- Plenty of fun things to unlock
- Follows the basic storyline of the first 3 films
- Smashing LEGOs is just plain fun
- Multiplayer option - play with a friend
- Characters don't die
- Many of the puzzles require the lead character - frustrating for second player
- Some of the puzzles are fiendishly difficult
- Play as Indiana Jones, Marion, Short Round, or any of your other favorite Indiana Jones characters.
- Solve puzzles, fight off enemies and save the day.
- Unlock special power-ups, new characters, and other fun surprises.
- Rated E10+ (Everyone 10 and up) for cartoon violence.
- Available for PC, Mac, PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3, Wii, XBox 360, PSP, and DS.
- This review is based on the PlayStation 3 version.
LEGO Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures is one of a line of LEGO games that include LEGO Star Wars and LEGO Batman. Playing as Indiana Jones, or one of the many other characters from the movies, you'll set out on a quest to protect valuable artifacts from greedy treasure-seekers.
The LEGO series of games is especially friendly to new and casual gamers. Although there are some scenes that require more dexterity than others, most players at the low end of the age range will be able to plow their way through. Since the characters don't really die, you can just keep trying until you figure it out.
LEGO Indiana Jones is rated E10+ for cartoon violence. There is certainly violence in the game with guns, swords and the infamous Indie whip. If you're sensitive to the idea of violence, it may bother you. On the other hand, it's so abstract that it simply doesn't feel violent to me. There is no blood and it isn't any more violent than what happens when your kids crash their toy cars into block towers. Use your judgment there.
The game can be played by up to two players and it's a lot of fun to go through with a friend. The flaw here is that the first player is typically the lead. Often the lead character has more access to puzzles and plays a more integral part in the scene. While this makes sense in a movie, it can be a bit frustrating in a game. On the other hand, I have noticed that the bad guys often attack the lead player first. I suppose it's a trade-off.
I played the game on the PlayStation 3 and, like most other action-oriented games, you'll find gameplay to be a bit easier on a console or at least with a handheld game controller. Using complex moves on a keyboard is just plain tedious. I can't even begin to imagine playing multiplayer on a keyboard.
LEGO Indiana Jones is fun, playful and engaging. Just like the movies!
