The team at Lucasfilm.com have been given a first look at the frothcoming Indiana Jones and the Great Circle ahead of its arrival on 9th December on Xbox Series X|S consoles, PC, and Game Pass, and by the looks of it we’re looking at a game that dives deep into Indiana history, set in 1937 and ready to knock our proverbial socks off. Lucasfilm‘s Lucas Seastrom had the chance to try and keep up with the Joneses, and by the sound of it he had a great time doing it.
The gameplay maintains Indy’s emotional dynamic. He avoids conflict where he can, sneaking around the bad guys instead. Indy never loses his sense of humor, punctuated by a dry matter-of-factness (all carried wonderfully in this instance by actor Troy Baker). The player takes on both Indy’s worldliness and empathy. Climbing up the side of the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Indy takes a moment to admire the stunning cityscape. While perusing the bazaar in an Egyptian village at Gizeh, he exchanges warm greetings with the locals (one can even share provisions like fresh fruit with them in exchange for other necessities).
But there’s more. Over the course of the story, one also feels Indy’s own lived experience. As a fan with a broad view of the character’s biography, this is an especially rich reward. A stand-out moment comes in Rome when the archaeologist manages to infiltrate the Castel and reunite with an old friend, a priest named Antonio. He greets Indy as “Henri,” which fans will recognize as Indy’s nom de guerre from the First World War seen in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (1992-96) television series. It’s implied that the pair had first met while Indy was serving in Italy, alluding to that greater context outside of the immediate game story.
The gameplay maintains Indy’s emotional dynamic. He avoids conflict where he can, sneaking around the bad guys instead. Indy never loses his sense of humor, punctuated by a dry matter-of-factness (all carried wonderfully in this instance by actor Troy Baker). The player takes on both Indy’s worldliness and empathy. Climbing up the side of the Castel Sant’Angelo in Rome, Indy takes a moment to admire the stunning cityscape. While perusing the bazaar in an Egyptian village at Gizeh, he exchanges warm greetings with the locals (one can even share provisions like fresh fruit with them in exchange for other necessities).
But there’s more. Over the course of the story, one also feels Indy’s own lived experience. As a fan with a broad view of the character’s biography, this is an especially rich reward. A stand-out moment comes in Rome when the archaeologist manages to infiltrate the Castel and reunite with an old friend, a priest named Antonio. He greets Indy as “Henri,” which fans will recognize as Indy’s nom de guerre from the First World War seen in The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (1992-96) television series. It’s implied that the pair had first met while Indy was serving in Italy, alluding to that greater context outside of the immediate game story.
There are plenty of reviews now hitting the internet, including this one from That Arnold Life.
Stay tuned for plenty more coverage of the game as the launch date approaches, and keep an eye out for Fantha Arcade, coming soon to Fantha Tracks TV.
