Summary
- MachineGames cut a location from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle to maintain pacing and stay true to the game's vision.
- The withheld location cut could have been Petra, Jordan, given its historical significance and connection to the franchise.
- The missing area doesn't detract from the game's completion, highlighting that sometimes sacrifices are necessary in game development.
MachineGames' Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is undoubtedly an expansive game, taking players to historical locations like the Vatican, Cairo, Sukhothai, Shanghai, and the Himalayas, and letting them run free in one of the most authentic Indiana Jones gaming experiences ever made. Each locale in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is intentionally designed to pique players' curiosity and make them want to discover its secrets, whether they're a casual adventurer or seasoned explorer. Unfortunately, with a game as ambitious in scope as Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, there will always be sacrifices to make before the development process is finished.
Every game, no matter how big or how small it may be, begins with plans that aren't always able to come to fruition for one reason or another. Sometimes, elements of a game may be cut due to budgetary restrictions, and other times, these cuts may happen simply to rein in the game's identity to prevent it from losing itself. Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is one of the latest games to come out on the other side of development with some scars, as it was recently revealed that an entire location was cut from the game, despite there being no evidence of what location it might have been.
Indy’s Whip Isn’t His Only Versatile Tool in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle showcases the whip’s versatility, yet it’s far from his only versatile tool, with one other being just as useful.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Had a Location Cut From the Game
One Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Location Was Cut to Maintain the Game's Pacing
In an exclusive interview with Dexerto, creative director Axel Torvenius was asked if any locations were cut from the game, to which he replied, "All the locations were locked in fairly early, but we cut one location, which I will not mention." While he wouldn't disclose the location that was cut, he did say that it was due to that location being out of scope with the developer's vision for the game, which he explains meant that cutting it would allow the team to achieve "maximum pacing from a visual and creative point of view."
By the time the credits roll in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it certainly doesn't feel like anything is missing from the game. Overall, it feels complete, whole, and exactly what it is supposed to be. In light of that, the location that was cut from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle wasn't really missed, which is just a sign that MachineGames and Bethesda made the right choice. Nevertheless, just as the game itself piques one's curiosity to venture out into the wilderness in search of adventure, the thought that there might have been, at one time, another extravagant location to visit in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is a thought worth exploring.
There Are Plenty of Notable Sites Along the Great Circle the Cut Location Might Have Been
While MachineGames and Bethesda wouldn't disclose what location was cut from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, it's possible to speculate on what that location might have been by doing a closer look at the actual theory of the Great Circle. As Indy so eloquently lays out for Gina Lombardi in the game, the real-life Great Circle theory suggests that numerous ancient sites around the globe are aligned along a single, continuous great circle, and while many skeptics believe it to be nothing more than a coincidence, it has nonetheless intrigued researchers and historians for quite some time.
Considering the real-life Great Circle theory, there are several other notable locations that aren't featured in the game and yet align with the Great Circle. These locations include:
- Easter Island (Rapa Nui)
- Nazca Lines, Peru
- Ollantaytambo, Peru
- Tassili n'Ajjer, Algeria
- Petra, Jordan
- Persepolis, Iran
- Mohenjo-Daro, Pakistan
- Khajuraho, India
- Angkor Wat, Cambodia
There's no telling what location was ultimately cut from Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, nor whether it was indeed one of the aforementioned locations that aligns with the real-life Great Circle. That being said, Petra, Jordan stands out as a location that Indiana Jones would be inclined to visit, given its historical significance and previous association with the franchise. Also known as the "Rose City," Petra was the backdrop for the Holy Grail's temple in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, which means it could have killed two birds with one stone by being a bit of fan service and offering a brand-new location for players to explore. However, the world may never know which location was cut from the game, unless MachineGames and Bethesda decide to spill the beans someday.
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OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 87 /100 Critics Rec: 94%
- Released
- December 9, 2024
- ESRB
- T For Teen // Blood and Gore, Drug Reference, Mild Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- MachineGames
- Publisher(s)
- Bethesda
- Engine
- id Tech 7
- Franchise
- Indiana Jones
- Number of Players
- 1
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events of Raiders of the Lost Ark and The Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power connected to the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones™. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award-winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard.
YOU ARE INDIANA JONES
Live the adventure as Indy in a thrilling story full of exploration, immersive action, and intriguing puzzles. As the brilliant archaeologist – famed for his keen intellect, cunning resourcefulness, and trademark humor – you will travel the world in a race against enemy forces to discover the secrets to one of the greatest mysteries of all time.
A WORLD OF MYSTERY AWAITS
Travel from the halls of Marshall College to the heart of the Vatican, the pyramids of Egypt, the sunken temples of Sukhothai, and beyond. When a break-in in the dead of night ends in a confrontation with a mysterious colossal man, you must set out to discover the world-shattering secret behind the theft of a seemingly unimportant artifact. Forging new alliances and facing familiar enemies, you’ll engage with intriguing characters, use guile and wits to solve ancient riddles, and survive intense set-pieces.
WHIP-CRACKING ACTION
Indiana’s trademark whip remains at the heart of his gear and can be used to distract, disarm, and attack enemies. But the whip isn’t just a weapon, it’s Indy’s most valuable tool for navigating the environment. Swing over unsuspecting patrols and scale walls as you make your way through a striking world. Combine stealth infiltration, melee combat, and gunplay to combat the enemy threat and unravel the mystery.
THE SPIRIT OF DISCOVERY
Venture through a dynamic mix of linear, narrative-driven gameplay and open-area maps. Indulge your inner explorer and unearth a world of fascinating secrets, deadly traps,and fiendish puzzles, where anything could potentially hide the next piece of the mystery – or snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Unknown
- PC Release Date
- December 9, 2024
- Xbox Series X|S Release Date
- December 9, 2024
- PS5 Release Date
- April 17, 2025
- Platform(s)
- PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S
- X|S Optimized
- Yes
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
