This article contains MAJOR SPOILERS for both Indiana Jones and the Great Circle and its Order of Giants DLC.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle got a lot right. For the first time in arguably three decades, fans were treated to a genuinely exhilarating, cohesive Indiana Jones story featuring a compelling mystery at its core. And while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's immersive sim-inspired gameplay may not have been everyone's cup of tea, it was an ingenious way for developer MachineGames to make this virtual adventure the most absorbing and technically impressive Indiana Jones video game thus far.
But Indiana Jones and the Great Circle wasn't without its hiccups. Even those who adored the story and embraced its immersive sim elements had some complaints about the game. And while Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's The Order of Giants DLC can't fix fans' issues with the base game, it does try to make up for one of The Great Circle's biggest shortcomings.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is Home to Some Lackluster Boss Fights
During its 15–20 hour runtime, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle throws players into around six boss fights, three of which are against the same opponent. The first, second, and fifth boss fights see players throwing hands with Tony Todd's Locus, one of the "giants" of the Nephilim Order who are tasked with protecting the keys to Noah's Ark. All of Locus' boss encounters are serviceable, essentially boiling down to a standard fist fight with a bigger, harder-hitting enemy than usual.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's final boss fight against Nazi archaeologist Emmerich Voss is much of the same. Though players are fighting atop Noah's Ark in the middle of a fearsome storm, the spectacle of the fight quickly grows stale thanks to the lengthy sequence consisting only of simple blocks, counters, and dodges.
The other two boss fights in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle are slightly more distinct, though they aren't without their own issues. The fight against the Giant Snake in Sukhothai is terrifying, but again, it quickly wears thin as players are asked to simply throw spear after spear into the creature's head. And while the battle against the blind giant in Gizeh is probably the game's most memorable boss fight thanks to its use of stealth mechanics and darkness, it swiftly devolves into the same blocking, countering, and dodging that appears in all of the game's other humanoid fist fights.
Indiana Jones: The Order of Giants Only Has One Boss Fight, But It's a Doozy
The Build Up Is Just as Important As The Fight Itself
The whole premise of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's The Order of Giants DLC is that the eponymous adventurer is tasked with exploring the sewers of Rome to uncover the secrets behind the thousands-of-year-old Nephilim Order. Before descending into the dense network of ancient drainage systems and catacombs, players can find historical documents that speak of an unbeatable bull-sized gladiator who fought during the reign of Emperor Nero.
Some later documents shed a bit more light on this hulking figure. It's said the giant warrior originally came from Greece, where he earned the nickname 'Monster of Crete', and spawned the myth of the Minotaur. The giant's legend is further cemented when players discover what appears to be his tomb, which features a suitably elaborate gladiator-themed puzzle.
Soon after the puzzle's completion, players encounter the Cult of Mithras, a secret organization operating underneath Rome's bustling 1930s city streets. This cult worships the Roman/Iranian god Mithras, who is said to have slain a sacred bull in a sacrificial act known as 'Tauroctony'. The leader of this cult believes that if he can kill his own sacred bull, he can reach enlightenment.
This all culminates in Indy finding the Monster of Crete slumped on a large throne, adorned in heavy armor and a bull's head-shaped helmet. As the cult leader goes to stab the giant, he awakens, snaps the man's neck, tosses him aside, and challenges Indy to a one-on-one duel.
An Arena Befitting Such an Epic Duel
The Monster of Crete (real name Abgal and former member of the Nephilim Order) flips a lever next to his throne and the platform he and Indy are standing on begins to rise from the ground. It reaches its destination, sunlight shines down on Indy's face, and it's revealed that players are now situated in the remains of the Rome Colosseum. The climactic duel begins, and players are tasked with avoiding the boss' attacks by ducking and weaving behind the historic stone remains of this magnificent ancient theater.
A (Slight) Change of Pace
The boss fight against the Monster of Crete offers a touch more variety than most encounters in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's base game. While players are still throwing countless spears at a big enemy until it falls down, in between throws they occasionally have to whip-yank the boss' armor off, presenting new weak spots they can target. It's not a major mechanical step up from the base game's boss fights, but it's at least a small extra layer of depth that breaks up the monotony.
Indiana Jones: The Order of the Giants' Monster of Crete boss fight is far from the most thrilling boss encounter in video game history, and like its base game predecessors, it does go on a tad too long. But with a grandiose setting, well-paced build-up, some fascinating lore, and some fun gameplay mechanics, this boss offers a memorable set piece and a satisfying conclusion to Indiana Jones and the Great Circle's DLC.
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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
