When a beloved movie franchise like Indiana Jones is being adapted to the world of video games, a common hope among fans is that the adaptation is authentic or faithful to the source material. Of course, that’s much easier said than done. The video game adaptation needs to capture the atmosphere and charm of the movies in a completely different medium. But somehow, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle manages to deliver.
One of the most prevalent points of praise surrounding Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is the game’s faithfulness to the franchise, and it’s clear a lot of effort went into making the game as authentic as it could be. Troy Baker’s career-defining performance as the eponymous adventurer, the look and feel of the game’s tombs, and the lovingly recreated sound effects are just a handful of the ways developer MachineGames has captured the magic of the Indiana Jones franchise. But there’s one much more subtle aspect of the franchise that MachineGames has nailed as well.
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Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Carries Forward The Series’ Humor
Humor Is a Vital Part of the Indiana Jones Franchise
The Indiana Jones franchise tackles its fair share of darker themes, from supernatural horror to Nazis to slavery to death and the wider subject of mortality and aging. But at its very core, Indiana Jones is an adventure movie franchise, and it isn’t afraid to embrace the levity that comes inherently with the genre.
There’s a surprising amount of humor in Indiana Jones, especially in the first three movies. These brief moments of comedy appear in quite a few different forms. Some of the most effective Indiana Jones gags are the titular hero’s quips and one-liners, such as Raiders of the Lost Ark‘s infinitely quotable “I don’t know, I’m making this up as I go.”
But Indiana Jones is also home to a wealth of physical gags, many of which have become standout moments in the franchise that have been parodied or parroted countless times since in other pieces of media. Indy pulling out his pistol to gun down the showboating swordsman in Raiders and him attempting to do the same unsuccessfully in Temple of Doom are two great examples of the franchise’s physical humor. On top of keeping the general tone a bit lighter, the humor in Indiana Jones is often used to reinforce Indy’s rogueish charm and his uncanny ability to fail upwards.
How Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Captures The Franchise’s Trademark Humor
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle goes out of its way to capture the same type of humor that defines the franchise. Cinematics are packed full of classic-feeling Indy one-liners and quips, with Indy playfully taunting both friends and foes alike with his trademark dry wit. Physical comedy also plays a surprisingly large role in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, with some of the best moments occurring in actual gameplay.
When players grapple an enemy, they’re usually able to punch the foe three times before they’re knocked to the ground. However, a rare animation can play that sees Indy go to swing a third time, but stop the punch in midair, instead letting the foe slump to the ground themselves. There are some similarly humorous stealth takedowns in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, with one seeing Indy tap a guard on the shoulder before knocking him out with a melee weapon. The Great Circle‘s realistic physics systems enhance the humor of these moments, with guards’ bodies flinging themselves backwards in amusing positions.
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