Experience the Thrill of Indiana Jones in a Whole New Light
What is it?
A first person, globetrotting adventure starring everyone’s favorite archeologist. It features a range of different outfits and disguises, allowing players to explore different areas and complete various missions. The game is set in different time periods and locations, from the Vatican to the Pyramids of Giza.
The open world hubs are designed with density and inspiration, giving players a sense of being in a real place. Each hub has its own unique atmosphere and challenges, making exploration a pure joy.
Release date and expectations
Release date: December 8, 2024 (Dec 5 advanced access). Expect to pay: $70/£60. Developer: MachineGames. Publisher: Microsoft. Reviewed on: Nvidia GeForce RTX3070, Intel Core i5 12600K, 32GB RAM. Steam Deck: All signs point to “no”.
Before starting The Great Circle, the author wasn't overly excited about a triple-A Indiana Jones game. But after playing, it became clear that MachineGames had created something special.
Gameplay aspects
The Great Circle is all about more brand-appropriate hand-to-hand brawling, exploration, and puzzle solving. There are guns, but limited ammo makes them more situational tools. The combat is simple but fun, with a super-generous parry window.
The stealth mechanics are simple, with line-of-sight stealth and no sound propagation or visibility control. There are only a few mandatory stealth sequences, and the disguise system allows players to minimize stealth in other areas.
The brain teasers are just barely upper middle class, like a notch above Uncharted. There are many little puzzles throughout the game, adding to the overall enjoyment.
Level design
The game is organized around three acts with their own open world hubs, connected by more linear, set piece missions. The design of these levels is the real triumph of the game.
Vatican City is the peak of the game for the author, with its visual feast and towering architecture. The second act in the shadow of the Pyramids of Giza has a unique charm, with each stop having a little surprise or twist.
Character performances
Troy Baker's turn as Indy is killer. He nails Indy's easy, everyman-concealing-academic charisma. The rest of the cast is equally impressive, with a fiery antifascist reporter, a jovial cardinal, and a sophisticated archeology patron.
Special mention goes to the late Tony Todd as one of the game's antagonists, oozing menace with a mysterious dignity.
Technical aspects
The Great Circle is a great value in terms of playtime, with a runtime of around 30 hours for a thorough playthrough. Graphically, it is beautiful but a system hog, punishing the RTX 3070 with its always-on ray tracing and VRAM gluttony.
There were some issues with flickering shadows in the introductory areas, but it didn't detract too much from the overall experience.
In conclusion, The Great Circle is an odd duck that combines different elements in a unique way. It's one of the author's favorite releases of the year and a new outing from a favorite studio that was well worth the wait.
Riot's Physical Card Game Adventure in Runeterra
Game Formats and Mechanics
The game is playable in the traditional 1v1 TCG format, but what really gets the team excited is the fact that players can team up in groups of up to four in a free-for-all or even better, in teams of two. It features a recognizable TCG mana system, granting players two Runes per turn. Each unit and spell costs a certain amount of Runes to put into play. This system adds an interesting dynamic to the gameplay, allowing for strategic decisions and quick thinking.In the 2v2 setup, the team aimed to match the team-based, fun multiplayer experience of League. The bigger player count also makes it perfect for bigger gatherings and more real-life social experiences. According to game director Dave Guskin, this was an important goal as Riot has no plans to make a digital version of Project K at the moment.Development Journey
Project K started its life just last year as one of Riot's many R&D department projects. After the idea of a physical League of Legends trading card game emerged, Guskin and his team developed the basic game engine in just a few months. They then began staffing up the Project K team with TCG enthusiasts from Riot's offices in Los Angeles and Shanghai.When looking for playtesters, the response was overwhelming. Guskin offered to host learn-to-play sessions, expecting around 20-25 people, but instead, over 150 to 200 people showed up, eager to learn. This demonstrated the potential interest in the game.The development process was rapid but required some iteration. For example, the 2v2 setup was developed to add more team-based fun. It was noticed that 1v1 games were missing some of the magic of multiplayer, and 2v2 was found to be really fun.To deal with the issue of team games where players could get stuck on the sidelines, the team settled on Project K's Battlefields system of points instead of a player health system. This system makes the game feel more like League of Legends and adds an extra layer of strategy.Champion Cards and Synergy
All cards are work in progress and subject to change. Each deck in the game is built around a specific champion, aiming to make each champion card feel thematically consistent without mimicking the MOBA gameplay.For instance, decks themed around champions like Darius and Viktor focus on building armies to defeat opponents, which is thematically consistent with their in-game characters. One of the Volibear cards had a direct link to his abilities in League, granting him a shield that makes opponents' spells harder to cast against him.As someone with moderate TCG experience, Project K felt easy to pick up. It falls somewhere in the middle between simpler TCGs like Pokémon and Marvel Snap and more complex ones like Yu-Gi-Oh or Magic. The mana system is easy to understand and dynamic in the late game, while the champion cards have intuitive effects that allow for lots of synergy between them.Release and Future Plans
Project K is set for release in China in early 2025. However, getting the game to North America is a more complicated process as Riot hasn't found the right publishing partner yet. The goal is to find a partner who cares as much as Riot does about bringing a great game experience to players in hobby stores where they will learn the game.While a firm timetable for the North American release is not available, Guskin hopes to share more news with players soon. For now, Project K will be playable for attendees of Riot's Teamfight Tactics invitational tournament in Macao later this month.