Review: Lego: Indiana Jones (360)

Sadly, it seems, quite a lot. Yet this game’s problems stem less from the gameplay that’s starting to look tired, poor partner AI and more from the fact that the Indiana Jones trilogy of films are simply not as suitable as the Star Wars films for a Lego adaptation.  While both sets of films are prima facie tales of good against evil, the Indiana Jones films explore deeper religious themes, set against a background of a world in the thrall of fascism. Not only are the Indiana Jones films darker than the Star Wars films, some of the scenes in the trilogy are downright gory. Who hasn’t looked away when the Ark of the Covenant is opened at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark?

Although the source material has been treated with the same respect and affection by the developers as the Star Wars films, ultimately the more difficult nature of the material means that more has been lost in the translation from celluloid to Lego than Gamestyle would have hoped. How for example do Traveller’s Tales, fit the legend of the Holy Grail in to half a dozen short, dialogue free cut-scenes whilst avoiding offending people who hold particularly strong religious beliefs? Added to this dilemma, is the fact that Lego games are primarily aimed at a younger audience, so there’s no room for specific references to Nazis or Nazism. Disappointingly, we are left with a watered down version of the original films, with cut-scenes that neither amuse nor inform as much as those in the Lego Star Wars games. 

The gameplay in this title bears more than a passing resemblance to the Lego Star Wars games. However once again, each film has been broken down in to six different levels, with each level featuring the usual mix of platforming and puzzle-solving we’ve come to expect. The puzzles are logical and can be solved with a spot of lateral thinking, although they are perhaps more difficult than those we’ve seen before and might cause a headache for younger players. Other puzzles are included that require teamwork in order to be solved, which is a nice improvement. The use of special skills is now more evenly distributed. Any character can pick up a spanner or a shovel and keep it in their back pocket for later. Some characters still have innate abilities though. For example, female characters can jump higher than the chaps; Short Round is, well, perhaps you can figure that one out; and only Indy himself gets to crack a whip. But despite the general improvements to the gameplay mechanics, with game plays almost identically to the previous Lego Star Wars games and it’s starting to feel old. You’re still shepherded through linear levels, with too many leaps of faith, smashing up Lego blocks, only to rebuild them as something else. The only real difference is that instead of using the Force, you’ll be using a different implement, be it a shovel or some other item, to get things done.

One area that hasn’t improved is the AI of your partner. They’ll generally stand in the way, and obstruct your progress. In the worst case, they will cause you to plummet to your doom as they resolutely refuse to move from the small platform that they are occupying as you jump to it. They’ll get stuck behind obstacles and sometimes decide when you’ve left them somewhere in order to complete a puzzle that requires both characters to complete that it would actually be more helpful if they stood right next to you rather than staying put. It’s a good job then, that the two player drop in co-op has remained intact.

However, almost criminally (but to be fair in-keeping with the previous titles in the series) Lego Indiana Jones still only includes local co-op. The lack of an online co-op mode seems to be a startling omission and it’s high time that it was included in Lego games released on this format. This is also a short game. Gamestyle managed to complete the story mode in less than a weekend. As with the Lego Star Wars games there’s a massive number of collectables to revisit each level and find but it’s doubtful that many players will have the patience to put the effort in and to us this smacks of a poor effort to extend the games longevity. The added incentive of achievements will undoubtedly encourage some, even if “How We Say Goodbye in Germany” is one of the worst achievements yet to appear in a game.   

If you enjoyed the Lego Star Wars games and didn’t feel that they were getting tired by the end of the second game, then you’ll love this release. However, if you were expecting this title to revitalise the franchise, or are deeply-offended by the thought of a watered down version of the Indiana Jones story being told, then this is probably not the game for you. For everyone else, sitting happily in the middle of those two extremes there are a few hours of solid, if uninspiring, entertainment to be had.

Rating: 7 / 10

Words by Andy Lucas