drops. Overall, it appears that while the game is well-optimized for some systems, it may require further patches to address performance inconsistencies and improve compatibility across a wider range of hardware.
“This is one of the best-optimized AAA games for a couple of years!!”
“The game is very well optimized (fast loading, not too demanding on my laptop, too bad it does not work on steam deck... yet)”
“Edit: after completing the game I can say with confidence that this has got to be the most optimized game I've played this year by far, no stutters, no massive frame drops and no out of the blue crashes.”
“Don't buy it, this game is not optimized well. When you get to Egypt, even if your FPS shows 100+, it feels like running on 20-30 FPS. I have an RTX 4070 Ti Super playing on high settings with some set to low and DLSS on quality. The story looks great, the texture quality is great, but the optimization of this game is not good.”
“The prologue is a scene-for-scene remake of Raiders of the Lost Ark, which takes place in a dense jungle that absolutely tanks performance. I have no idea how or why they would ship this as the very first thing you interact with in the game.”
“It's poorly optimized and the settings are pretty barren for a modern PC game.”
- music93 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 45 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim, with many reviewers praising its ability to evoke the iconic soundscapes of the Indiana Jones films, reminiscent of John Williams' compositions. The original soundtrack, combined with excellent voice acting and sound design, enhances the immersive experience, making players feel as though they are part of a cinematic adventure. Overall, the music is described as fantastic, perfectly capturing the atmosphere and nostalgia of the franchise.
“With an original soundtrack that sounds very reminiscent of John Williams, it feels right at home and truly gets you into the mood for adventure.”
“The soundtrack perfectly captures John Williams' essence and the entire game is absolutely perfect.”
“From the pulse-pounding action to quieter exploration sequences, the music is integral to the experience, evoking the feeling that you’re both playing and watching a classic Indiana Jones movie.”
“The only really bad thing about it is I can't get the theme music out of my head.”
“Audio-wise, the game delivers a good score, reminiscent of the iconic Indiana Jones music, though voice acting varies in quality.”
“This isn't a run-and-gun, how fast can I complete this game while listening to music game.”
- stability80 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 3 % neutral mentions
- 68 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's stability has received mixed feedback from users. While many players report smooth performance and minimal issues, others have encountered frequent crashes, graphical glitches, and bugs that can disrupt gameplay. The consensus suggests that while the game is enjoyable and visually impressive, it still requires patches to address the various stability concerns.
“It's polished, mostly bug-free apart from some very small bugs.”
“No glitches, no crashes, no performance issues, which is so rare with so many recent releases.”
“It is very well optimized and runs great.”
“My game crashes every 5-10 minutes, just freezes and plays the sound until I escape. I have a $6000 PC, and no matter what I change, it crashes. I just want to play, but I haven't gotten past the forester in the cave; it freezes every time I get 25-50 yards further.”
“I can't recommend this game while it is so buggy and poorly coded.”
“This is a buggy mess.”
- atmosphere71 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 4 % negative mentions
The game excels in creating an immersive atmosphere that faithfully captures the essence of the Indiana Jones films, with detailed environments, impressive lighting, and a nostalgic soundtrack. Players appreciate the attention to detail in the visuals, voice acting, and overall design, which collectively enhance the storytelling and exploration experience. Many reviews highlight that the atmosphere feels like an authentic continuation of the movie series, making it a must-play for fans of the franchise.
“The atmosphere of the game is on-point - lighting is very impressive, the music cues are subtle but recognizable, and the environments are very detailed and appropriate to the period.”
“The locations you explore—ancient ruins, dense jungles, and hidden temples—are visually stunning and rich with detail, creating an atmosphere that draws you deeper into the experience.”
“They've captured the atmosphere so well that it feels like one of the original movies - from the transition between continents to the crack of the whip, the over-the-top punching sounds, and the Nazi officer you're fighting to find artifacts.”
“While these problems are not game breaking, it does shatter the atmosphere and immersion, especially for a game that relies so much on these components.”
“The soundtrack drops the player right into the cinematic atmosphere, and every bit of trim along the way hails to the big screen franchise, from the animated red-line plane routes during travel montages to the fonts that announce the player has arrived at a new location.”
“The gameplay, the mechanics, and the atmosphere/environments make you feel like Indiana Jones, and brought a big dumbass grin to my face for the first few hours of playing it.”
- humor49 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for capturing the essence of the original Indiana Jones films, blending witty dialogue, slapstick moments, and clever references throughout the gameplay. Players appreciate the balance between lightheartedness and serious themes, with many noting that the comedic elements enhance the overall adventure experience. Overall, the humor is described as charming, well-timed, and integral to the game's immersive storytelling.
“The game offers the perfect balance between the classic humor found in the movies and books, and the serious topics Indiana is often faced with completing.”
“It's fun, funny, and immersive all at once, and one of the few games where not being able to skip a cutscene is no bother as you feel like you're playing an extended feature movie as Indiana Jones.”
“It captures the story and humor of Indiana Jones movies.”
- emotional14 mentions
- 86 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 14 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has been praised for its heartfelt storytelling, beautiful graphics, and strong character interactions that evoke nostalgia and deep feelings, with some players expressing intense emotional reactions, including tears. However, criticisms regarding tedious gameplay mechanics and pacing detract from the overall immersion, suggesting that while the narrative and emotional weight are strong, the execution may hinder the experience for some players. Overall, the game is seen as a touching tribute to the franchise, successfully resonating with fans on an emotional level.
“The team behind this game has expertly crafted a brand new, worthy, and heartfelt entry to this beloved franchise.”
“I cried like a little baby, really, I sobbed for about 30 minutes.”
“Well done MachineGames and Todd Howard, this game has made me feel not only nostalgic of the original Indy films, but like someone gave me the most heartfelt gift in the form of this game.”
“Instead, the game is mired in tedious controls, a boring story, bland action, and terrible pacing.”
“They would have to start over from scratch to fix the core gameplay mechanics that pull the player out of the immersion at every turn with lazy writing, a boring story, and lame fights due to the stamina bar. Environmental traversal and insanely tedious QTE mechanics also contribute to the lack of emotional engagement.”
- grinding11 mentions
- 9 % positive mentions
- 9 % neutral mentions
- 82 % negative mentions
Reviews highlight that the grinding aspect of the game is overwhelmingly tedious, with players expressing frustration over cumbersome controls, a lackluster story, and repetitive gameplay mechanics. Many feel that the grinding detracts from immersion and enjoyment, making the experience feel mundane and overly drawn out. While some challenges and puzzles offer a sense of accomplishment, the overall sentiment is that the game suffers from excessive and unengaging grinding elements.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“Instead the game is mired with tedious controls, boring story, bland action, and terrible pacing.”
“It's tedious and it drags me out of the experience as I have to hunt around my keyboard for buttons to do simple actions that should have just been all assigned to a general use button.”
“They would have to start over from scratch to fix the core gameplay mechanics that pull the player out of the immersion at every turn with lazy writing, boring story, lame fights because of the stamina bar, and insanely tedious QTE mechanics.”
- monetization8 mentions
- 38 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 63 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and predatory monetization practices, distinguishing it from many other titles that often feel like cash grabs. Reviewers appreciate the genuine effort and quality put into the game, highlighting it as a polished AAA experience that avoids the pitfalls of unfinished content and exploitative monetization strategies common in the industry.
“This feels like a truly polished AAA title, without the bugs, unfinished content, and microtransactions that plague so many $60/70 games today.”
“No microtransactions nor other predatory monetization practices.”
“No microtransactions nor other predatory monetization practices.”
“For every Batman Arkham game, there are dozens of forgettable cash grabs.”
“Many such adaptations were blatant cash grabs with little time or effort spent to ensure a quality experience was made.”
“It's rare that a game based on a movie license doesn't feel like just a cash grab, and this one doesn't.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is limited, as players may need to revisit previous areas to access new locations, but there is little incentive to replay the game in its entirety. While the main story offers a reasonable playtime of 10-12 hours, exploring thoroughly may provide some additional value. However, many reviewers feel that the lack of compelling reasons to replay diminishes the overall experience.
“Finally, for my last point, the replayability.”
“You may have to return to previous areas in order to get to untouched locations, but the sad thing is that there is no replay value to go back through this game on a second run.”
“Other than that, it looks alright. There are many games that look even better; older games with RTX only show you the power of ray tracing. Yeah, it's absurd, not sure if it's replayable.”
“The game's length is reasonable, with a playtime of around 10-12 hours for the main story, though exploring every nook and cranny might add some replay value.”
- character development1 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -300 % neutral mentions
- 300 % negative mentions
The game emphasizes strong character development and narrative, prioritizing storytelling and plot over combat mechanics, which enhances the overall cinematic experience.
“This is a neat cinematic video game with more focus on narration, plot, and character development over combat.”
“The character development feels shallow and lacks depth, making it hard to connect with the protagonists.”
“I was disappointed by the lack of meaningful choices that impact character growth throughout the game.”
“The characters seem one-dimensional, and their arcs don't evolve in a satisfying way.”