Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: A Focus on Fists, Not Firearms
The development team behind the upcoming action-adventure game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, from MachineGames and Bethesda, has confirmed that gunplay will take a backseat to other gameplay elements. This decision, they say, is crucial to capturing the essence of the iconic adventurer.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Melee Combat Takes Center Stage
Stealth and Puzzles: Integral Gameplay Pillars
In an exclusive interview with PC Gamer, MachineGames design director Jens Andersson and creative director Axel Torvenius revealed key gameplay details. Drawing inspiration from their work on titles like the Wolfenstein series and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, they emphasized the game's focus on hand-to-hand combat, improvised weaponry, and stealth.
Andersson explained, "Indiana Jones isn't a gunslinger; he doesn't charge into situations blazing away. Hand-to-hand combat, however, fits perfectly." While the team drew upon their Chronicles of Riddick experience for melee combat, they adapted it to align with Indy's unique style. Expect creative combat using everyday objects—pots, pans, even banjos—as makeshift weapons. Andersson highlighted the challenge of capturing Indy's unlikely heroism and luck within the gameplay, aiming to convey the character's humor and resourcefulness.
Beyond brawling, players will navigate diverse environments. The game blends linear and open areas, inspired by the Wolfenstein series. Structured paths interweave with expansive explorable zones, some approaching immersive sim-style gameplay, offering multiple approaches to challenges. Andersson described enemy camps as examples, where players must infiltrate a main building, encouraging exploration and problem-solving.
Stealth is another core element, utilizing classic infiltration techniques and a novel "social stealth" mechanic. Players can find and equip disguises to blend in and access restricted areas. Andersson stated, "Every major location features numerous disguises, allowing players to seamlessly integrate, gaining access to areas otherwise difficult to reach."
In a previous interview with Inverse, game director Jerk Gustafsson highlighted the deliberate downplaying of gunplay. Gustafsson stated, "Our starting point was to largely ignore shooting. We're confident in our ability to execute it well, so it wasn't a concern. We prioritized hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and traversal—elements we anticipated would be more challenging to perfect in a first-person perspective."
The game will also feature challenging puzzles, catering to both casual and hardcore puzzle solvers. Gustafsson confirmed the inclusion of exceptionally difficult, yet optional, puzzles to maintain accessibility.
