Earlier this summer, during the Xbox Game Showcase, we were treated to an extended gameplay reveal of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. The nearly five-minute demo impressed with its stunning visuals, attention to detail, and authenticity, but its heavy use of cutscenes and other cinematic interludes left fans worried that developer MachineGames might be more focused on delivering an interactive film than a deep, rewarding gameplay experience.
If our latest preview of the upcoming action adventure is any indication, however, it seems those concerns will be squashed like a spider beneath Indy’s boot. We had the chance to preview a hands-off, pre-Gamescom demo, which spent nearly 20 minutes diving into the gameplay systems and mechanics that’ll support the narrative elements and pretty cinematics we saw so much of last time.
The session takes us all over the globe, as the intrepid archeologist hunts down various artifacts and other clues that’ll ultimately unravel the mysteries behind the game’s titular MacGuffin. But again, this lengthy look was less about showing off locales and setting up story beats,and more about introducing Indy’s fists to punchable Nazi faces.
Indeed, while lots of gameplay ground was covered – from platforming and puzzling to exploration and character progression – a significant chunk was dedicated to detailing the many ways Dr. Jones can battle his enemies. Given just a surface glance, the first-person scuffles can appear a bit simple, with Indy’s extended arms pummeling away at his targets.
But based on the preview – and MachineGames’ own description of what we were witnessing – it seems button-mashing won’t get you very far. In fact, as evidenced by the red haze occasionally creeping onto the screen’s borders, a number of the brawls saw the player suffering a good deal of damage. To avoid permanently ending Indy’s archeological career, players will need to carefully consider both precision and timing, while also mixing up basic attacks, combos, blocks, finishers, and defensive parries.
While the fisticuffs pack more nuance than originally thought, the bare-knuckle bouts only begin to scratch the surface of the Great Circle’s combat’s variety and depth. Players are also encouraged to improvise and get creative, switching from Indy’s fists to his whip, revolver, and pretty much any interactive object within his reach. At one point, we watch the protagonist bring an enemy down by snagging his leg with the whip. As the target tumbles – satisfyingly reducing a wooden chair to kindling as he crashes to the floor – Indy grabs a nearby rolling pin and finishes off the stunned foe.
In another sequence, we learn that stealth can also be adopted on the fly to support a more layered approach to removing threats. Indy grabs a bottle and tosses it to draw the attention of one of two well-armed guards. With the baddie distracted, he next picks up a hammer and sneakily brings down the second soldier. He then turns his attention back to the first enemy, stripping him of his machine gun with the whip before charging him with both fists flying.
The whip seems especially handy, as we frequently see it used to target specific spots on enemies. As mentioned above, it can be leveraged to disarm gun-toting attackers, as well as trip them up by snaking it around their legs. But we also watch Indy reel in adversaries by their arms and waists, and even choke them with a lasso-like grip. Upon relinquishing the Fuhrer's forces of their firearms, Indy can also pick up their guns and let the lead fly. The game is by no means a clip-emptying shooter though, so don’t plan on exploiting this tactic.
What stood out even more than the combat’s potential depth was its fluid pacing and immersiveness. While it’s difficult to get a true sense of its feel without actually getting behind a controller, it appears to flow seamlessly, with swaps between fists, weapons, and environmental items happening without a hitch. It also seems incredibly visceral, with every punch, whip-crack, and melee-item blow packing plenty of heft.
MachineGames promises enemy encounters will be further complemented by character progression systems, which will find players investing earned Adventure points and collecting ability-granting books. The demo didn’t dive too deep into the former, but did hint that Indy’s ability to leave henchmen face down in the dirt could be shaped and evolved by the player through this system.
We did see a bit more of the latter feature, which found the archeologist discovering a tome dubbed “True Grit.” Securing the book unlocked a death-cheating ability, where a downed Indy could crawl to his dislodged hat to get a second wind of sorts. Presumably, these books – as well as the XP-like Adventure points – will also be used to unlock non-combat skills, upgrades, and abilities.
Speaking of Indiana Jones’ less violent side, the preview also showed off a number of other promising features, from its puzzle-solving and platforming elements to Indy’s reliance on a camera, journal, and disguises. While we mostly saw the iconic whip wielded in close-quarters combat, the demo also displayed its use in cracking conundrums and traversing tricky environments. Using it to interact with triggers, levers, and other puzzle elements adds a promising layer to sussing-out solutions, while leveraging it to swing, climb, and generally turn ancient ruins into your personal playground looks like a blast.
Snapping pics will also play a big role in solving puzzles and circumventing obstacles, as photos will provide historical insights on their subjects, but also unveil clues to assist with objectives. The detailed journal – which could almost pass for Indy’s dad’s Grail Diary – seems to work hand-in-hand with the camera, archiving intel found in the photos, as well as notes, letters, maps, and other mystery-uncovering items. More than just lore-building trinkets, the camera and journal look like invaluable tools in your archeology arsenal.
Much like in the movies, the Great Circle will frequently put Indy beneath disguises, allowing him to trick guards and trespass into restricted areas. We saw him assume the guise of a clergyman and a ditch-digging worker during the demo. The latter outfit allowed him to slip into an enemy tent, where soldiers were imbibing and playing cards. One of the men ordered Indy to bring him a drink, which he dutifully did…while also stealing a precious medallion required to solve a puzzle.
Using the artifact ultimately puts Indy in a familiar predicament: deep in a trap-laden temple that’s about to crumble all around him. Upon securing the item he’s after – a gold mask buried beneath Egypt’s Great Sphinx – his adventuring companion Gina, an Italian journalist with her own motivations, accidentally triggers the cavern’s self-destruction mechanism.
As the temple threatens to consume them both, our demo draws to a close. But based on the preceding display of Indy’s grit, ingenuity, and perseverance, we’re confident his quest for fortune and glory will continue. We’re also certain the game still has plenty of secrets tucked under its Fedora.
While we saw lots of gameplay, a number of promising elements that were hinted at – such as Indy’s global network of allies, and his ability to find further adventure off the critical path – have us excited to get behind the whip for ourselves when the Great Circle reveals all its secrets later this year.
