Well, lets just say they live up to old Dr. Jones.
Usually games based off films are a big no-no for me. Quickly produced games with obviously predictable story lines make games like Harry Potter and Spiderman hard to enjoy. Perhaps its the nostalgia of Lego pieces themselves or their selection of films, but I have found that Lego video games leave that theory far behind. My first experience was with Lego Star Wars on XBox, a game I became quickly addicted to. Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures excelled my expectations and here's why.
First, the story is of course predictable, but Lego adds a new spin. Gamers expect to play as the characters and to actually play the stories from the films. However, finding a random C3PO from Star Wars is an interesting twist. The basis of the game is to complete the film stories by advancing through each level. At the end of the level, a comical little video clip is played (often reflecting a humorous side to memorable Indiana Jones scenes). Also, gamers collect lego pieces as points and treasure chests for added bonuses. The points can be used to purchase characters like Mola Ram from Temple of Doom or arch-nemesis Dr. Bolloq. The treasure chests complete artifacts such as an Ivory Elephant or the Golden Idol from the opening scene where Jones is chased by a giant boulder. These little extras make the efforts worthwhile and unpredictable as usually you don't know what the bonus is until you have achieved it.
Opening Sequence in Lego: Indiana Jones
Second, the levels are addicting. Despite finishing a level the first time in Story Mode, the level is not yet complete. The gamer must go back and work through portions of the level to find extra treasure chests, bonuses like a frozen Luke Skywalker, and challenging puzzles. A gamer might have to play a level 3-4 times in order to find everything. After playing a level 5 times (trying to find the last treasure chest), I stumbled across my first Star Wars character!
(On a side note-it is possible that a bit of the Star Wars animation was due to the similar shooting locations for the films themselves. The canyon in Raiders of the Lost Ark, for example, was the same canyon from Star Wars: A New Hope. www.imdb.com)
Also, some of the prizes fail to emerge if you make the wrong step. Dying, taking the wrong door, or not completing an early puzzle may stop you from reaching a bonus in a later part of the same level. I hate to admit that I did look up one chest's location online after playing the level 10 times to no avail.
The game is 1-2 players, but I strongly suggest 2 players. For one thing, I find it more fun to play with someone else. Secondly, many of the puzzles or contraptions don't move without pulling two levers. Sometimes the game doesn't click into action to help you and switching may mean that the character you were already using will move from its post as well. A second human player is preferred to avoid the eminent frustration.
Screenshot: 2-Player Mode
With what seems endless bonuses, surprises, and even a hidden level or two (shh!), Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures should keep even high-level gamers entertained for some time.
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