MachineGames and Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones title, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, will prioritize close-quarters combat over gunfights, according to the development team. This design choice reflects the character's iconic fighting style.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: A Focus on Hand-to-Hand Combat and Stealth
Puzzles and Environmental Interaction Crucial to Gameplay
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, MachineGames' design director and creative director revealed key gameplay elements. Inspired by their work on titles like Wolfenstein and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, the team emphasizes hand-to-hand combat, improvisational brawls, and stealth mechanics.
"Indiana Jones isn't known for gunplay," the design director explained. "Hand-to-hand combat feels authentic to the character." The game's melee system draws inspiration from Chronicles of Riddick, but adapted to Indy's unique approach. Players will use everyday items – pots, pans, even banjos – as improvised weapons. The developers aim to capture Indy's resourceful and somewhat clumsy heroism in the game's mechanics.
Beyond combat, exploration is a major component. The game blends linear sections with more open environments, similar to the Wolfenstein series. These larger areas offer players significant freedom to approach challenges creatively, creating an almost immersive sim-like experience in certain sections. Enemy camps, for instance, allow for multiple infiltration strategies.
Stealth plays a significant role, incorporating both classic infiltration techniques and a novel "social stealth" element. Players can find and use disguises to blend into environments and access restricted areas. Each major location offers numerous disguise options, providing clever ways to overcome obstacles.
In a previous interview with Inverse, the game director highlighted the intentional downplaying of gunplay. The team prioritized other aspects of gameplay, such as hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and environmental interaction. The game also features challenging puzzles, with some optional for players seeking a more accessible experience.
