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How Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Encourages Exploration

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Heavily inspired by classic 1930s serials like Zorro and Tim Tyler’s Luck, Indiana Jones is an adventure franchise through and through. Though the context changes entry by entry, each Indiana Jones movie sees the eponymous hero striving after some kind of special treasure, having to overcome a series of thrilling challenges along the way in daring fashion. It’s hard to capture that adventurous spirit properly in video game form, but Indiana Jones and the Great Circle generally does a great job.




Leading entries in the modern adventure video game genre like Uncharted and Tomb Raider have often focused on the action side of the genre, delivering explosive set pieces and intense chase sequences. While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has its fair share of action, it takes a very different approach from its contemporaries regarding its pacing, with much of its runtime being dedicated to slower-paced exploration. Thankfully, that exploration is heavily rewarded.

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How Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Incentivizes Exploration

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Exploration Rewards Players With Puzzles

When dropped into one of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s open areas, the general gameplay loop will begin with players receiving a new quest and heading to the objective marker clearly indicated on the map. While players can choose to run straight to the objective, there will be a wealth of optional avenues to explore along the way, such as tents with open doorways or building interiors that can be accessed through an open window.


Exploring these optional areas will often see players come face to face with a brief environmental puzzle. These puzzles range from safe codes that require some clue deduction, to more elaborate puzzles that use objects and scenery items, such as the alphabetical bookcase puzzle that can be found in Father Ventura’s office in the Vatican. These puzzles are always short and sweet, fueling the player’s adventurous spirit in bite-sized bursts.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s Exploration Leads to Worthwhile Upgrades

Of course, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s puzzles offer a much more tangible reward as well. Completing one of Indy‘s puzzles will reward players with some Adventure Points, which they can then use to unlock a variety of skill upgrades, such as increased melee damage and the ability to carry extra resources.

To gain the ability to unlock these skills, however, players will first need to find their respective books, many of which are hidden around Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s open areas, thus further encouraging thorough exploration. Some of these upgrade books are hidden behind side quests that can only be unlocked by players finding a specific disguise, which, again, is hidden somewhere in the environment.


Exploring Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s World Sees Players Stumble Upon Some Breathtaking Vistas

While hunting open areas for disguises, puzzles, side quest objectives, collectibles, or upgrade books, players will naturally stumble upon some absolutely breathtaking environments, some of which would have been missed entirely if players only stuck to the golden path. While Indiana Jones and the Great Circle‘s upgrades and puzzles are the main incentive to explore the map thoroughly, it’s always a fun surprise to be suddenly met with a stunning view of Rome’s glistening rooftops, or an ancient underground forge that’s been undisturbed for centuries, or a real-world historical building interior that’s been lovingly recreated.

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