Indiana Jones, Marvel Rivals, Secret Level, And More Of The Week's Reviews

6 days ago 65

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The long-anticipated Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has finally arrived, and it’s different—and better—that what we expected, really putting you in the boots of Harrison Ford’s adventurous archaeologist to become something of an Indiana Jones simulator. Read our full review for lots more on this terrific new release, and while you’re here, also check out our takes on Amazon’s animated anthology series Secret Level and the hot new Overwatch competitor Marvel Rivals, as well as our picks for the best RPGs of 2024.

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2024 has been a solid, if somewhat strange year for movies. This year saw the release of some great films across both streaming platforms and in theaters. - Zack Zwiezen Read More

An screenshot shows Indy as seen in the game.

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is not what I was expecting. My expectation and fear was that developer MachineGames’ AAA action-adventure adaptation of the popular franchise starring Harrison Ford would play mostly like Uncharted, but in the ‘30s and with more Nazis. Thankfully, Great Circle is nothing like Tomb Raider, Uncharted, or the countless other games that have been directly inspired by Spielberg’s iconic ‘80s adventure films. Instead, Great Circle mixes Hitman-like stealth, Dishonored-like first-person gameplay, and some escape room puzzle design to create a unique, open-ended experience that feels both fresh and yet distinctly like Indiana Jones. - Zack Zwiezen Read More

Secret Level, Amazon’s stunningly animated video game anthology tribute, is either a gorgeous, impactful vehicle through which some short stories are told or a soulless piece of capital C Content, depending on which episode you’re watching. - Kenneth Shepard Read More

We’re living through a role-playing game renaissance right now. The last several years have been full of great ones, and 2024 is no different. Everywhere you look the genre is growing, evolving, and dominating. From Japanese-style RPGs to Western-style ones, retro remakes to open-world sequels, there’s never been more to dig into for fans of exploration, branching dialogue, or just making the numbers go up. - Ethan Gach Read More

Marvel Rivals, NetEase’s shameless Overwatch-like featuring the heroes and villains that have captivated comic book readers and moviegoers for decades, is already at a crossroads. It’s less than a week old, but it’s clear even now that the decisions NetEase makes in the coming months will determine if it stays a chaotic, unbalanced blast or if it joins the ranks of its hero shooter contemporaries as a polished, esports-ready sweatfest that only appeals to a fraction of its huge fanbase. I’ve spent years poring over Blizzard’s Overwatch patch notes, watching content creators nitpick every tiny tweak to damage output and suffering the loss of some of the most interesting shooter kits I’ve ever used because someone cried foul at abilities they believed “unfair.” I don’t know what Marvel Rivals will be in a year, so I recommend you play it now before the team behind it has a chance to sand down the things that make it fun. - Kenneth Shepard Read More