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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Review – Stunning Visuals, Clunky Combat

Visuals

The game looks fantastic. Character facial animations are highly detailed, and the environments successfully capture the feel of a cinematic adventure. It often feels like playing through an Indiana Jones movie, complete with striking set pieces and a strong sense of atmosphere.

Voice Acting and Presentation

Voice work is excellent across the board. The main villain, Voss, stands out in particular with a memorable and well-delivered performance. The game also has a solid sense of humor, with several genuinely funny moments that help lighten the tone without becoming overbearing.

Exploration and Level Design

Level design is one of the game’s strengths. Areas offer multiple paths and reward players who take time to explore. Hidden collectibles, upgrade materials, and tradable items add meaningful depth to exploration. The catacomb sections are especially well done, capturing the thrill of archaeological discovery and providing some of the game’s most memorable moments.

Puzzles and Platforming

Puzzles are well-integrated into the world and feel like a natural fit for an Indiana Jones story. While not particularly difficult, they are thematically appropriate and enjoyable. Platforming, however, feels clunky and lacks flow. Climbing sections are notably slow, which disrupts pacing during traversal.

Combat and Stealth

Combat is underwhelming. Both melee and gunplay lack impact, and the limited ammo suggests that the game actively discourages shooting. Melee weapons break quickly, extending encounters unnecessarily. Stealth is similarly weak, with enemy AI offering little challenge or depth. While using random objects like a broom for stealth takedowns adds humor, it does not elevate the mechanics. Boss fights suffer due to these weaknesses and fail to provide satisfying payoffs.

World Design and Side Content

The semi-open world areas are well-crafted and provide worthwhile side content. Optional quests, collectibles, and outfit-based progression systems offer solid incentives to explore. However, companion AI can be intrusive. Gina frequently blocks paths or needs assistance, breaking immersion and slowing down progress. Exploring solo would have been more enjoyable.

Technical Design

Checkpoints are spaced too far apart, which can lead to frustration after failed encounters. One major disappointment is the limited use of the whip, an iconic Indiana Jones tool. It plays a surprisingly minor role in gameplay and feels like a missed opportunity.

Story

The narrative is strong and captures the tone of a classic Hollywood adventure. It remains engaging throughout, with well-paced developments and satisfying character dynamics. Voss is a particular highlight, bringing intensity and charisma to the role of the antagonist.

Verdict
8 out of 10

An authentic and visually striking Indiana Jones experience that delivers on atmosphere and storytelling. While the gameplay systems—particularly combat and companion design—fall short, fans of the franchise will find plenty to enjoy.

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