Indiana Jones and the Great Circle may feature shooting as a core mechanic, but trying to play it like a shooter could easily result in a bad time. The newest adaptation of Steven Spielberg’s legendary movie franchise is finally out, and it aims to put players in the shoes (and fedora) of the famous archaeologist/adventurer.

In between all the globe-trotting and artifact-finding, there are plenty of opportunities to beat up some bad guys in The Great Circle. Players have access to all of Indy’s favorite tools, including both the iconic whip and his trusty revolver. Due to the way combat is designed, however, anyone planning to run through the game with guns blazing may want to rethink their strategy.

Ammo Is Precious In Indiana Jones & The Great Circle

Bullets Are Best Saved For When You Really Need Them

While firearms can be a powerful weapon in The Great Circle, they’re best used sparingly. The revolver only holds six shots, and reloading after emptying the cylinder is a slow process of reinserting each bullet at a realistic speed. Without the ability to fire rapidly, players will have to make each shot count, and that’s a task much easier said than done when Indiana is being mobbed by baddies.

There are other guns to be found in The Great Circle, but they’re not a reliable improvement. They rarely come fully loaded, and by the time their limited magazine is spent, Indy is more likely to be full of holes from enemy fire than making a clean getaway. In short, guns should be a weapon of last resort in The Great Circle, especially when there are better options. It's eventually possible to upgrade reload speed for the revolver, but it's a late-game option that's still slower than in most FPS titles.

Melee Weapons Are Way Less Dangerous

Take Out Enemies Without Getting Yourself Killed

Alongside the various firearms to be found, Indy will also have access to numerous melee weapons scattered throughout the environment that will often be a superior alternative to gunplay. Melee weapons offer a number of advantages in The Great Circle: for one thing, they don’t come with a limited supply of ammo. They will eventually break after a few good swings, but even when that happens Indy can immediately start throwing punches to keep the fight going.

Enemies in The Great Circle are less likely to use guns when Indiana sticks to melee.

Stealth is going to be a priority for many players in The Great Circle, and guns aren’t conducive to keeping a low profile. While being spotted isn’t an instant game over, it can get very dangerous very quickly, especially for those playing on The Great Circle’s harder difficulty settings. It’s much easier to take out enemies quietly with a melee strike than a gunshot.

The gameplay of The Great Circle is designed to make players feel like they’re really playing the role of Indiana Jones himself, and that extends to the combat. Aside from one memorable moment in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indy has never been a “shoot first, ask questions later” kind of protagonist, so incentivizing players away from that style of gameplay makes sense in context. Much like the movies it’s based on, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle is more about the adventure than the gunplay.