Lessons for AAA Games: Learning from Indiana Jones & The Great Circle’s Approach to the Yellow Paint Dilemma

Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has tackled the contentious issue of “yellow paint”typically used to guide players in video games. This term has become a common reference in gaming discussions, epitomizing what some perceive as excessive guidance. Often, it appears as bright yellow marks on objects that players can interact with, such as ladders or climbable walls. Critics argue that this approach diminishes immersion, undermines player intelligence, and restricts freedom. On the flip side, some game developers maintain that such guidance is necessary, as players might struggle to navigate without it.

The recent conversation around yellow paint was sparked by the remakes of Resident Evil, which included such cues absent in the original titles. However, the trend has proliferated to major releases like Dying Light 2, Horizon Forbidden West, and Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. Yet, intriguingly, one of the highly anticipated games of 2024 appears to sidestep this reliance on yellow paint. Despite featuring intricate platforming elements and numerous interactable objects, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle manages to communicate guidance without overtly relying on color coding.

Indiana Jones & The Great Circle Incorporates White Paint

A Subtle Yet Effective Approach

Indiana Jones looking up in awe in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle.

Rather than relying on the striking yellow paint, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle employs a more subdued choice: white paint that marks climbable platforms, thereby maintaining a level of subtlety. While white paint is still noticeable, this inconspicuous choice enhances player agency, allowing for a rewarding sense of discovery when players investigate these leads. It is much more plausible that ancient ruins bear the signs of faded white paint rather than the comically vivid hues associated with modern sprays.

Importantly, Indiana Jones doesn’t depend solely on white paint for guidance. The game introduces additional subtle indicators, including flapping rags, oddly positioned platforms, and peculiar wall openings to guide players. Occasionally, Indiana’s spoken prompts will highlight opportunities, yet many objects like ladders are left for the player to recognize without overt cues. This method resonates well within the game’s rich environments—ancient ruins and military encampments both elevate the believability of the visual hints.

Useful Indicators Can Still Be Subtle

Expanding Beyond White Paint

The innovative use of subtle visual cues extends beyond platforming to puzzle-solving in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle. From the onset, players can adjust the level of detail they require in puzzle hints. The puzzles are constructed to be relatively straightforward as long as players engage with the accompanying documentation, even at the highest difficulty settings. Moreover, players have the option to gain additional hints by utilizing the in-game camera to capture images of puzzle elements.

The camera functionality in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle stands out as one of the most clever features of modern gaming design. This tool serves multiple purposes, but its foremost function is to offer players extra hints about puzzle solutions. Crucially, the information revealed is always under player control, regardless of the selected difficulty level. Players can request more information about specific puzzle elements by simply taking a photo of them. If they require more clarity, they can capture additional images.

This design allows all players to access each puzzle, with flexibility for those who prefer greater assistance, while simultaneously keeping the challenge for others intact. This concept harkens back to a historic hint system found in Metal Gear Solid, where players could independently solve puzzles or opt for in-game assistance when needed.

In Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, players can tailor the level of help they receive individually for each puzzle interaction, distinguishing it from traditional difficulty settings. This game’s hint system showcases a thoughtful design, allowing players to focus on specific puzzle elements requiring assistance.

Great Circle Demonstrates Dual-Focused Game Design

Balancing Accessibility, Subtlety, & Discovery

Indiana Jones drawing the Great Circle with lipstick in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle

In today’s gaming landscape, most titles tend to follow a binary approach. Developers either create glaringly obvious markers, guiding the player through even mundane choices with excessive assistance, or they engage in frustrating obfuscation, transforming minor decisions into monumental challenges. The first method yields a broad player base but can feel disingenuous, while the latter fosters satisfaction from discoveries, albeit often requiring countless guides.

However, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle illustrates that AAA games can successfully integrate both strategies. It strikes a balance between customizable hint systems and ergonomic usage of visual cues that seamlessly blend into the game’s environment, allowing players the joy of making discoveries without unnecessary frustration.

The release of Indiana Jones and the Great Circle has been one of 2024’s standout surprises, fulfilling the high expectations fans had regarding its faithful execution of the franchise, alongside its exceptional gameplay and stunning graphics. Moving forward, this title should serve as a model for future AAA game development. By adopting even a fraction of its balanced hint and tutorial systems, developers could significantly enhance the player experience.

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