Indiana Jones and RoboCop: Rogue City Should Spark a Revolution

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2024 has seen numerous remarkable games, but none quite as impressive as “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle“, a testament to the creative prowess of both MachineGames and Microsoft. This suggests that the Xbox platform continues to harbor some formidable titles waiting to be launched into the market. The storyline of “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” unfolds between the incidents depicted in “Raiders of the Lost Ark” and “The Last Crusade“, making it an adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s classic films that seems, in many aspects, perfectly suitable.

It’s interesting to note that the latest Indiana Jones game shares some similarities with Robocop: Rogue City from 2023, even though the latter didn’t garner as much acclaim as the former. Previously, many films have been turned into video games, and it seemed like every blockbuster had a movie tie-in. However, these newer games strive to expand upon the lore of their origin stories rather than merely imitate them. Similar to Great Circle, Robocop: Rogue City is set between two Robocop films, making it loosely tied to the series’ canon while still telling its own unique story. Both games are played from a first-person perspective with third-person cutscenes, and their character models resemble the actors from the films—an intriguing comparison, at the very least.

RoboCop: Rogue City and Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Could Just Be the Beginning of Ambitious 80s Movie Games

The Benefits of Folding Classic Movies Into the Gaming Medium

In essence, Hollywood frequently revisits old intellectual properties (IP) with a contemporary twist, as demonstrated by the revamped versions of RoboCop in 2014 and Indiana Jones with Dial of Destiny slated for 2023. However, these films didn’t garner the same acclaim as Great Circle or Rogue City. This discrepancy can be linked to several elements such as writing and direction, but it’s crucial not to ignore the unique aspects of the gaming medium that distinguish it from film.

As a gamer, I’ve come to realize that one possible reason these classic movie reboots often fall flat is because they’re attempting to recapture the enchantment of yesteryears. To put it plainly, Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny was never going to match the thrill of Raiders of the Lost Ark, given that audiences have already witnessed Indy traverse the globe and conquer formidable perils multiple times. However, stepping into Indiana Jones’ boots in a game like Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is still an exhilarating experience, especially since it’s a highly cinematic title.

What sets this concept apart isn’t just its novelty; game designers can leverage interactivity as another means of storytelling within established franchises, adding depth to them and creating a special connection between the player and the character. This approach allows for expansion of existing franchises in ways that new films simply cannot.

It’s noteworthy that video games have certain advantages over filmmaking as they aren’t subject to issues such as actors aging, the need for elaborate set designs, or safety regulations in the same way.

Classic 1980s Movies That Can Get the Indiana Jones and the Great Circle Treatment

Exploring the potential for authentic, movie-like video games within established franchises could be the next big trend in the industry. For instance, action games inspired by Die Hard, open-world crime games modeled after Lethal Weapon, and horror games set in the universe of Friday the 13th or A Nightmare on Elm Street might find inspiration from titles like Rogue City and Great Circle. These potential games could offer a first-person perspective that aligns with the broader series canon, or they could be third-person games with a more casual link to the original film series. Either way, it’s not difficult to imagine Indiana Jones and RoboCop leading the charge for such ambitious adaptations.

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2025-01-07 21:26