MachineGames and Bethesda's upcoming Indiana Jones game, The Great Circle, will prioritize close-quarters combat over gunfights, according to the development team. This design choice reflects Indiana Jones's character, emphasizing his resourceful nature rather than his marksmanship.
The Great Circle: Hand-to-Hand Combat Takes Center Stage
Stealth and Puzzles Enhance Gameplay
In a recent interview with PC Gamer, MachineGames' design director and creative director detailed the game's gameplay mechanics. Inspired by their work on titles like Wolfenstein and Chronicles of Riddick: Escape From Butcher Bay, the developers confirmed a focus on melee combat, improvised weapons, and stealth.
"Indiana Jones isn't a gunslinger," the design director explained. "Hand-to-hand combat makes perfect sense for his character." While drawing inspiration from Chronicles of Riddick's melee system, the team adapted it to better suit Indy's unique fighting style. Expect creative combat using everyday objects – pots, pans, even banjos – as makeshift weapons. The developers aim to capture Indy's improvisational and lucky nature within the gameplay experience.
Beyond combat, players will explore a world blending linear and open environments, similar to Wolfenstein. This mix offers structured paths and expansive areas encouraging exploration. Some larger areas will feature immersive sim elements, allowing players multiple approaches to challenges. Enemy camps, for example, will require strategic infiltration and problem-solving.
Stealth will play a crucial role, incorporating traditional infiltration and a novel "social stealth" mechanic. Players can discover and utilize disguises within levels to blend in and access restricted areas. "Every major location offers several disguises," the design director stated, highlighting the strategic advantages of this mechanic.
A previous interview with Inverse revealed the deliberate decision to minimize gunplay. The game director emphasized the focus on hand-to-hand combat, navigation, and traversal, acknowledging the team's expertise in shooting mechanics but prioritizing more challenging aspects of gameplay design.
The game will also feature a robust selection of puzzles, ranging in difficulty to appeal to both casual and seasoned players. While some puzzles will offer a significant challenge, the developers confirmed that the most difficult puzzles will be optional, maintaining accessibility.
