A few years back, when the developers of “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle” initially sketched out the game’s fundamental concepts, I can’t help but wonder if they truly grasped the magnitude of their decision to go all-in with Harrison Ford’s likeness. They weren’t just creating a generic “Indiana Jones” character; they were aiming to capture Indy as audiences adored him in the 1980s—at the height of his daring adventures, not the older version from more recent films.
Creating a game is always a monumental task, but what MachineGames accomplished feels like a small miracle. And a significant slice of that success is thanks to Troy Baker. This esteemed voice actor, famous for roles like Joel in “The Last of Us” and Sam Drake in “Uncharted 4,” had an immense challenge. Indiana Jones isn’t just any character; he’s a symbol of adventure and charisma. Anything less than a flawless rendition of Ford’s voice simply would not suffice.
Recently, a BAFTA video gave us a peek into how Baker achieved this remarkable feat. Mitra Ashkan Far, the cinematic producer, shared an anecdote about Baker’s early days on the project. Stepping into their first read-through, albeit virtually, he brought the spirit of Indy to life even on Microsoft Teams by using “Indiana Jones” as his screen name and sporting the iconic fedora and bullwhip.
Emily Hesler, the voice-over designer, along with Ashkan Far, expressed their appreciation for Tom Keegan. As the performance director, with a remarkable track record that includes several Wolfenstein and Star Wars games, Keegan excelled at immersing actors in their roles. The BAFTA video around 7:20 shows a snippet of Baker’s voice-over work, capturing Indy’s gruff cries as he takes a beating. This isn’t just any voice acting; Hesler rightfully points out it’s pure Indy magic that mirrors Ford’s essence perfectly.
Listening to the clip, Hesler can’t help but laugh in amazement. “That’s so Indy,” she remarks, noticing the layer of personality and conviction packed into each grunt, revealing Indy’s frustration yet unwavering spirit—even while taking hits, because Indy’s charm has always been about falling down but never staying down.
Hesler elaborates, emphasizing the intricate tones in Baker’s performance. “It needs to have that breathy quality,” she says, “yet maintain a distinct tone, mixed with an undertone of annoyance. It’s not just about getting the voice right; it’s about capturing the attitude.” And Baker nails it.
Even after countless hours spent in the world of “Indiana Jones and the Great Circle,” Baker’s portrayal continues to astonish me, deserving every bit of the recognition he received with the 2025 DICE Award for Outstanding Achievement in Character. With such a performance, anticipation builds as the game prepares to launch on PlayStation 5 this spring.
