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- Indiana Jones and the Great Circle’s gameplay previews show it’s shaping up to be an excellent adventure.
- However, the choice of first-person perspective is quite unsettling.
- Controlling an iconic character like Indiana would’ve been a much better experience in third-person.
Over the years, we’ve seen countless, fascinating genres. From shooters to beat ’em ups, hack and slash to strategy RPGs, turn-based battles to side-scrolling platformers, the list goes on. Needless to say, gaming is a lot more profound now than it was during its gestation days.
Some of these genres opt for a first-person, “self-insert” approach, while others prefer their main character to be in full display. Both perspectives have their respective domains, but what happens when one intrudes on the other’s? Indiana Jones and the Great Circle sets the stage for this battle, and it has me in quite the dilemma.
Why it matters: The long-awaited Indiana Jones game has everyone excited, but the decision to make it first-person is limiting the game’s true potential in many ways.
The Great Circle’s Peculiar Gameplay Choices
I’m certain an Indiana Jones game is a dream come true for many of us. The legendary exploits of Indy were a beloved part of my childhood. It all started with me being in awe watching Raiders of the Lost Ark, and before I knew it, I wanted to go on an adventure of my own.
Though I still haven’t made any progress (unfortunately), at least the gaming world has allowed me to do so. The Uncharted series was the closest thing to an Indy game, and I enjoyed the hell out of it. But now, the real thing is right around the corner.
There’s just one problem though, the first-person perspective. Back when it was only a rumor that MachineGames’ Indiana Jones game would be first-person, I expressed my concerns as to why it might not work out. And evidently, I was right to worry.
As amazing as this looks, I hope there’s a hero out there who will immediately make a mod allowing for the game to be played entirely in 3rd person.
by inindianajones
The gameplay previews for Indiana Jones and The Great Circle are out, and while it’s certainly shaping up to be a thrilling adventure game, the first-person gameplay segments are dampening my hype fire.
First-Person Is Limiting A Fantastic Game
Before I begin, I need to clarify that I firmly believe MachineGames has done a terrific job of capturing the essence of Indiana Jones. The more I see, the more I shout in excitement as to just how impressive it is, which is all the more reason I need to say this.
As soon as the trailers begin and the cinematic segment appears, you can immediately see the dedication behind this project. It is an authentic recreation of an Indy adventure, complete with awe-inspiring locations, magical artifacts in an obviously death-trap room, thrilling escape scenes, wisecracking Indy, the menacing bad guys, some whip and shooting action; everything’s just perfect.
As long as you’re in cutscenes, climbing ladders, ziplining through the terrain, swinging with your whip, fitting through narrow crevices, the third-person kicks in and it all feels natural. But things start feeling off when normal gameplay resumes and the camera pans to the first-person perspective.
The care that went into developing an Indiana Jones game.
byu/AIRCHANGEL inxbox
Controlling Indiana Jones through first-person makes it seem like something critical is missing.
A First-Person Indiana Jones Game Is A Missed Opportunity
The whip combat, navigating terrain, and the general gameplay loop all in first-person doesn’t feel “Indiana Jones” at all. I can live with first-person puzzles, which are superbly designed by the way, but the overall gameplay makes me wonder, why opt for something so unfitting?
It’s common knowledge that franchises with a character as iconic as Indiana Jones are third-person games. Being able to see the character and control it directly adds that much depth to the experience. In cases like this, the third-person perspective is the more immersive choice.
What good is an Indiana Jones game if I can’t even see Indy whip his foes? Being able to witness Indiana in action is half the fun. There’s a reason why iconic characters rarely go first-person, it limits their individuality. Imagine how perfect a game of this caliber would’ve been in the third person.
Guys oh my god I can’t wait to play as Hand
by inindianajones
I can still see glimpses of it thanks to The Great Circle’s somewhat hybrid approach, which makes me even sadder. I wanted the third person to be the dominant one. Yes, the decision was made to make the game stand out from Uncharted, but I think there were many other ways to do so.
Characters, story, game design, environment, puzzles, Indiana Jones could’ve stood out in all of these, and it’s still shaping up to be. But with Indiana Jones in full display, it could’ve reached near-perfection. Alas, it was not meant to be.
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Shameer Sarfaraz has previously worked for eXputer as a Senior News Writer for several years. Now with Tech4Gamers, he loves to devoutly keep up with the latest gaming and entertainment industries. He has a Bachelor’s Degree in Computer Science and years of experience reporting on games. Besides his passion for breaking news stories, Shahmeer loves spending his leisure time farming away in Stardew Valley. VGC, IGN, GameSpot, Game Rant, TheGamer, GamingBolt, The Verge, NME, Metro, Dot Esports, GameByte, Kotaku Australia, PC Gamer, and more have cited his articles.
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