The upcomingIndiana Jones and the Great Circlehas a lot riding on it. Xbox really needs it to do well considering the current state of its first party games, and it’s a massive IP with a very famous face attached to it. Harrison Ford has been playing Indy since 1983 all the way to 2023, and unlike IPs like James Bond, he is the whole and sole of the character.
So, it goes without saying that MachineGames had to choose someone who would embody the role in terms of voice and mannerisms –who better than Troy Baker for the part?While Ford has one of the most recognisable voices in the world, you probably wouldn’t recognise Baker’s, because he’s just that talented. So talented, that the devs couldn’t tell them apart.
Embodying the Spirit Of Indiana Jones
We got the chance to sit down with MachineGames Design Director Jens Andersson andchat about all things Indy at a recent preview event. When asked if Troy Baker was the first choice to play Indiana Jones, Andersson said that a lot of actors were considered, but an anecdote about Baker’s audition sample revealed why he was the final choice to play the iconic character.
“No, he wasn’t,” revealed Andersson. “And Axel (Torvenius) usually talks about this, our creative director, because he did the casting from our side and he tells the story. We did ask for samples from a bunch of different people and the first time he listened to Troy’s stuff he was like “Okay this is good, this is the reference. Can I hear Troy now?” And that was Troy. After that it was kind of clear.”
Imagine being so good at your job as a voiceover artist, that the casting director thinks you are the actual voice of Harrison Ford. All in a day’s work for Troy Baker. However, it’s not just the voice that Baker can mimic well, it’s also the little intricacies of the character that he captures brilliantly, as Andersson explained.
“Troy is such a big Indiana Jones fan as well, and he’s been so great throughout this whole production. Really been there trying to nail what is the essence of Indiana Jones all down to the small quirks that Harrison Ford has, both with the voice, of course, but also the body language. So it’s been tremendously beneficial to have participated and really learned how Indy should be.”
The character of Indiana Jones wasn’t the only aspect that MachineGames focussed on. The devs also wanted to ensure that they did justice to his iconic whip, by consulting a Swedish bullwhip champion.
Indiana Jones and the Great Circle
WHERE TO PLAY
Uncover one of history’s greatest mysteries in Indiana Jones and the Great Circle™, a first-person, single-player adventure set between the events ofRaiders of the Lost ArkandThe Last Crusade. The year is 1937, sinister forces are scouring the globe for the secret to an ancient power known as the Great Circle, and only one person can stop them - Indiana Jones. You’ll become the legendary archaeologist in this cinematic action-adventure game from MachineGames, the award winning studio behind the recent Wolfenstein series, and executive produced by Hall of Fame game designer Todd Howard.
