Summary of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Review" – Kinda Funny Gamescast

Release Date: December 6, 2024

Introduction

In the December 6, 2024 episode of Kinda Funny Gamescast: Video Game Podcast, hosts Tim Gies, Greg “GameOverGreggy” Miller, and Paris Lily delve into their comprehensive review of the highly anticipated game, "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" developed by Machine Games and published by Bethesda. The discussion navigates through their personal experiences with the franchise, detailed assessments of the game’s story and gameplay mechanics, and concludes with their overall impressions and ratings.

Hosts' Background and Connection to Indiana Jones

Before diving into the review, the hosts share their personal histories with the Indiana Jones franchise and Machine Games:

• Paris Lily emphasized her deep-rooted passion for Indiana Jones, stating, “I’m a huge Indiana Jones fan. Raiders of the Lost Ark is one of my favorite movies ever” (06:14).

• Greg Miller contrasted this by expressing a more casual appreciation: “I enjoy Indiana Jones, but I would never say I’m a huge fan or a big fan” (07:00).

Their diverse perspectives set the stage for a balanced review, blending fan enthusiasm with critical analysis.

Overall Ratings

• Greg Miller rates the game a 6.5/10, noting it as “very close to being good” but hampered by several detriments (09:55).

• Paris Lily assigns a 7/10, attributing her slightly higher score to nostalgia and her fondness for the franchise (12:01).

Story and Narrative

Both hosts commend the game’s narrative fidelity to the Indiana Jones legacy:

• Greg Miller praises the voice acting, particularly Troy Baker’s portrayal of Indiana Jones: “Troy Baker is Indiana Jones. He owns the role” (14:22).

• Paris Lily echoes this sentiment, highlighting the authentic depiction of characters and the storytelling: “They nailed what makes Indiana Jones Indiana Jones. The music, the characters, the voice, the comedy, everything works” (14:53).

However, they critique the integration of side missions and open-world elements, which they feel disrupt the main storyline and dilute the overall experience. Greg mentions, “The side missions are done, then I went off... It takes me so far removed that getting back onto it is difficult” (19:11). Paris adds, “The side missions take away from the main story, which I think is pretty good” (19:16).

Gameplay Mechanics

The core gameplay receives mixed feedback:

• Combat:

  • Greg Miller criticizes the AI and combat mechanics, stating, “The AI is bad. The combat is also, I would say, bad” (24:36). He illustrates this with a clip description where enemies exhibit minimal intelligence, making combat repetitive and uninspiring.

  • Paris Lily concurs, noting the lack of meaningful repercussions in combat: “There was no reaction to anything that I was doing, regardless” (26:23).

• Exploration and Open Zones:

  • Greg finds the open zones unengaging and monotonous, arguing they hinder the exploration experience: “The exploration just isn’t fun in this game” (20:31).

  • Paris reinforces this by suggesting the game would have benefited from a more linear design: “This would have played out a lot better as a linear adventure” (35:11).

• Puzzles:

  • Both hosts agree that the puzzles are a standout feature, providing enjoyable and rewarding challenges. Greg states, “The puzzles are really good” (48:06), while Paris acknowledges their fun factor despite occasional frustrations: “The puzzles are the highlight of the game” (50:31).

• System Mechanics:

  • The inclusion of upgrades and currencies felt unnecessary to both hosts, with Greg highlighting the redundancy: “They missed the mark on these and that holds back the entire experience” (11:22).

  • Paris points out the lack of meaningful rewards for exploration, making the system feel superfluous: “The exploration was too simplified when it came to the combat stuff” (51:46).

Technical Issues and Bugs

Both Greg and Paris encountered bugs that detracted from their gaming experience:

• Greg Miller describes a persistent companion bug causing repeated interruptions: “My companion... will scream ‘Oh God’ over and over again” (22:53).

• Paris Lily experienced similar issues, such as being unable to access certain game areas: “I had a bug where I couldn’t go into the fountain” (26:23).

These technical flaws contribute to their overall dissatisfaction with the game’s execution.

Comparative Analysis

The hosts draw comparisons to other franchises to contextualize their critique:

• Uncharted: Both admire Uncharted for its seamless integration of story and gameplay, contrasting it with Indiana Jones where linearity breaks immersion: “When you turn a corner, it feels like a dead end” (35:49).

• Starfield: Greg appreciates Starfield for engaging open-world exploration, highlighting the missed opportunities in Indiana Jones: “Starfield is one of those... so many things that pulled my attention” (42:34).

Final Thoughts and Conclusion

In wrapping up, both hosts acknowledge the game's strengths in narrative and character portrayal but lament the shortcomings in gameplay mechanics and technical stability:

• Greg Miller expresses a bittersweet conclusion: “I really do enjoy Indiana Jones, but it takes away from this end product that I think could have been something really special” (54:25).

• Paris Lily emphasizes the game’s potential tainted by its execution: “It is Indiana Jones. Again, I cannot praise Troy Baker enough... but it is the video gamey stuff that I have a complaint about” (54:25).

Overall Verdict:

While "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle" delivers a compelling narrative and stellar voice acting, its flawed gameplay mechanics and technical issues prevent it from reaching its full potential. The game is recommended primarily for die-hard Indiana Jones fans, though it may leave broader audiences wanting more polished and engaging experiences.

Notable Quotes:

• Greg Miller ([09:55]): "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a 6.5. It is an okay video game. I think it's very close to being good. I also think it's very close to being mediocre."

• Paris Lily ([12:01]): "I'm probably going to be a little higher and I'm going to say a seven, but it's the nostalgia of I'm an Indiana Jones fan."

• Greg Miller ([14:22]): "The voice acting in this is fantastic. Troy Baker is Indiana Jones. He owns the role."

• Paris Lily ([50:31]): "The puzzles are the highlight of the game."

• Greg Miller ([54:25]): "I have more of a complaint about it. ... It just takes away from this end product that I think could have been something really special."

Conclusion

This episode of Kinda Funny Gamescast offers an insightful and thorough review of "Indiana Jones and the Great Circle", balancing fan appreciation with critical analysis. Listeners can gain a clear understanding of the game's merits and flaws, helping them decide whether to embark on Indy’s latest adventure.