If you spent time browsing the internet last evening, you likely noticed the highlight of the Xbox conference, which was the reveal of gameplay for the Indiana Jones game titled “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” translated in French as “Le Cercle des Anciens.” We have been eagerly anticipating this moment since the game’s announcement on January 12, 2021. At that time, we were given a first teaser; it is also worth noting that Bethesda had not yet been acquired by Microsoft. Despite this, the reveal of gameplay was highly anticipated. Many social media users expressed disappointment with the final result. This sentiment arose from both the game design choices—it is a first-person shooter rather than a third-person game—and visually, some felt it did not meet the standards expected for a 2024 release. Are these individuals justified in their disappointment, or are they simply being overly critical and unsatisfied?
Why didn’t “Indiana Jones and the Circle of the Ancients” generate widespread excitement last night after the release of its first gameplay footage? Why did many people’s enthusiasm cool down regarding the game? The primary reason is straightforward, rooted in its game design choice: opting for a First-Person Shooter (FPS) rather than a Third-Person Shooter (TPS), which many had anticipated. It is true that when deciding to make an Indiana Jones game, choosing a third-person view seems logical. Why? Because we have ingrained associations with references. When thinking of Indiana Jones, it’s hard not to draw parallels with characters like Lara Croft and Nathan Drake from Tomb Raider and Uncharted, who were inspired by the image of adventurer Indiana Jones. Without Indiana Jones, there would be no Lara Croft or Nathan Drake. So I understand and share this frustration people feel about not seeing a third-person game. Another factor to consider is the character of Indiana Jones himself. Bethesda and MachineGames paid homage by modeling Harrison Ford’s face in the game during his forties, which aligns with the game’s story set between “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Last Crusade.”
As a result, having Harrison Ford in the game and knowing that his presence will be limited to cutscenes only is quite disappointing. MachineGames and Bethesda were aware of this limitation when they began production on the game. This was likely discussed during initial brainstorming sessions, which is why developers attempted to reassure players during their Xbox conference speech. They specified that Indiana Jones’ iconic silhouette would appear in cutscenes as well as in additional transversal sections where he climbs through ducts, descends via zip line using his whip, or swings between platforms with the aid of his whip. However, for the rest of the gameplay, it will be from a subjective viewpoint, whether it’s hand-to-hand combat, whip attacks, or even firearm use. It should be noted that Indiana Jones rarely uses guns in the movies. Instead, he is an adventurer who prefers brawling and utilizing his environment to his advantage. Developers have stressed the importance of puzzles within the game, which is why the first-person shooter perspective makes sense. Upon examining the few puzzle images provided, it’s clear that a closer camera angle was necessary for players to understand what they are seeing. A distant camera behind the character might not align with the developers’ intentions for this aspect of gameplay.
Regardless, the decision to use a first-person viewpoint was made when it became known that MachineGames, based in Sweden, would be handling development. For those unfamiliar with the studio, they are responsible for the reboot of the Wolfenstein series, which began with its initial release in 2014. Over the past decade, they have released four episodes and a VR version of the game, indicating their commitment to the series. Knowing that MachineGames was founded by former members of Starbreeze, who are also big fans of FPS games, it is clear that first-person perspective games are integral to their identity. Choosing the first-person viewpoint was also a significant time-saving advantage for production. Had they chosen a third-person shooter (TPS), they would have had to start from scratch, dealing with character actions, environment interactions, staging, and more. Given what MachineGames has accomplished with Wolfenstein over the past decade, the studio already had all the necessary tools and assets, particularly since World War II is their specialty and Indiana Jones versus Nazis fits well within that framework.
For MachineGames, the narrative aspect of “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” presents some challenges. While previous iterations of Wolfenstein did include a story with memorable moments, it was typically secondary in importance. In contrast, for Indiana Jones, the storytelling must match the high standards set by the franchise. Troy Baker has been cast as the voice actor for Indiana Jones, which is a promising choice given his reputation for quality performances. For the French version, Richard Darbois was selected to provide the character’s voice. This selection makes sense since he is Harrison Ford’s official French voiceover artist for decades of films. However, considering that Richard Darbois is now 72 years old, I find there is a noticeable difference in his vocal timbre compared to when he originally voiced Indiana Jones three decades ago. His current voice seems somewhat mismatched with the portrayal of a younger character from an earlier era, which might affect how players perceive the game’s narrative and characters. This is just my observation; others may have different perspectives on this issue.
Another point of controversy on social media is the game’s visual rendering, specifically its graphics, which many consider inadequate for a 2024 release and as an exclusive title. It is true that we have seen better visuals, even in games from the previous generation. The character modeling is not flawless; I’ve noticed several comparisons with Uncharted 4, released in 2016 on PS4, which surpasses this Indiana Jones game in visual quality. Objectively speaking, when comparing the two side by side, Naughty Dog outperforms MachineGames significantly. However, it should be noted that the Swedish studio is not known for creating visually groundbreaking games, although the Wolfenstein series has always been visually appealing. Nonetheless, where MachineGames excels is in atmosphere, blending certain elements humorously and emphasizing comedic aspects of some situations, which I believe can work well with Indiana Jones. Additionally, we will be looking forward to seeing how the developers handle storytelling and narration, hoping they will strive for more ambition in this area…
