Wolfenstein developer MachineGames is known for their solid writing and penchant for diabolical nazi villains, which is probably what got them the gig making Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but they also just know how to make a good shooter. The Wolfenstein games deliver a lot of guns-blazing, gory action, so will their Indiana Jones game be the same?
Not necessarily. While being interviewed on the Official Xbox Podcast, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle director Jerk Gustafsson explained the goal is to make a “proper adventure game” that targets a “wider audience” than their previous hardcore shooters. As such, more often than not stealth and puzzle solving will be the best route forward, and when you do run afoul of the bad guys, you’ll frequently be punching them out instead of shooting them down.
“We’re used to having these heavy weapons, gun-blazing shooters. This is a little big different. We are making a proper adventure game here, and it’s also a game that is a little more directed at toward a wider audience, [which is] a bit of a new thing for us.
We prioritized that we had to stay true to Indy’s personality, and who he is above all. He is a normal human being. He is not this caped superhero. He is flawed, he makes mistakes, he stumbles. There is weight to his movement and we have this gritty pulp edge to the action. But, at the same time, he’s also rather athletic, he’s an excellent fighter, and he has an enormous amount of luck as well.
It is something that we’ve been focused on a lot when it comes to gameplay. [Indy] solves problems with his mind first and really relies on smarts, not this excessive combat that we’ve seen or done before in the Wolfenstein games. So, when you are playing the game, choosing the more authentic stealth route, or just some classic fist fighting, will be a benefit to the player and, more times than not, also make for a very fun and challenging experience.”
The full Official Xbox Podcast interview is worth checking out, as the MachineGames guys get into a variety of topics, including the game’s locations (Marshall College, the Himalayas, Egypt, Thailand, the Vatican, and “a couple” of other locations), and the fact there will be a “couple” classic character cameos we haven’t seen yet. They also touch on the work they’ve done with Lucasfilm to ensure the game’s authenticity, Troy Baker’s work as Indy, and more. You can check it all out, below.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is coming to PC and Xbox Series X/S on sometime in 2024. You can check out the game’s latest trailer here.
