Stealth in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: The Perfect Balance

In many Indiana Jones movies, including all of the Harrison Ford installments, Indiana Jones has to get stealthy to achieve his objectives. From wearing disguises in The Last Crusade to sneaking onto a submarine to chase the Ark of the Covenant in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy knows that sometimes, you have to go undercover to succeed. Stealth, as an gameplay mechanic, often feels awkwardly tacked onto an otherwise fast-paced and action-packed adventure, but it doesn’t always need to. This is exactly where Indiana Jones and the Great Circle gets it so right.

A Sneak Peek at the Game

When the game first kicks off, you quickly realize that there’s much more to this story than has been revealed up until this point. You have to remain covert, dodging enemies as they patrol around every corner, desperately trying to evade capture and achieve your goals without being discovered.

You get the feeling of urgency hiding behind a crate, watching an enemy walk by with a sniffer dog at their side. The knowledge that they won’t take long to check on your presence sends you dashing from cover to cover, trying not to get caught while staying hot on the trail. The gameplay does an excellent job of balancing speed and stealth, allowing players like me who struggle with traditional stealth mechanics to successfully navigate even the most complex and challenging environments.

The Approachable Stealth System

Crouched movement is extremely effective in these stealth sections. It’s straightforward enough to execute and doesn’t leave you second-guessing which actions you take. Sound meter gauges may be too overbearing for those who want an intense experience; in the context of the Great Circle, sound doesn’t necessarily pose as great a risk to your well-being. Run too loud and authorities will start getting curious, whereas firing a few rounds in celebration can raise suspicions.

If all else fails and you are exposed, do not panic! Grabbing an opportunistic glass bottle to throw away from an enraged guard as they search for their missing mate allows you to regain the initiative or create another path. Maybe switch to an old whip as it changes an opponent’s behavior pattern. Make some noise in order to re route their investigation!

This delicate blend of freedom to adapt is genuinely thrilling in Indy’s footsteps through the ancient alleys of Marrakech. When something didn’t quite come together the first time around and the action unraveled a tad, and for a second it felt I could lose, an adrenaline shot kept me enthused, convinced and, by now, addicted!