The adventures of Indiana Jones were the subject of five feature films, more or less appreciated by the public. The greatest archaeologist is now enjoying a brand new epic, video game version, which did not fail to surprise.
Last appeared in the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny in 2023, the famous character of Harrison Ford had somewhat disappointed his audience. Despite recent disappointments, the great archaeologist is back for new adventures, this time in the form of a video game, Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle.
Developed by the MachineGames studio and published by Bethesda Softworks, the game will be available from December 9, 2024 for all PC and Xbox Series players (including in Game Pass PC and Ultimate). If the title is not yet available to the general public, the specialized press has already been able to take hold of it and form its opinion. So what is the new episode dedicated to the great Indy worth?
A game that wants to be a film
If we resume the famous universe of Indiana Jones (shaped by none other than Steven Spielberg and George Lucas) was ambitious, MachineGames rose to the challenge with flying colors. The specialized press highlights the game’s fidelity to the first cinematographic works of the fedora-wearing archaeologist. In fact, Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circlewhich places its scenario between Raiders of the Lost Ark And The Last Crusade intends to draw heavily on the atmosphere so characteristic of the first films in the license.
Everything that made the works of Spielberg and Lucas so charming has been taken up by The Ancient Circlethus playing on fans’ nostalgia. JeuxVideo.com underlines the “impeccable compliance with the license”which gives the “feeling of being at the cinema watching a new episode”. An immersion that also pleased GamesNewswho appreciates “incredible atmosphere” And “the old-fashioned atmosphere that emerges” appearing as “a real candy”. The morning goes even further by writing: “You’d swear it’s Spielberg. Spielberg at his highest creative level”.
Situated between the first two parts, The Ancient Circle allows us to embody an Indiana Jones still in the prime of his life and motivated to brave the greatest obstacles. MachineGames seems to have succeeded in writing this legendary character, with respect for “his sagacity, his humor, his fear of snakes”according to JeuxActu.
A varied exploration that does not convince everyone
As demonstrated in the presentation video released at the beginning of November, Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle stands out for the variety of its gameplay. Adventure, combat, enigma… a whole range of missions await the great archaeologist and will vary the players’ gaming experience.
Alternating between semi-open areas and more linear passages, The Ancient Circle offers gameplay that does not repeat itself. Each city crossed by Indiana Jones can be explored from top to bottom by the player, therefore offering a false open world sensation which was more or less appreciated.
While The morning writes that “each of the biomes […] is vast, overflowing with varied activities and never leaves the impression that things are repeating themselves”Jeuxvideo issues a more severe opinion: “these semi-open areas, […] we cannot say that their design is impeccable”. The free exploration spaces would have been poorly thought out (at least for some), with players facing obvious places of interest that remain inactive until the right quest has been unlocked. A certain frustration then emerges, because the secondary quests scattered around the map are not accessible until a certain main mission has not been accomplished.
Nevertheless, the open worlds were very popular with critics, notably IGNwho believes that “It’s in these phases that the game shines”. The freedom of exploration, the many hidden corners and passages to discover, as well as the mysteries that lurk in the map, are enjoyable. IGN appreciates the realism of the worlds, capable of different interactions depending on the outfit worn by Indiana Jones. Depending on the disguise adopted, certain areas become free, thanks to intelligent and observant NPCs.
However, it appears on a few occasions that “MachineGames is not entirely comfortable with the exercise” of the open world, according to Jeuxvideo. Although the play area is open and there are many nooks and crannies, there are sometimes “nothing special to find”leaving “a little taste of unfinished business”.
Graphics that deserve a lot of applause
Made with Unreal Engine 5, the graphicsIndiana Jones and the Ancient Circle are a monster of visual beauty. In addition to offering varied settings, the game shines with its impeccable aesthetics. The player is transported into the different worlds and some panoramas are truly breathtaking.
Effectively, Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle presents itself as an exotic epic, a journey around the world and its different cultures. The archaeologist is destined to cross RomeGiza in Egypt, the Himalayas, the Thai jungle, the city of Shanghai in China… Each country is finely represented and the game seeks to “respect local languages, customs and culture as much as possible”according to JeuxActu, which allows for an exotic immersion. The visual quality of Ancient Circle is such that Jeuxvidéo estimates that “the most important places are so full of details that we sometimes border on ‘museum play'”.
Despite environments that are all more magnificent than the others, the modeling ofHarrison Fordactor from Indiana Jones, is more or less successful. If The morning sees a “human representation close to perfection”the newspaper finds “something that rings false at times”. A review shared with Jeuxvidéo, which did not fail to notice “NPC with faces that are a little too frozen and sketchy effects for anything related to water or fire”.
The combat phases, so-so
Throughout his epic, Indiana Jones will be confronted with several antagonists, in particular the Nazis. The specialist review once again underlines the fidelity of the game with the first films of Spielberg and Lucas, with the presence of the revolver, the whip and the simple punch.
The strength ofIndiana Jones and the Ancient Circle lies in the diversity of its enemies, which depending on their types, respond differently to attacks. Confrontations therefore require an analysis of the adversary, each having its weak points and strengths. The player must also take advantage of the game environment, by using objects around him or hiding behind furniture or walls.
JeuxVideo estimates that “the action phases work well or even very well”while IGN points out that “hand-to-hand combat […] are really not the strong point of the game”. IGN actually favors the option of stealth rather than combativeness.
The enemies, which run on AI, present themselves as a big flaw. Qualified as “completely shattered” by JeuxActu, “frustrating” by IGN and criticized by Jeuxvidéo for its gestures “lacking naturalness”artificial intelligence is a black point for the combat phases. Inconsistent and stupid, the enemies are easy to defeat and utterly laughable.
What about the puzzles?
Another major characteristic ofIndiana Jones and the Ancient Circle : the riddles. Sprinkled throughout the game, these were as much appreciated as they were criticized, marking a new confrontation between the different criticisms. Satisfying, varied, intriguing… JeuxActu does not fail to highlight the game’s mechanisms, which require time and intelligence. Note that The Ancient Circle “never helps the player”, forcing the latter to fully invest.
This is a contrary opinion expressed by Jeuxvidéo on Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circlewriting that “the riddles […] disappointed us a little.” The mysteries to be solved seem on the fringes of the plot, or even completely disconnected, which calls into question their usefulness.
IGN appreciates the puzzles for their immersive nature. With a first-person view, The Ancient Circle allows you to see the mechanisms, gears and levers up close, which should be operated not with a simple button on the controller, but with a movement of the directional stick. The player has “the feeling of manipulating each mechanism”which is “a joy every time”.
So, Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circlewhich was eagerly awaited by the gaming community, is particularly difficult to pin down. Each of the aspects surrounding the game is approached differently by specialist critics, whether exploration, combat and puzzles. If some see it as the “game of the year”, others simply remain satisfied.
The only way to find out more is to play as the famous fedora-wearing archaeologist yourself and discover the adventure of the Ancient Circle.