The newly announcedIndiana Jonesgame coming from MachineGames is gaining a lot of excitement. There have been a ton ofIndiana Jonesgames released in the past, and while some have certainly been good, none of them have quite had the incredible popularity of the movies. There hasn’t been anIndiana Jonesgame released in quite some time, either, meaning fans of the characters haven’t seen him for a long time. Heck, there hasn’t even been an Indiana Jones movie released since 2008, and even that was incredibly divisive,thoughIndiana Jones 5is currently slated to release in 2022, directed by James Mangold.
That’s not to say nobody has played a game that feels like anIndiana Jonesgame in a long time. Franchises likeTomb RaiderandUnchartedhave always captured some of the spirit ofIndiana Joneswithout mimicking him entirely. Interestingly, anIndiana Jonesgame now could possibly feel like it’s mimicking those game, since it’s been so long since fans have seen Indy.
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Lean Into Indiana Jones' Personality
One thing this game is going to have that those games can’t have is the man himself.Indiana Joneshas always had a big personality; his charm and wit make the movies impossible to turn away from. The game shouldn’t really have any problem replicating that, and it’s arguably one of the most important things that the game needs to get right.If Indiana Jonesjust ends up seeming like a discount Nathan Drake, the rest of the game is going to fall flat.
While it’s unlikely that the game is going to be able to snag Harrison Ford to voice act for Indy in the game, if the voice actor is close enough and is saying things that Indy would say, fans are going to be happy.
A Classic Globe-Trotting Adventure
AnIndiana Jonesgamehas to have some classic globe-trotting. And yes, that includes the dotted line tracking across the map to show where Indy’s headed. If the entire game takes place in one setting, the game could be fantastic, but would likely be a disappointment overall. Part of the charm ofIndiana Jonesis seeing the world through his eyes; not only is it interesting to see the insight that he has as a professor, but it creates opportunities for interesting scenes. As long as the game has at least three or four distinctly different locations, it should give enough variety to give each section of the game its own feel.
Crazy Set-Pieces
Part of the importance of globe-trotting is that it makes it easier to create a few different awesome set-pieces in different locations.Indiana Jonesalways has some nutty set-pieces that, whether they go too far or not, are unforgettable. Those kinds of set-pieces are crucial to this style of game;Tomb RaiderandUnchartedare both masterclasses in creating this kind of set-piece, and the upcomingIndiana Jonesgame is going to have to at least match those in order to keep its footing.
MachineGames track record with cool set-pieces is pretty strong. TheWolfensteingames have plenty of moments unlike anything else. If it manages to translate that into some unforgettable moments with Indy, fans will be eternally grateful.
Satisfying Puzzles
Almost everybody who goes into anIndiana Jonesmovie learns something on the way. That said, Indy doesn’t know everything, and sometimes he’s presented with information that he needs to make sense of in real-time. In a game, that’s easy enough to do; there are billions ofpuzzle gamesor escape room games that do this beautifully.
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Make the relevant information historical, and create a puzzle with it. Once again, theUnchartedseriesand theTomb Raiderseries are full of these, and they mostly do a great job with it. Actually making players step into the shoes of Indy and having them figure something out themselves would be a really cool step towards immersing players in the fantasy of beingIndiana Jones. After all, that’s the point of making anIndiana Jonesgame instead of making anIndiana Jonesmovie.
Colorful Cast Of Side Characters
Indiana Joneshas always had an interesting cast of characters in the background. Sometimes these characters are on Indy’s side, sometimes they’re not on Indy’s side, and sometimes they’re decidedly somewhere in between. Regardless, all of them add to the worldIndiana Jonesis in. These aren’t nameless, faceless characters, these are characters that all have a lot of personality, and it’s always a blast seeing that personality bounce off of Indy’s own. In order for this game to land with the right feel, there’s going to need to be a sizeable cast of characters that are fun to have on-screen.
Variety In The Combat
Lastly, the one thing that unifies 90% of video games out there: combat. AnIndiana Jonesvideo game is going to include combat, and that combat is, likely, going to have to be a little bit over the top. Looking at the history of MachineGames in theWolfensteinseries, it’s already well-versed in creating some over-the-top combat. (Heck, they might even be able to keep the Nazis. Indy loves punching Nazis.)
Indy’s trusty bullwhip will undoubtedly have to make an appearance, considering how iconic it is. It’s not confirmed whether or not the game will be from a first-person perspective or a third-person one, though considering the developers involved, first-person would make a lot of sense, even if it’s against the norms for a game based on a movie franchise.
While some gun combat is likely, there’s also a lot of fighting in theIndiana Jonesmovies that doesn’t involve guns at all. There are a lot of fistfights or a lot of times that Indy is engaged with people who have him severely outgunned. Hand-to-hand combat in this game is going to have to be satisfying, and it would be preferable if it was just as relevant as gun combat; it would differentiate this game from others like it, and it would make it feel much moreIndiana Jones.
All in all, fans seem incredibly excited to see Indy back in action.MachineGames seem like the perfect developersfor anIndiana Jonesgame, and anticipation is going to be high up until release.
MachineGames’Indiana Jonesgame is currently in development.
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