LEGO Indiana Jones game review

Like the LEGO Star Wars games, you have the task of finding and collecting pieces of LEGO in a big, cute world in LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures. The environments and plots are very similar to the movies.

The similarities between LEGO Indy and Star Wars abound: You’ll even find LEGO Star Wars characters in the Indy game, which is weird since, well, this is Indiana Jones. I guess they want you to buy LEGO Star Wars if you don’t already have it. So is Indy better than LEGO Star Wars?

Not really. If you played LEGO Star Wars, you had the thrill of LEGO figures on sci-fi adventures. There’s a little bit of a been-there/done-that feeling with Indy. That’s not to say the thrill is gone. You just won’t have the feeling of playing something completely new and different. But you will have fun, lots of it.

PLAY HARD, THINK HARD

As the adventurous archaeologist, you search for treasure, avoid crazy traps and battle enemies. You’ll use Indy’s famous whip to reach vines to swing on, defeat Nazi enemies riding on camels and more. When you encounter snakes, Indy freezes for a moment because he really is scared of them. Other characters with phobias do the same. For instance, Willie is scared of spiders (just like me!).

You’ll switch characters a lot since there are 60 playable blocky folks. Your use of them beyond Indy depends on the situation. Peruvian guide Satipo is good with physical labor such as making a raft or digging. And singer Willie can scream with such force, she can shatter glass.

The animals are nicely animated, as are the lush background environments. The first animal you ride is a yak. Later, you can ride an elephant in the Temple of Doom, which is the best segment because it’s as eerie as the movie. Monkeys will help you, too — just toss them bananas.

The gameplay can be challenging. Early on, you’ll pull out a statue’s tongue with your whip. When bricks fall out, you form a ladder to get to a vine, swing on it and then jump over to a path to continue your journey. At the end of the first segment, you have to avoid falling into water full of alligators. When you find a plane without a propeller, you have to make one out of LEGOs. The game makes you think hard to win, and that’s a good thing.

HOME SWEET HOME

LEGO Indiana Jones makes you think hard to solve the puzzles, and that’s a good thing.

The area called Barnett College is your home base. Here, you’ll be able to control characters you find in the Library. By talking to the librarian, you can increase your collection of characters in Freeplay, a do-what-you-want mode that you can unlock after playing the Story mode. (Everyone from Han Solo to Santa Claus is a Freeplay character.)

In The Art Room, create your own character using a huge variety of LEGO and Indiana Jones items. In the Mail Room, you’ll get packages that give you power ups. Explore the campus long enough, and you’ll find some secret levels in the college, too.

A FEW DRAWBACKS

With the PS2, PS3 and Xbox 360 versions, it’s a little difficult to position the whip, or any other weapon, in the exact direction of an oncoming enemy, even a lowly spider. There should be a button that adjusts the camera angle when the two dimensions of the game stymie your aim. Plus, you can’t save any time you want, just at the end of each chapter, which sometimes forces you to play longer than you have time to.

You’ll use Indy’s famous whip to reach vines to swing on, defeat Nazi enemies riding on camels and more.

Also, there is no online play, and co-op play is limited to two persons. Online play is a must in this day and age. Hopefully, developer Traveler’s Tales will get with the program soon, although there won’t be online play in this fall’s LEGO Batman, either.

WII: CRACK THAT WHIP

While the PS3, PS2 and Xbox 360 versions have more detailed graphics, the Wii adds that irresistible motion-sensing play with the Wiimote. Whether it’s snapping Indy’s whip or shooting a gun, it’s more interactive than the other console games. Still, attacking is pretty much the only thing you do with the Wiimote. There should be more variety.

DS: NIFTY INTERACTION

The DS version is more interactive than any of the console versions, including the Wii. You still have 60 playable characters, and the stylus allows you to use the whip, or any attack weapon, on the touch screen. Use your thumb on the touch screen to mimic digging and cranking motions. Inflate a raft by blowing into the DS microphone.

Spiders don’t bother Indy, but he freezes for a moment when he encounters snakes because he really is scared of them.

While the game is a little short, it’s almost half the price of the console versions. And many of the features of the console games are here, including the create-your-own-character function. If your pal has a copy of the game, you can easily play co-op mode wirelessly.

As you play through LEGO Indy, you might wonder why an adaptation of the new movie isn’t included in the game. That’s probably because LucasArts wants to make another LEGO Indy game next year.

Overall, LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures is imaginative and compelling. It’s an exciting game that will keep you going for hours, especially if you take advantage of Freeplay mode.