Dog-Friendly Details in New Indiana Jones Video Game Have Pet Lovers Hooked
Historically, video games have been somewhat of a minefield for animal lovers. From the ducks in 80s classic Duck Hunt all the way through to modern times. Animals have often served as “enemies” to be eliminated if game players wish to proceed along their path. But things are different in the latest release in the Indiana Jones franchise, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. Whereas similar “stealth” games use barking dogs as a challenge for players to work around (or kill), that’s not an option for dog-loving Indy.
And it marks a major shift.
It is not possible to kill enemy dogs in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle; you can only scare them into a docile state with the whip or gunfire. If the player points a gun at a defeated dog and pulls the trigger, Indy will check his gun instead of firing. pic.twitter.com/SQsQvl58j5
— Can You Pet the Dog? (@CanYouPetTheDog) December 9, 2024
Perhaps it just makes sense. After all, everyone knows that Indiana Jones loves dogs — he even named himself after the family dog, as revealed by his father in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. (His real name is Henry, like his father.) In fact, throughout the series, the only animal that Indy seems to have any kind of problem with is snakes.
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Therefore, it stands to reason that Indiana is not eager to hurt any of the barking dogs he comes across during his adventures. After all, these canines are just doing their jobs—same as he is.
How to Scare the Dogs in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
In the new video game, dogs can be scared into leaving Indiana alone if he cracks his famous whip or fires a pistol into the air (how a pistol shot doesn’t alert the bad guys is an exercise left to the imagination). In fact, players cannot kill dogs in this video game— if they try, Indy will just check his gun instead of firing it.
Animal lovers everywhere rejoice!
I admit, I’m more of a fan of video games where nothing is killed, which is why you are more likely to see me playing something like Animal Crossing than any game that even has a gun in it in the first place. But knowing that The Great Circle is cruelty-free in game play does make me far more interested in checking it out, as a longtime Indy fan.
Other Animals in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
And dogs aren’t the only animal who get screen time in Indiana Jones and The Great Circle. Since a part of the game is set in Egypt, the game designers stayed true to the character of the region and made sure there were plenty of cats wandering the streets and climbing the walls of the city. In the game Indiana can even photograph these kitties, and when he does, they will strike a pose for him.
Animals forma. Major part of other elements of the gameplay, from scorpions in old temples to monkeys whose thieving ways have happily flummoxed some Nazis on Indy’s trail and make up an entire chapter of the game.
And of course, would it even be an Indiana Jones story if he didn’t have to face his greatest fear: snakes?
Sorry, snake lovers. Indiana doesn’t protect this species with the same care and affection he holds for the furrier friends.
But if you’re looking for a video game where the dog doesn’t die, this might be one to try.
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