Deep within the Vatican's hidden tombs lies a mural of Jesus Christ. Embedded along his limbs and torso are levers with four Roman numerals beneath them. The path forward demands deciphering the placement of each lever. I tip my hat and embark on a journey through a space that may have remained unseen by mortal eyes for centuries.

Experience the Wonders and Challenges within the Vatican's Tombs

The Mural and Lever Puzzle

Within the Vatican's secret tombs, I encountered a mural of Jesus Christ. Along his limbs and torso were levers protruding, each with Roman numerals. The task at hand was to determine the correct placement of these levers. I delved deep into this enigma, squeezing through narrow openings and uncovering hidden messages. After careful study and mental exercises, I successfully identified the lever positions for the mural's hands. This initial challenge set the stage for the adventures that lay ahead.Another opening in the tomb's main hub led me to a marble statue of a Roman soldier holding a spear. My knowledge of Bible scriptures proved invaluable as I realized the correct positioning of the lever sticking out of Jesus's side must be here. It was a moment of triumph as I found the hidden message and returned it to the mural.

The Narrative Beating Heart

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is the character's first video game since 2009's Staff of Kings. Set at Marshall College where Jones teaches archeology, a mysterious man steals a valuable artifact. Indy sets off on an adventure to uncover the significance of the relic and its theft. The game takes place in 1937, a year after Raiders of the Lost Ark, adding depth to Indy's character.Although the game doesn't overly reference the films, fans will appreciate its seamless integration into the broader fiction. References to characters like Belloch and Henry Jones Sr. make it feel like a long-lost chapter in Indy's exploits.

The Charming Cast

The cast of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle is truly remarkable. Developer Machine Games nailed the look and feel of the classic films, with cinematography that captures the epic essence. The writing and humor are on point, and the pacing and action set pieces feel like they were cut from the movies.Troy Baker does an excellent job echoing Harrison Ford, but the standout is the rest of the cast. Marios Gavrilis as the primary villain Emmerich Voss gives a memorable performance, and Indy's chemistry with his companion Gina Lombardi, played by Alessandra Mastronardi, is a joy to watch. Gina has become a new video game crush for many.

Good Old-Fashioned Fisticuffs

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle combines combat, stealth, exploration, and puzzle-solving. The decision to make it a first-person adventure game was initially strange but has proven successful. The game is split into two halves: open-ended levels and more linear guided sections.The open-ended stages allow players to explore gorgeous, massive environments, complete side quests, and progress the main plot. Indy uses a combination of stealth, disguises, and fisticuffs. Sneaking around is fun, and fisticuffs feel satisfying.For fans of retro video games, it's a spiritual successor to games like 2007's The Darkness and 2004's Chronicles of Riddick. The hub world structure gives the adventure a grand feel without being overwhelming.

Classic Puzzles

Puzzles are the heart of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. Exploring the hubs leads to various puzzles of different sizes. Some require close reading of enemy notes to unlock safes, while others involve solving elaborate puzzle chambers while avoiding traps.The puzzles aren't overly difficult but make you think. They add a welcome element of challenge to the game. Machine Games struck a great balance between fun and challenge, making it an adventure game that makes you feel like the world's greatest archeologist.

The Game's Weaknesses

While the game has many strengths, it also has a few weaknesses. The platforming can be slow, with Indy taking plodding steps when scaling walls. Backtracking for hidden items can be annoying. The gunplay is lacking compared to other action games.However, the game rarely requires shooting to get out of situations. Save for a few occasions, rifles and pistols are used more as melee weapons. The open-world structure can also drag towards the end, especially for completionists.

Full Circle

After decades inspiring video game characters, Indiana Jones makes a triumphant return. Machine Games stayed true to the source material, creating an authentic Indiana Jones simulator. The Great Circle stands out in the AAA gaming landscape.It's a near-perfect adaptation that we hope to see more of. In a time when the fate of the Indiana Jones film franchise is uncertain, Machine Games proves to be a safe pair of hands for the future of cinema's greatest adventurer.9/10Indiana Jones and the Great Circle will be released on Xbox Series X|S and PC on December 9 and on PS5 in spring 2025. Inverse was provided with an Xbox Series X copy for this review.Inverse VIDEO GAME REVIEW ETHOS: Every Inverse video game review answers two questions: Is this game worth your time? Are you getting what you pay for? We have no tolerance for endless fetch quests, clunky mechanics, or bugs that dilute the experience. We care deeply about a game's design, world-building, character arcs, and storytelling come together. Inverse will never punch down, but we aren't afraid to punch up. We love magic and science-fiction in equal measure, and as much as we love experiencing rich stories and worlds through games, we won't ignore the real-world context in which those games are made.

As the College Football Playoff inches closer, a significant shift is underway. This marks the inaugural year where the playoff bracket expands from a mere four teams to a whopping twelve. Such an expansion brings with it a series of changes, particularly in terms of payouts to college conferences with participating schools.

Unraveling the Financial Impact of the College Football Playoff Expansion

Understanding the Football Bowl Division (FBS)

The Football Bowl Division, or FBS, stands as the pinnacle of college football in the United States, boasting over 100 teams across 10 conferences. However, only 12 of these teams will secure a spot in the highly coveted College Football Playoff. This selective process adds an extra layer of excitement and competition.Each conference's payout structure is intricately tied to the number of teams it sends into the playoff. The more teams a conference manages to place, the greater the financial rewards. But it doesn't end there; the further these teams advance, the more money they can bring in for their respective conferences.

The Payout Breakdown for the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff

For the 2024-2025 College Football Playoff, there are specific payout guidelines. A conference will receive $300,000 for each of its teams that meets the NCAA Academic Progress Rate. This rate serves as a crucial metric to ensure colleges are accountable for their student-athletes' academic achievements.If a team makes it into the 12-team CFP, the conference will pocket $4 million. And for each team that advances to the quarterfinals (eight schools), an additional $4 million is added to the conference's coffers.When a team reaches the semifinal (four schools), the conference gets $6 million, with an extra $6 million for each team that makes it to the national championship game (two schools).Moreover, each team participating in the College Football Playoff will receive $3 million to cover their expenses in each round. This ensures that the teams can focus on performing at their best without the burden of financial stress.The College Football Playoff expansion not only changes the financial landscape but also has a profound impact on the competitive dynamics of college football. It brings more teams into the spotlight and offers greater opportunities for conferences and schools to showcase their talent. As we look ahead to this exciting new era, it will be interesting to see how the payouts and the playoff itself shape the future of college football.