Summary
Indiana Jonesis one of the most iconic action figures in all pop culture, remaining generally popular even when at times the quality and reception of certain entries in the series proved somewhat divisive among fans and critics. There have been a helping of attempts to adapt the character and his pulpy globe-trotting, treasure-hunting feats into video game form going back decades.Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, being developed by MachineGames, is the most recent title set to bring Indy to the medium later this year.
At the Xbox Developer Direct showcase, MachineGames gave fans a more in-depth look at what thelatestIndiana Jonesgamewill offer. From what was shown,Indiana Jones and theGreat Circleis aiming to hit all the highlights that would be expected in a classic Indy adventure. Something that usually goes hand-in-hand with Indy stories is a female companion, who, more often than not, ends up being bedfellows with Professor Jones. This trope has been seen so often in the same way that it’s time for MachineGames to either sidestep or move beyond it.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circlewill be a Microsoft exclusive day one Game Pass title.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Should Avoid a Stale Series Cliche
Indiana Jones and His Constant Companions
Of the women who have joined Indy on his most well-known adventures:
Archaeologist
Dial of Destiny
Each were distinct with interesting backstories and strong personalities. Yet, it was almost inevitable the leading ladies found themselves in the damsel in distress role at some point, and would predictably fall for Indy’s advances eventually, even if, as it usually did, it took a daring escape from a dangerous encounter to act as a narrative excuse for it. Fellow academic Dr. Schneider even outplayed Indy himself,as she was a quintessential femme fatale archetype, although this still led to a tryst with him. Indy’s relationship with most female counterparts is likely to, sooner or later, take a romantic turn. While this was a standard and often expected component of thestory and plot dynamics inIndiana Jones, it’s become obvious and overdone.
Troy Baker is confirmed to be voicing Indiana Jones in theGreat Circle, and the character model will feature Harrison Ford’s likeness.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Could Put a Better Spin on Its Central Relationship
Newcomer Gina Lombardi, an investigative reporter, will be the latest companion to accompany Indy in his upcoming tale.Indiana Jones and the Great Circleis set betweenRaiders of the Lost ArkandThe Last Crusade, meaning its plot will presumably account for events and characterizations seen in those. MachineGames' previous work on the modernWolfensteintitles displayed strong storytelling skills alongside tightly designed FPS gameplay. With well-realized and relatable characters, the studio has shown it can create and deliver excellent characterizations in an established IP, starting with B.J. Blazkowicz and expanding out to his circle of trusted friends and fellow resistance members.
This gives good promise thatMachineGameswill continue to advance bombastic action-centered stories by including more mature and thoughtful character angles, especially when it comes to Gina, and avoid the franchise’s usual trappings in this area. Of course, Indiana Jones has a recognizable demeanor as well, and it will be a balancing act to make him feel familiar and believable without tripping into tired territory. Hopefully, MachineGames has found a way for Gina’s relationship with Indy to evolve inIndiana Jones and the Great Circle,and be more interesting than the standard fare.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circlereleases in 2024 for PC and Xbox Series X/S.
MORE:Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Could Do Wonders With a Young Indy Prequel DLC
