Indiana Jones has always had a certain magic that’s hard to pin down. It’s in the gripping tales, the memorable characters, and that iconic music. Its charm even extends into the subtleties of its filmmaking—the choreography and the unique tone. It’s these intangible qualities that have enamored audiences for years, creating a legacy that’s challenging to capture within a video game.
For MachineGames, the developers crafting Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, the challenge was twofold. They needed to construct not just an exceptional, contemporary game, but one that channelled the cinematic brilliance of the Indiana Jones movies. It was all about striking the right balance: creating a gripping game that mirrors the visual and emotional tapestry of the films it draws from.
Speaking with the team at MachineGames, it was intriguing to see how they mixed cutting-edge game design with classic filmmaking techniques in their quest to land that perfect sweet spot they’ve been aiming for.
One particular scene captures the essence of this endeavor beautifully, despite its seemingly incidental nature.
Remember the famous scene from ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’? Indy faces off against a formidable swordsman in what seems like an impending epic battle. With a smirk, the swordsman brandishes his scimitar, showcasing his skill. But our hero, with a deadpan expression, simply pulls out his revolver and dismisses the threat with a single shot. It’s a perfect cinematic punchline.
This kind of scene typically wouldn’t translate to the gaming world, where boss battles often feature complex attack patterns and health bars that you need to chip away at. However, this scene ended up being a pivotal moment for the developers not just in challenge, but in resolution.
“That scene is a brilliant example of the humor you find in the classic Indy movies – absolutely priceless!” says Creative Director Axel Torvenius. “What we focused on was incorporating that humor into our game. Crafting varied and engaging combat sequences was crucial, but infusing them with the signature Indy humor was equally important.”
MachineGames seemed to pull out all the stops to encapsulate the movie magic in their game, even if the task wasn’t inherently suited to a gaming format. This effort is just the beginning of what they aimed to achieve.
### Matinée Idol
Torvenius sheds light on the early mandate for the project: “We aspired to replicate the original look and feel of ’80s cinema right from the start. There was never a desire to reinvent the wheel—our primary goal was to make sure the style resonated with ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’.”
The depth of this effort might surprise you. The team meticulously analyzed the early films, from their tone and dialogue to their technical aspects. They studied color palettes, film grading, the type of film stock used, sound recording techniques, and even the stunts. This extensive research paved the way for translating those elements into a modern gaming experience, creating a harmonious blend of old and new.
Torvenius shares stories of how the developers used the film sets as a template for designing game environments:
“In games, it’s tricky because players can explore areas that aren’t meant to be seen, breaking the composition. But we identified key locations where we knew the player’s perspective and pushed them to enhance the scene-setting,” he explained.
For cutscenes, which offer more directorial control, the team could emulate the cinematic style even further: “We enlisted Kyle Klütz as our Director of Photography for the motion capture sequences. Armed with a hefty camera dolly, he recreated the camera work reminiscent of the early Indiana Jones films, which when combined with our motion capture, laid a strong foundation for the game’s cinematography,” says Torvenius.
### Pitch Perfect
Achieving the soundscape was as vital as nailing the aesthetic. Indiana Jones is as much about what you hear as what you see. From John Williams’ scores to the iconic sound effects, capturing this sound was crucial.
“The first thing we did,” says Audio Director Pete Ward, “was pinpoint what aspects of the Indiana Jones sound we had to perfect to bring players a cinematic experience. We watched the entire series again and knew we had to get right Indy’s voice, music, the crack of his whip, the gunshots, and those memorable punched.”
Ward’s team embarked on an intriguing journey, not to lift sounds directly, but to craft them anew using the techniques from the original films.
“We logged countless hours recording original sounds. We used props like the whip, fedora, and even beat leather jackets with bats for effect. And we weren’t shy about employing practical effects, like plucking metal springs, to infuse that traditional vibe,” Ward elaborates.
The game’s soundtrack followed a similar path. Instead of an outright imitation of Williams’ music, they brought in composer Gordy Haab to weave a score that feels familiar yet fresh, inspired by, but not a duplicate of, the original.
“Gordy was the perfect match for this. He delivered music true to Williams’ style, while evolving it where our new narrative demanded,” enthuses Ward. Impressively, some musicians who worked on the original Raiders sessions even lent their talents, linking the past with this new creation.
### Telling the Tale
While sound and look closely follow the original, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle takes its story in a novel direction, set perfectly between Raiders of the Lost Ark and Temple of Doom. Lead Narrative Designer Tommy Tordsson Björk undertook a different kind of quest.
“Indiana Jones has a rich universe filled with films, comics, and games that we could draw from to not only immerse players but connect various threads of the lore. Our collaboration with Lucasfilm Games was integral,” Björk explains.
Research extended deep into the 1930s, refining the historical context through an ‘Indy matinee adventure’ lens that ensured authenticity at every turn.
This thorough approach informed everything in the game, from the authenticity of character dialogue to the historical fidelity in environment design. MachineGames’ previous work with renowned franchises, like The Chronicles of Riddick and The Darkness, proved indispensable in navigating this project.
“The common thread in all our projects is staying true to the core of the source material without rehashing old ground. Instead, we evolve the narrative while capturing that inherent spirit,” says Björk.
### Playing With History
The paramount task was turning the non-stop thrill of an Indiana Jones movie into an interactive format that maintains that energy no matter how a player chooses to approach it.
Part of this involved leveraging real-life performances, grounding the cinematic experience in authentic motion capture.
“We’ve done an extraordinary amount of motion capture and stunts for this game! It’s a culmination of big, daring scenes that required specialized locations and talent,” says Torvenius. “We wanted to capture the look and feel of those classic stunts, blending robust action scenes with audio magic to make everything ring true.”
Even everyday actions, like throwing a punch, were carefully crafted for the right cinematic impact.
“We aimed for combat that was engaging and intuitive, but still challenging at the higher difficulties. From the impactful sounds, animations of sweat and grit, to how opponents react—all was designed to match that cinematic flair,” Torvenius details.
Every facet was given this kind of attention, from puzzles that mirror the film’s cerebral challenges, to environments crafted to echo their cinematic counterparts. Even the use of ordinary items as weapons ties back to the series’ whimsical charm.
“Humor is a vital part of Indiana Jones,” Torvenius reflects. “We’ve woven it into the game, from environmental storytelling to dialogue. It’s all about crafting that perfect cocktail of elements—and when done right, it’s incredibly satisfying.”
This brings us full circle, back to the legendary swordsman scene. In typical gaming logic, it wouldn’t work. But Indiana Jones and the Great Circle isn’t typical—MachineGames’ dedication shines through, making every moment feel like it belongs in the Indiana Jones legacy.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle launches on Xbox Series X|S and Windows PC (with Game Pass), or Steam, on December 9. Premium and Collector’s Editions provide early access from December 6. So get ready to step into the boots of the legendary archaeologist and embark on a new adventure that’ll make you feel like you’re in one of the cinematic classics.
