Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle presents itself as an action-adventure that promises to immerse players in the iconic atmosphere of the franchise. Developed by MachineGames, the title aims to capture the essence of Indiana Jones’ adventures, offering a compelling story, exploration of exotic locations and gameplay that balances action, puzzles and cinematic moments. Set in 1937, between “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Last Crusade”, the game catapults the player into a new adventure that sees Indy struggling with the theft of an ancient artifact linked to the mysterious “ancient circle”. The plot, full of twists and moments of suspense, develops at a fast pace, keeping the player’s attention high from start to finish. MachineGames demonstrates a deep understanding of the franchise, managing to replicate the atmosphere and tone of the films with great skill.
The Ancient Circle offers a varied and challenging gaming experience, with settings ranging from the Sistine Chapel to the Pyramids of Egypt. Each location is created with care and attention to detail, helping to create an immersive and fascinating experience. Although not an open world, the game offers large explorable areas, full of secrets and collectibles, which encourage the player to completely immerse himself in the game world. The combat system, initially perceived as simplistic, turns out to be fun and dynamic. Indy can use the surrounding environment to his advantage, using improvised objects as weapons, as well as being able to count on a repertoire of melee moves and the inevitable pistol. Stealth plays an important role, allowing the player to infiltrate restricted areas and overcome challenges with cunning.
The game excels in exploration and puzzle solving. Hidden tombs and temples offer complex and challenging environmental challenges, requiring the player to use Indy’s whip, wits and archaeological knowledge to progress. Unfortunately, the gaming experience is affected by some technical problems, such as graphic bugs, slowdowns and some too many uncertainties. Something has been fixed with the updates, but it seems that in other cases a certain rush in having to respect the publication deadline has minimally affected the enjoyment of the product. While these issues don’t completely ruin the experience, they represent a flaw that negatively impacts the overall quality of the product.
Despite some uncertainties on a technical level, Indiana Jones and the Ancient Circle proves to be an exciting adventure that will win over lovers of the genre and long-time fans. The engaging story, the evocative settings and the varied gameplay manage to transport the player into the world of the famous archaeologist, offering a satisfying and emotionally rich gaming experience. MachineGames has created a title that respectfully pays homage to the Indiana Jones franchise, capturing its essence and spirit of adventure. The defects found, while not negligible, do not overshadow the qualities of a game that deserves to be rediscovered and appreciated for its ability to revive the magic of George Lucas’ saga.
Format: Xbox Series X/S (tested version), PC Publisher: Bethesda Softworks Developer: MachineGames Vote: 8/10
