Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Taps Into an Overlooked Series Strength

Posted by By our-little-miss-is-home December 15, 2024 43 Views 7 Min Read
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Taps Into an Overlooked Series Strength



One of the most common points of praise Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has received over the last week has been how authentic the game feels. This is a pretty weighty term that can mean an array of different things, but in the case of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it’s the perfect word to describe the game and all it achieves.




Practically every mechanic and technical feature in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle feels authentic to the beloved movie franchise it’s based on. From the lighting in tombs, to the sound of Indy’s whip cracking, to the weighty feeling of fists hitting Nazi faces, every moment of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s runtime captures the magic of the adventure series, even going as far as to embrace a core part of the franchise that’s often overlooked.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle logo over Indy and Gina in Gizeh

Related
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Gizeh Is the Perfect Shake-Up for Its Small Beginnings

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Gizeh area is a thrilling shake-up, expanding the game’s scale and ambition after its small, closer beginnings.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Has Some Great Companions

Companions Are a Core Element of Indiana Jones

While Indiana Jones is obviously the star of the franchise, he never adventures on his own. Raiders of the Lost Ark sees Indy team up with Marion Ravenwood and Sallah, Temple of Doom brings Willie Scott and Short Round along for the ride, and The Last Crusade invites Sean Connery to join the party as Indy’s father. Even the disappointing Kingdom of the Crystal Skull and Dial of Destiny featured companions, with the former seeing the return of Marion and the introduction of her son Mutt, and the latter bringing Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s Helena into canon.


These companions may not be the first thing fans think of when Indiana Jones is brought up, but they’re a core part of the franchise’s identity. These companions usually bring two key elements to the table, the first being a sense of stakes, and the second being a sense of heart, with Indy often caring deeply about what happens to them.

Antonio Ticks All The Boxes For a Classic Indiana Jones Companion

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle embraces this often overlooked aspect of the franchise, delivering its first companion almost immediately. Upon entering the Vatican for the first time, players meet Antonio, a priest who quickly becomes a memorable ally. In their very first conversation together, it’s implied that Indy and Antonio have known each other for almost two decades, with the pair having met on the Italian frontlines in World War 1.


To bolster the duo’s connection, and to start forging a bond between the player and Antonio, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has Antonio guiding the player through the early stages of their adventure, mirroring the mentor role that the character had in Indy’s youth. Though players aren’t with Antonio for long, the character’s charming performance, personal connection to Indy, and their early-game actions should cement them as a memorable Indiana Jones companion.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Gina Lombardi Is One of The Series’ Strongest Companions

While Antonio is only present for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s opening level, Gina Lombardi hangs around a lot longer, and is much more likely to make an impact on players. When players first meet Gina in the Vatican, she’s posing as a nun, trying to find more information on the whereabouts of her missing sister.

Players soon find out that Gina is an investigative journalist who believes her archaeologist sister has been kidnapped by the Nazis. It’s a fairly simple motivation, but it’s an effective and personal one that adds another natural layer of stakes to the story. As the game progresses, players gradually learn more about Gina’s personal history, and quickly discover she’s quite complex.


On top of her intriguing complexity, Gina Lombardi is also a good companion in terms of gameplay. Gina can pick locks, she suggests hints if players are stuck on puzzles, and she’s pretty good in a fistfight. Alessandra Mastronardi’s performance as Gina Lombardi should also be commended, with it being the final piece of evidence to suggest Gina is one of Indiana Jones‘ most memorable companions.

Source link