Indiana Jones and The Great Circle Devs Talk Level and Puzzle Design

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As a seasoned gamer and Indiana Jones enthusiast, I must say that this interview offers an intriguing glimpse into the development of “Indiana Jones and The Great Circle.” The game appears to be a faithful adaptation of the franchise’s spirit, blending action, puzzles, and stealth in a way that would make Dr. Jones himself proud.

There’s hardly any question that Indiana Jones, portrayed by Harrison Ford, is one of the most cherished intellectual properties in contemporary entertainment. His ruggedly charming archaeologist character set the stage for many action heroes that followed, and the role has grown over time since its debut in 1981. The developers at MachineGames aim to expand this character even further with Indiana Jones and The Great Circle, a first-person action-adventure game where players get to experience the adventure through Indy’s perspective.

Game Rant spoke with key creators Tommy Tordsson Björk (lead narrative designer), Axel Torvenius (creative director), and Jens Andersson (design director) to explore the immersive universe of Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. They shared insights on level design, accurately representing real-world settings, and preserving the essence of the original story. For better understanding, this conversation has been condensed and clarified.

Bringing Indiana Jones’ World to Life

A: Can you provide some insights into how the researchers and creators designed and incorporated various real-life locations such as the Vatican, Giza, Shanghai, Himalayas, among others, in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle movie?

In our approach to creating this game, we’ve aimed to make the real-world settings as authentic as possible, not just historically but also in terms of the 1930s atmosphere. Our goal is to transport players back in time and immerse them in the era, while ensuring that the game remains enjoyable to play and exploration proves rewarding and thrilling. I believe achieving a balance between where we can creatively deviate and where we must maintain authenticity is crucial for the game’s success.

As I crafted the locales for Sukhothai, I initially based my designs on what the historical park looks like today. However, as I delved deeper, I discovered a fascinating truth: many aspects of the park were vastly different during the 1930s. To put it simply, most of the ruins and statues that we can clearly see now were obscured by vegetation, hidden behind trees, or scattered in fragments.

Reframing the scenario: It took quite a while to fully rejuvenate Sukhothai. The contrast between Sukhothai then and now must have been astounding. Yet, this prolonged restoration period added an element of undiscovered charm and enigma to the place, making it all the more captivating for our game’s setting and adventure.

Q: How did this work differ from the more fictional elements of the franchise?

Björk: It seems one can’t exist without the other, as Indiana Jones’ fictional aspects are often rooted in real-world myths and legends, not entirely fabricated. While delving into the more extraordinary elements, we conducted research into various religions and mythological narratives that have emerged throughout history, legends derived from various sources, and integrated them to align with our storyline of the Great Circle.

Indiana Jones and The Great Circle’s Approach to Level Design

As a gamer diving into the captivating world of The Great Circle, I can tell you that the overall intent behind each mission’s level design is to create an immersive, engaging, and exciting adventure that aligns with the game’s Indy fantasy theme.

Andersson: From the get-go, our goal was to design a game featuring exhilarating roller coaster segments alongside areas that allow for more open exploration. Given how crucial action scenes are in movies, we aimed to include thrilling ones that translated seamlessly into a video game format. Linear sections also aid in managing the narrative’s twists and turns by providing better control over pacing.

In these open spaces, the main focus is on fostering exploration, enabling the player to wander at will and uncover hidden mysteries. The thrill of stumbling upon an ancient, scorpion-ridden tomb buried in the sands of Giza is significantly heightened when it’s unexpected. To motivate players to venture off the beaten path, we don’t just offer random treasures; instead, we frequently present them with more substantial rewards such as puzzles to solve or mysteries to unravel.

Q: As a fan of Indiana Jones, how would you define the fantasy of stepping into his shoes?

Torvenius: Each time the whip cracks, each bullet fired, every enigma and conundrum deciphered, and every blow to a foe’s visage – you should experience the thrill of Indy! We’ve collaborated extensively with numerous teams from MachineGames and Lucasfilm Games over many hours, ensuring that the game feels authentic, looks realistic, sounds immersive, and plays exactly as we would expect from an Indiana Jones adventure.

How The Great Circle Handles Combat

Could you elaborate on the objectives of combat within The Great Circle, and how this fight system contributes to evoking the spirit of an adventure reminiscent of Indiana Jones?

Andersson: Indy rarely relies on his gun for fighting; instead, we aimed to convey this in the gameplay experience for players. He’s a brawler, albeit an untrained one, so the melee combat in this game is designed to be messy and spontaneous – you’ll need to grab whatever tools are at hand during fights. We also wanted to incorporate some humor into the game since we’re dealing with Indiana Jones here! Scattered throughout the game are amusing and exotic items that can be used in combat or for stealth purposes. While a shovel or hammer may be the most efficient options, it’s tough not to give the nearby goon a try with a banjo or even a flyswatter instead!

A: Could you elaborate a bit on the approach you take when creating a combat system that encourages, yet subtly deters, gunplay? Specifically, I’m interested in understanding how you design situations where hand-to-hand combat seems more advantageous.

In our project, we were concerned about the initial design aspect that made guns more powerful compared to melee weapons. We didn’t want players to avoid using guns due to this, so we devised various mechanisms, such as threat escalation systems, to balance things out. However, it turned out to be surprisingly straightforward in our game. Generally, enemies will only use guns if a confrontation escalates to that level. If you attack someone with a melee weapon, they’ll retaliate using their fists or other close-combat weapons rather than pulling out a gun first.

If you draw your gun on your own, they’ll likely retaliate in a similar manner. Additionally, there’s a type of adversary, such as a captain, who will escalate the situation if you’re not cautious. Consequently, while players always have the option to use firearms, this approach carries more risk.

Question: Can you explain the stealth elements found in Indiana Jones and The Great Circle? Unlike traditional stealth games such as Assassin’s Creed, it doesn’t seem like the ‘stealth is present if no one survives to discuss it’ method is employed here?

Andersson: A significant aspect of Indy’s appeal lies in his ability to sneak into forbidden zones, but he’s not an assassin; instead, we aimed to distinguish our game from similar stealth-focused titles. Though you can navigate many areas by disguising yourself, there are numerous spots where you must rely on stealth and either bypass or neutralize the enemies.

The main idea is that there’s no completely silent way to take down an opponent in this game. Typically, a physical object like a weapon is required for a single knockout blow, and breaking a bottle over someone’s head will inevitably produce noise. In certain situations, this may not be a problem as you might be able to disarm his associate with your reliable whip. However, if it’s too risky, it would be wiser to throw the bottle somewhere to divert their attention instead.

The Importance of Puzzles in Indiana Jones and The Great Circle

Question: Puzzles in games come with adjustable levels of complexity and are strategically placed throughout the game. Could you elaborate on the typical process of creating these puzzles, considering their varying factors? How do you differentiate between a mandatory ‘golden path’ puzzle and an optional one?

Andersson: Essentially, most complex puzzles are integral to the narrative and can’t be skipped. We’ve given them extra attention because they must cater to all types of players, and they align with our “Light” adventure difficulty setting. When you choose this level, you’ll enjoy solving the puzzle, although it will involve fewer steps or be less challenging compared to the standard adventure difficulty level. Moreover, these puzzles come equipped with a comprehensive hint system using the camera.

A: Incorporating traps was a key aspect when developing the Indiana Jones game. We wanted to capture those heart-stopping moments where Indy narrowly escapes danger, such as the iconic rolling boulder scene. How did we manage this in the game? Let me explain.

As an avid Indiana Jones enthusiast, I can’t emphasize enough how crucial it was for us to accurately portray the intricate puzzles and traps that are synonymous with this iconic character in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. While the game versions of these challenges don’t mirror those seen in the movies, we drew inspiration from their aesthetics and atmosphere. The sense of unearthing a mystery within an ancient desert tomb filled with creatures or stumbling upon something hidden yet guarded by adversaries in the Vatican are experiences we aimed to recreate.

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2024-12-02 18:24