Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
- December 8, 2024
- MachineGames
- 15h median play time
"Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Premium Edition" is a single-player, first-person adventure game set in 1937. As Indiana Jones, you must uncover one of history's greatest mysteries and stop sinister forces from harnessing an ancient power connected to the Great Circle. The Premium Edition includes the base game, The Order of Giants Story DLC, a digital artbook, and the Temple of Doom outfit. Release date and DLC availability are yet to be provided.
Reviews
- Captures the essence of the Indiana Jones movies with a compelling story and engaging gameplay.
- Stunning graphics and immersive environments that make exploration rewarding.
- Excellent voice acting, particularly Troy Baker's portrayal of Indiana Jones, which feels authentic.
- Frequent bugs and glitches, including game-breaking issues that can hinder progress.
- Combat mechanics can feel clunky and repetitive, with poor AI behavior.
- Lack of manual save options and frustrating collectibles tracking can detract from the overall experience.
- story2,395 mentions
- 47 % positive mentions
- 51 % 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, with many reviewers noting it as the best Indy story since "The Last Crusade." Players appreciate the well-written characters, immersive settings, and the seamless integration of side quests that enrich the main storyline, making exploration feel rewarding. While some have pointed out minor bugs and pacing issues, the overall consensus is that the game delivers a compelling and cinematic adventure that resonates with fans of the franchise.
“The characters are all well written and fun, the locales and story beats in each locale are very true to the spirit of the franchise, and don't really disappoint.”
“Moreover, as a die-hard Indy fan, I grew up with 'Fate of Atlantis' and 'The Last Crusade', and I can say without a doubt this game is not only better than any of those, but its story is on par with 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' and 'The Last Crusade' films, outclassing the other three with ease.”
“The story is engaging and would have actually made way better movies than the last two indies.”
“Once you get about 2 hours in, there are no new mechanics and the storyline is pretty boring and predictable.”
“The story is extremely linear, the implementation of cut scenes is not up to par with contemporary games.”
“The main story is a little bit short, completed it in less than 30 hours, which is disappointing at this price point.”
- graphics1,057 mentions
- 57 % positive mentions
- 41 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The graphics of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning visuals and immersive environments, often described as breathtaking and cinematic. Many players noted that the game effectively captures the essence of the Indiana Jones franchise, with detailed character models and rich atmospheric settings, although it comes with demanding hardware requirements that can lead to performance issues on lower-end systems. Overall, while the graphics are praised as top-notch, some users experienced minor glitches and optimization challenges, particularly related to ray tracing features.
“The graphics are stunning, especially on an RTX 4080 Ti, truly immersing you in the adventure.”
“The graphics are absolutely stunning, with breathtaking environments.”
“The visuals are stunning, and the attention to detail in the ancient ruins and temples brings the world of Indiana Jones to life in ways I never imagined.”
“The only knock I have is that the graphics requirements are demanding, and I don't mean that lightly.”
“Cutscenes are completely ruined, stuttering and skipping over dramatic moments, throwing the audio track multiple seconds off of the visuals, etc. real rinky dink, clown town stuff.”
“For a game that was released in 2024, the visuals and gameplay cannot justify the price tag on this game.”
- gameplay1,008 mentions
- 42 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" has received mixed reviews, with many praising its engaging mechanics that blend exploration, puzzle-solving, and combat, effectively capturing the adventurous spirit of the franchise. While some players appreciate the nostalgic feel and immersive first-person perspective, others criticize the combat and stealth mechanics as simplistic or clunky, leading to repetitive gameplay. Overall, the game is seen as a fun experience, particularly for fans of the series, despite some technical issues and a lack of innovation in certain gameplay aspects.
“The gameplay brilliantly combines challenging puzzles, dynamic combat, and rewarding exploration, staying true to the Indiana Jones spirit.”
“The game perfectly captures the adventurous spirit of Indiana Jones, combining a gripping story, immersive gameplay, intricate puzzles, and stunning visuals.”
“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 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 even though the sound and visual effects go some way to helping - it's just off every time.”
“The gameplay sucks; it's a below-average stealth game with puzzles for people with room temperature IQ.”
“The gameplay is generally boring; sneak past Nazis here, steal something there, eat, bandage.”
- optimization497 mentions
- 43 % positive mentions
- 48 % neutral mentions
- 9 % negative mentions
The optimization of the game has received mixed feedback from users. While many praise its performance on high-end systems, noting smooth gameplay and impressive graphics even with ray tracing enabled, others report significant stuttering, frame drops, and performance issues, particularly in later areas and with lower-end hardware. Overall, while some players find it well-optimized, especially for a title requiring demanding graphics, others express frustration over its inconsistent performance and the necessity of high-end specifications to achieve a stable experience.
“The graphics are breathtakingly beautiful, and it is also worth noting that the game has been very well optimized, even if you only meet the minimum system requirements, it will be the most beautiful thing you have seen on your computer to date.”
“Compelling story/missions, fluid gameplay, great sound and very well optimized with stunning graphics and scenery, the details on each room/location are mind-blowing!”
“The game runs smoothly for me and I haven't had any issues either.”
“The one major downside I have with the game though is its optimization is awful.”
“Cutscenes are completely ruined, stuttering and skipping over dramatic moments, throwing the audio track multiple seconds off of the visuals, etc. Real rinky-dink, clown town stuff.”
“This game is absolute optimization sh*t.”
- music255 mentions
- 51 % positive mentions
- 47 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received widespread acclaim for its orchestral quality and ability to evoke the spirit of the Indiana Jones films, with many reviewers noting its resemblance to John Williams' iconic scores. Players appreciate the immersive soundtrack that enhances the gameplay experience, seamlessly integrating with sound effects and voice acting to create a cinematic atmosphere. Overall, the music is described as a standout feature, contributing significantly to the game's nostalgic and adventurous feel.
“The music is recorded beautifully and it is meticulously crafted in a rich and detailed way in that you can easily mistake this for being part of the official soundtrack belonging to the original trilogy.”
“The orchestral soundtrack by Gordy Haab perfectly fits the game's adventurous spirit.”
“The soundtrack, brimming with themes that pay homage to John Williams' iconic work, binds every moment together.”
“Not using original music themes from the movies, the music is pretty bland here.”
“While the music occasionally overdramatizes minor moments, it evokes the iconic John Williams score with remarkable fidelity.”
“Growing up with the original movies, I understand far too well the adrenaline and action Indiana Jones makes you feel, and the only downside is they didn't use the theme song anywhere near enough, and when they did it was cut very short, so I felt like that adrenaline wasn't there.”
- stability214 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 80 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed feedback, with many players reporting various glitches and bugs that can disrupt gameplay, including issues with collectibles, NPC behavior, and graphical anomalies. While some users experienced minimal problems and praised the overall performance, others faced significant game-breaking issues, crashes, and frustrating bugs that hindered their enjoyment. Overall, the game appears to be a blend of enjoyable gameplay marred by typical stability concerns associated with Bethesda titles, leading to a call for future patches to address these issues.
“It is very polished and so far bug free.”
“I encountered no shader compilation stutter or traversal stutter during my time playing the game, and it was a bug free experience from start to finish, with no major gameplay issues that necessitated a checkpoint restart.”
“No glitches, no crashes, no performance issues, which is so bloody rare with so many recent releases.”
“This game is way too buggy and developers seem to have no motivation to fix issues.”
“The game was horrifically buggy for me at launch, with multiple freezes and hard crashes.”
“I can't recommend this game while it is so buggy and poorly coded.”
- humor186 mentions
- 99 % positive mentions
- 1 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is widely praised for its authenticity and charm, effectively capturing the spirit of the classic Indiana Jones films. Players appreciate the witty dialogue, slapstick moments, and engaging character interactions that provide a consistent source of laughter throughout the gameplay. The combination of funny combat mechanics and well-timed quips enhances the overall experience, making it feel like an interactive movie filled with adventure and humor.
“It embodies that great spirit of adventure and the charm and humor that the films always had, while slotting perfectly into the series like an unmade film.”
“The humor, character development, etc. is all excellent.”
“It perfectly captures the feel of the classic movies, from the action down to even the humor (some scenes made me laugh out loud), and is tonally consistent throughout.”
- atmosphere142 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 39 % neutral mentions
- 2 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game has been universally praised, with many reviewers highlighting its immersive sound design, stunning graphics, and engaging music that effectively captures the essence of the Indiana Jones films. Players feel transported into a cinematic adventure, with detailed environments and masterful voice acting enhancing the overall experience. While some areas may lose a bit of magic, the game's atmosphere remains a standout feature, making it a must-play for fans of the franchise.
“The atmosphere is top notch - especially when exploring the tombs and caves with a good pair of headphones - I tell you it's magical!”
“The atmosphere perfectly encapsulates the essence of Indiana Jones; it feels like an authentic continuation, almost like a fourth movie in the series.”
“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.”
“The moment-to-moment gameplay with excellent voice acting, sound design, and general movement feels 100 percent conveys the atmosphere of an Indiana Jones movie, defying my expectations.”
“One highlight is the soundtrack, which captures the nostalgic atmosphere well, but even this cannot salvage the overall experience.”
“The environments are detailed, particularly the ancient ruins and temples, which are steeped in historical atmosphere.”
- grinding65 mentions
- 2 % positive mentions
- 14 % neutral mentions
- 85 % negative mentions
Overall, players find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious and often frustrating, particularly due to slow traversal, repetitive mechanics, and the need to backtrack for collectibles. While some appreciate the opportunity for exploration and side content, many feel that the lack of efficient fast travel and the overall pacing detract from the enjoyment, making the experience feel unnecessarily prolonged. Despite the game's strong graphics and storytelling, the grinding elements leave a negative impression on many reviewers.
“The game is not too grindy to 100%.”
“If I have any complaints, it would be the tediousness of traveling across the Gizeh map, which is one of the larger maps that doesn't have any kind of faster form of travel, unlike Sukothai, which at least has a boat you can use.”
“The gameplay often involves running back and forth across a map that feels both small and large in the worst ways—small in content but large enough to make traversal tedious.”
“The riverboat just isn't fun to steer and all the collectibles are a tedious grind compared to Gizeh and Vatican City.”
- emotional43 mentions
- 95 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 5 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game has been widely praised, with players describing it as a heartfelt and nostalgic experience that captures the essence of Indiana Jones. Many reviewers noted the strong character interactions, emotional depth, and the ability to evoke a range of feelings, from laughter to heartbreak, making it feel like an immersive cinematic adventure. Despite some criticisms regarding pacing and certain gameplay mechanics, the overall sentiment is that the game successfully delivers an emotional journey that resonates deeply with fans of the franchise.
“I nominate this game as an emotional roller coaster of the year.”
“To an Indiana Jones fanboy like myself that idolized the character since very early childhood, this was more than a game - it was an unforgettable, emotional, cinematic experience.”
“The voice acting and character interactions are top-tier, drawing you into the story with emotional weight and sharp wit.”
“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. We can also include environmental traversal and insanely tedious QTE mechanics.”
- replayability31 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 58 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
Overall, the game's replayability is considered limited, with many players noting that while it offers an enjoyable initial experience, there is little incentive to replay once the main story and collectibles are completed. Some reviewers mention multiple paths and side content, but the linear nature of the game and the lack of significant rewards for replaying detract from its long-term value. Players suggest that it may be worth waiting for a sale, as the current price does not justify the limited replay options.
“The game offers great replayability with multiple paths and outcomes.”
“There's a fair bit of side stuff to do as well, a few difficulties, etc., so it has a little legs in terms of replayability.”
“The story was at least good enough to warrant some replayability.”
“Good for one playthrough, though not much in the way of replayability unless you're a completionist.”
“8/10 game, especially as an Indiana Jones fan, however, there are some egregious bugs and worst of all, zero replay value right now.”
“I would recommend waiting for the game to go on sale, since due to the linear nature of the story, there really isn't much replayability here.”
- monetization18 mentions
- 17 % positive mentions
- 17 % neutral mentions
- 67 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its lack of microtransactions and predatory monetization practices, offering a refreshing single-player experience that feels genuine and well-crafted rather than a cash grab. Reviewers appreciate the absence of paid DLCs, highlighting it as a polished AAA title that stands out in a market often plagued by unfinished content and exploitative monetization strategies. Overall, it is celebrated for delivering a quality experience without the typical financial pitfalls associated with popular franchises.
“Also no microtransactions, paid DLCs, or whatever else, just a very good single-player experience.”
“Good old-fashioned adventure game with a good story, great graphics, and no microtransactions.”
“This feels like a truly polished AAA title, without the bugs, unfinished content, and microtransactions that plague so many $60/70 games today.”
“Went in thinking it'll be a cash grab.”
“It's published by Bethesda and a big franchise, so I thought this is just a quick cash grab.”
“Many such adaptations were blatant cash grabs with little time or effort spent to ensure a quality experience was made.”
- character development8 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 38 % neutral mentions
- 38 % negative mentions
Character development in the game is generally praised for its depth and quality, with players noting well-written story arcs and interesting characters that enhance the overall experience. While some critiques mention a lack of depth in the in-game menu for character development, the emphasis on narrative and character growth is highlighted as a strong point, contributing to a refreshing and engaging gameplay experience.
“I was pleasantly surprised by what I found to be a great story arc, and actually well-written character development.”
“The characters you meet and get to know are interesting, and the character development is well thought through.”
“In-game menu and character development is poor.”
“Lastly, the character design and voice acting.”
“This is a neat cinematic video game with more focus on narration, plot, and character development over combat.”