Only very few movies feature opening sequences more iconic than OG 1981 Indiana Jones‘ failed attempt to snitch the infamous golden idol from a temple in the jungles of Peru. The scene immediately establishes the adventurous tone, its high stakes and intelligent mix of archaeology, charm and action, that would go on to define the Indiana Jones franchise and inspire generations of movie makers and game designers. It sends a snug shiver through our pop-culture-fueled soul that Machine Games lets us re-enact this scene as both an interactive introduction to the franchise’s tone and themes, and immersive tutorial to The Great Circle.
It’s smart to interweave the movie experience with the re-imagined interactive one, combining nostalgia with effective onboarding.
As in the movie, the scene gives players an immediate sense of the main character’s motivation, values and world. Booby-trapped ruins, treasure hunting, and moments of clever problem-solving, often followed by adrenaline-pumping escapes – it is astonishing how much of the franchise’s core themes can be recognized in these first ten’ish minutes of the journey.
They also work surprisingly well as a showcase for core gameplay mechanics like exploration, platforming, puzzle-solving, combat and most iconically – the use of the whip, without making the onboarding feel forced. Our hero triggering traps, solving the first little puzzles and overcoming short platforming set pieces inherently teaches players the importance of attention to detail, caution, and timing. Skills that will prove essential throughout a game, that chooses stealth and exploration over a run-and-gun approach most of the time.
It makes the tutorial feel like an important part of the experience and overall story arc, rather than a detached gameplay exercise.
Painstakingly re-imagining the movie’s imagery from the way supporting characters comment on what plays out the screen, our hero neutralizing (almost …) all of the protective features surrounding the MacGuffin and of course, the collapse of the temple with the famouse boulder chase create a cinematic experience that immidiately draws players into the adventure and makes the tutorial feel like an important part of the game’s experience and overall story arc, rather than a detached gameplay exercise.
It’s thus a smart choice to interweave the original movie experience with the re-imagined interactive one, seamlessly combining nostalgia with effective onboarding, engaging both newcomers and longtime fans of the series. Or to say it the Indy way: “I have a bad good feeling about this.“
