Indiana Jones and the Great Circle: Reviving ’80s Cinematic Magic in a 2024 Game

Indiana Jones isn’t just a character; it’s a feeling, one enveloping storytelling, a charismatic hero, iconic music, and a unique cinematic style. The series’ magic comes alive in the little things: those subtle nuances in filming, the way each action unfolds, and the overall tone. These intangibles are why fans hold the Indiana Jones movies so dear—and why adapting that essence into a video game poses such a challenge.

This was the mountain indie developer MachineGames had to conquer with their new game, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Their mission? Craft a game that’s not only compelling and fresh but also cones perfectly with the nostalgic magic of the movies that inspired it. Threads of movie magic were delicately woven into the game’s modern fabric, balancing a sense of adventure that’s true to the Indiana Jones legacy.

Chatting with some of the folks at MachineGames, it’s fascinating to learn how they merged modern gaming techniques with traditional filmmaking to hit that sweet spot they were aiming for.

Take one seemingly minor scene, for instance, pulled right from the original movies. Remember that classic moment in ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’? Indy faces off against a skilled swordsman wielding a scimitar. The guy is clearly ready for a fight, showing off with menacing swings. Yet, Indy makes it all a joke, grimacing slightly, before casually pulling out his revolver and ending the showdown with one simple shot. It’s cinematic gold.

Now, here’s the tricky part—translating that essence into a video game. This scene should have been a climactic, grueling boss battle. But interestingly, this scene evolved from a challenge for the development team into a brilliant solution.

“The essence of humor found in classic Indy movies was something we tapped into deeply,” notes Creative Director Axel Torvenius. “We were inspired by scenes like that, infusing our combat encounters with that same spirit of irony and wit.”

Looking closely, you begin to see the lengths MachineGames went to; capturing the iconic feel of the movies was their primary mission—something that may not seem the perfect fit for games at first glance. But believe me, they’re only scratching the surface.

From the start, staying true to the original ‘80s cinematic style was crucial. Axel Torvenius expands, “Our main goal was to capture that same iconic feel as the Raiders of the Lost Ark. There was no interest in reinventing Indiana Jones, just in melding the style and feel of the movies into our game.”

The effort they put in is nothing short of impressive. They dove into the nitty-gritty details of the original films, extracting technical notes on elements like color palettes and old-school audio production techniques. Then, they translated these techniques to fit a modern game format—an entirely different medium—but with complete respect for their origins.

One particularly intriguing tale Torevenius shares is how the team mastered set creation for the game settings by studying the original Indy sets. “In games, you often peek behind the scenes or mess with the composition, but we anticipated where players would move or view certain scenes and leveraged that to build impactful settings.”

When it came to cutscenes, the team went all out. “We brought in a Director of Photography for every cinematic aspect, mirroring the setup from the movie sets,” continues Torvenius. “With Kyle Klütz’s input, we captured the perfect blend of movement and essence you expect from an Indiana Jones adventure.”

Sound, too, plays a massive role in capturing the essence of Indiana Jones. From the rousing John Williams score to distinctive sound effects—even squeezing in that renowned Wilhelm Scream—they strove for an audio experience that hits the nostalgia button just right.

“We really honed in on the core auditory elements of Indiana Jones to bring them to life in the game,” says Audio Director Pete Ward. His team logged countless hours creating new recordings that evoke the classics using practical effects reminiscent of the original sound designers’ techniques.

Ward describes how they managed to blend original sound methods and modern technology to craft the soundscape. They even recorded some pieces in Abbey Road Studio, a legendary spot that hosted portions of the original movie soundtracks, discovering later that some of the same session musicians participated.

The original movies provided a fantastic look and sound blueprint for Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, but MachineGames needed an entirely new story to inhabit this vibrant world. Lead Narrative Designer Tommy Tordsson Björk articulated how crafting something fresh yet faithful to the franchise required thinking differently.

“We delved into the 1930s and filtered it through what we call an ‘Indy matinée adventure’ to ensure it felt both authentic and fitting for the series,” says Björk. This approach wasn’t just about continuity with the franchise itself but also with the historical period, ensuring everything from characters’ dialogues to the spelling of locations like Gizeh matched the era.

Finally, bringing the cinematic history of Indiana Jones into an interactive dimension—capturing the adrenaline of a movie in a game format—presented its own unique hurdles. The team opted to ground gameplay in realistic physical performance.

“The sheer amount of motion capture work we’ve put in is remarkable,” exclaims Torvenius. Grabbing the essence of those classic stunts required an ensemble of skilled stunt professionals to give the game’s action scenes an authentic heart-pounding sensation, with detailed attention paid to even the smallest movements, like throwing a satisfyingly cinematic punch.

It’s clear that the commitment to get every punch, every note, and every bit of dialogue just right reflects an admiration for the original films. From transposing the humor and adventure of Indiana Jones into a gaming experience to piecing together a new story that moves the franchise forward, MachineGames made it its mission to ensure you feel every bit like Indy himself when you’re behind the controller.

Come December 9, when Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches for Xbox Series X|S, Windows PC, and Steam, fans will dive into an adventure that promises to rekindle the excitement of the classic films, three days early for those who grab the Premium or Collector’s Edition. Whether you’re solving grand puzzles or outwitting enemies in slapstick battles, MachineGames’ dedication will undoubtedly remind players why the tales of Indiana Jones continue to inspire awe and admiration.