A fun game for everyone -- if you can get past it's glaring problems (ADD Sufferers Beware!)
The LEGO storytelling has remained intact in Indiana's universe, so you can expect a great deal of entertaining situations sprinkled throughout an abridged version of the plot. Like the LEGO Star Wars titles, if you're not familiar with the Indy films you may find yourself struggling to understand what exactly is going on. Much of the story feels far too rushed, and the pacing usually squashes any dramatic tension that the films had. A couple scenes definitely remain intact (most notably Indy and Henry's Zepplin escape from The Last Crusade) but the strange pace is jarring for longtime supporters and non-fans alike. What makes up for it, though, is the games wonderful sense of inoffensive humour. Indy and his LEGO pals get into seemingly endless ridiculous situations - from the rather cheerful scenes of dismemberment to the numerous cute Star Wars references. While most of the jokes could be written off as 'childish', you'd have to have a cold heart indeed to not crack a smile.
On the gameplay front, LEGO Indiana Jones is largely a platformer, with some heavy puzzle-solving elements mixed in. Each film is divided into six levels which highlight a pivotal plot moment. You will always be given at least two characters in your party, which allows for drop-in cooperative play with a friend and some Lost Vikings-esque puzzles. The game is best played with a friend as the friendly AI is questionable, and while it usually manages to keep up it's absolutely useless in helping solve puzzles. Most of the time, your computer partner seems more interested in going kamikaze, fighting off hordes of enemies all by themselves. Don't expect a friendly nudge in the right direction when you get stuck as the computer AI will remain passive throughout the experience until you figure out what you're supposed to be doing.
Thankfully, LEGO Indiana Jones' puzzles are actually quite smart. Unlike LEGO Star Wars, which more often than not featured puzzles with solutions so obscure you'd question the developer's sanity, LEGO Indy's puzzles make a lot of sense. To maximize the resourcefulness of Indy's nature, character-specific special abilities are out for the most part. Indy is the only character with a whip, and only Willie's screams are shrill enough to break glass - but apart from that almost everything can be done with items you find lying around. When faced with a puzzle, you'll always find the item you need nearby; making it easier to figure out what the game expects you to do. The game greatly benefits from this not only because the experience becomes smarter and more streamlined, but because every character has worth. There are no more slow and useless droids; pretty much anyone can hold their own whether they're platforming, puzzle-solving or fighting.
The fighting mechanics from LEGO Star Wars remain virtually unchanged, unfortunately. What it basically amounts to is mashing down the attack button until you've cleared the screen of enemies. The enemies come in large groups, but they're rarely difficult to deal with thanks to more lousy AI. You will usually be attacked from one direction, so you'll fight the enemies one at a time, and they react so slowly they'll most probably be dead before they have a chance to throw a punch. However, some of the ranged enemies are downright cheap. Bazooka-wielding soldiers, even if they're off-screen, can pick you off with one shot. Making the experience worse, pretty much all enemies will respawn until you finish a required puzzle. You'll find the only way to beat most puzzles is to kill all the enemies which come after you, and then start solving in the lull between waves.
Each level in Indiana Jones takes about twenty to thirty minutes to beat the first time around, meaning the whole game should last about six to eight hours. This is a fair length, but Traveller's Tales has once again provided much incentive to keep us playing. Much like in LEGO Star Wars, the developers have cleverly hidden numerous collectables throughout each level. Unlike in other platformers, these items actually feel like they're worth collecting. Although it's impossible to collect everything on the first go (you'll often be required to use a Thuggee to reveal a pathway, or a small character to fit through a grate) the rewards make it feel more than worthwhile. Building each level's Artifact will net you a decent amount of cash, and eventually unlock a trio of fun bonus levels. You can also locate a Mailbox in each level which will give you access to secrets, which do everything from making the floors slippery to giving every character a handlebar moustache. To collect everything, you'll probably spend at least fifteen hours with the game - a decent value for the fifty dollar asking price.
Visually, LEGO Indiana Jones won't amaze, but the fusion of semi-realistic environments with blocky LEGO characters and items will definitely amuse. The environments are definitely a step up over the LEGO Star Wars titles, and look good whether you're up on the rooftops of Cairo or racing through Thuggee mines on a precarious cart ride. There's definitely a nice mix of visual styles, and despite more than a few texture problems LEGO Indy definitely manages to please visually. John William's superb score is in full form, and just like in the films it manages to kick in at exactly the right moments.
Like LEGO Star Wars before it, LEGO Indiana Jones isn't a groundbreaking experience. However, it does manage to be a charming and fun platformer that people of all ages can enjoy. Despite some monotonous gameplay, pretty much anyone who picks it up is guaranteed a good time. It's by and large the best LEGO title so far, and anyone looking for a simple, fun game suitable for kids would do good to pick it up.