Combat in Indiana Jones And The Great Circle is typically a last resort, but there are times when a brawl is unavoidable. Although Dr. Jones is an action hero, it’s crucial to be strategic in your fighting; otherwise, you might find yourself overwhelmed by stronger or more numerous opponents.
Achieving victory in The Great Circle relies on quick thinking, the ability to adapt, and leveraging every advantage available to you. These strategies will help ensure that you come out on top when the fists start to fly. However, always keep in mind that the best fight is the one you can avoid entirely.
Use the Whip Frequently
It’s no surprise that Indy’s iconic weapon is one of your greatest assets in a fight. Although the whip itself doesn’t cause significant damage, it has two primary functions in combat that can give you the upper hand, especially in one-on-one confrontations:
- A quick tap of the whip button allows you to crack the whip at an enemy, causing them to flinch and possibly drop their weapon.
- Holding the whip button down lets you wrap the whip around an opponent’s limb. By pressing the button again, you can pull them toward you. If you snare their leg, they’ll fall; if you catch their arm, it sets you up for a grapple, letting you land several punches before they break free.
With a long reach and consistent advantages in battles, make sure to utilize the whip whenever you can!
Warning: Trying to grapple with larger enemies using the whip may result in them pulling you instead.
Reserve Ammo for Bosses and Emergencies
Revolver bullets are among the scarcest resources in the game, usually found in small quantities—typically just two at a time. Therefore, it’s essential to conserve your ammo for critical moments.
The ideal time to use your revolver is against bosses, who tend to absorb a lot of damage from any source. Hitting them with a few shots can swing the fight in your favor, as bosses can also take you down quickly with just a couple of hits.
Another good time to fire is at the end of a long fight, where you want to avoid restarting the entire encounter. If using a bullet means that you don’t have to start over, it’s usually worth the cost.
Tip: If an enemy drops a weapon, you can pick it up and use it instead of wasting your own bullets.
Stay Well-Fed
Archaeology is a demanding job, especially when it involves intense fights in exotic locations. Food items boost Indy’s stats beyond their normal limits, so be sure to eat whatever you find, particularly in heavily guarded areas.
- Bread increases the maximum damage Indy can take in one segment of his health bar. As long as that segment isn’t completely empty, it will regenerate without needing a Bandage.
- Fruit grants Indy extra Stamina, allowing you to defend, dodge, and build up power punches longer without needing a break.
Warning: Each food item only provides a temporary boost, so once you’ve used its benefits, you’ll need to eat again for a similar effect.
Your capacity to carry food is limited until you upgrade through Adventure Books. If you find food that would exceed your limit, eat what you already have to make space, unless you’re fully maxed out on Health or Stamina, which is quite rare.
PC Players: Opt for a Controller
If you’re experiencing Indiana Jones And The Great Circle on PC, consider switching to a controller instead of using a mouse and keyboard. The fighting mechanics are primarily designed for controllers, and using a mouse could lead to awkward situations that can’t be fixed by merely adjusting keybinds.
In the default setup, the right mouse button (RMB) is for aiming, while the left mouse button (LMB) is for throwing and shooting. During melee combat, however, the RMB initiates a punch with Indy’s left hand, and the LMB does the same with his right. This arrangement can complicate countering blows after blocking, as you risk pushing your adversary away rather than landing another punch in the heat of the moment.
Using a controller aligns the shoulder buttons with the corresponding hands, resolving this issue altogether.
Take Out Dogs First
Many secure locations will feature guard dogs alongside human guards. Dogs can grapple Indy for a lengthy duration, causing damage while you struggle to free yourself, so it’s best to neutralize them first.
The good news? You don’t have to shoot the dogs; they are easily startled by loud sounds. A whip crack or a gunshot nearby is usually sufficient to send them fleeing, allowing you to focus on the humans.
Keep an Eye on Your Surroundings
Since the game is played from a first-person perspective, it can be challenging to track everything happening around you. This is particularly true during combat, especially with multiple foes. Even if it seems that you’re in control of a fight, one sneaky opponent can turn the tide against you.
Whenever possible, fight with your back against a wall, avoiding corners. This will help prevent sneaky attacks while still allowing you to dodge left or right as needed. If you must fight in an open area, keep moving and dodging to maintain awareness of how many enemies remain.
Until you’re down to just a couple of adversaries that you can easily handle, stick to quick one-two jabs to chip away at their health instead of prolonged combos, which could leave you vulnerable.
Know Where to Find Melee Weapons
You’ll find various melee weapons scattered throughout most areas, which can pack a powerful punch compared to your fists. Grabbing one during a fight can significantly tilt the odds in your favor.
If you’re struggling in a particular battle, identify any available weapons to grab during your next attempt. Going straight for these weapons can help you quickly thin out enemy numbers and transform a losing fight into a victorious one.
Discretion is the Better Part of Valor
Apart from bosses and scripted encounters, almost every skirmish in the game is entirely optional. Using objects to distract enemies, picking them off stealthily, or just sneaking past without being noticed can save you both trouble and resources.
There’s also no shame in retreating if your health is dwindling. If a confrontation seems stacked against you, there’s no reason to remain if you can flee; you won’t gain any extra rewards for taking down a whole squad by yourself—other than bragging rights.
