Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine

(NOTE : as of 2001, old games by LucasArts are still purchasable via their website)

Review by Techtite

The original archeologist in a Tomb Raider clone? The chance to use Indy's whip? The return of Fate of Atlantis' Sophia Hapgood? What more could a Indy fan want?

Ever since Indiana Jones and The Fate of Atlantis, fans have longed for another Indy adventure from Lucasarts. The closest they ever got, for several years, was the 2D desktop accessory, Indiana Jones' Desktop Adventures...um, okay, cute, though let's just say Lara Croft, in all her 3D splendor, was much cuter. Finally, LucasArts gets the message, and releases an impressive "Tomb Raider clone" for the holidays: Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine.

The premise of the game is simple enough; it is 1947, at the end of WW2, and the dawn of the Cold War. Evidence of an ancient machine is discovered, and both superpowers want it. Old friend Sophia Hapgood (from Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis) is working for the CIA on this, and asks for your help. Little by little, you find pieces of this machine, and each is quite powerful (and with unique abilities that assist in key puzzles); one such part, for example, vibrates the air until weaker walls crumble to dust, revealing secret areas!

Every game area is perfectly designed and textured; a pleasure to thoroughly explore. Tomb Raider puzzle types are also present; good news for fans of the genre. At the same time, such puzzles are enhanced, via Indy talking to you about what the current problem is ("There's no room to maneuver [to move that block]," is a phrase you'll hear a lot). Some additional interface differences are present (ie, command keys and their affect) though you get used to it in the first day of gameplay.

There are some added touches that place Indy apart from "Lara Croft." Among the most obvious is the ability to use Indy's infamous whip. This versatile item can be used to disarm guards, swing from certain wall fixtures, yank treasures away from their traps, and even as a climbable rope. Use it in harder puzzles and the classic four notes from Indy's theme play in the background; a nice added touch.

There are many other added touches I really liked. All game levels start with a map of where you're heading, with the "load" meter in the form of the line drawn to that location; nice idea. Your smallest gun has unlimited ammo, so you're never unarmed per se (just like Lara Croft's trusty default pistols). An ever-present piece of chalk can be used to draw symbols on the wall, in case you get lost. Lastly, gold treasures you find can be exchanged for cash, to buy supplies for later missions (health packs in particular). There's even a map you can purchase at any time (when you can afford it), which jumps you to a "secret level" not to be missed!

The game's designers had a lot of fun making this game, and it shows. What Indy writes on the wall (to not get lost; whenever you wish) is random and often hilarious. There's also LucasArts' constant penchant for intriguing Easter Eggs, including the common Egg: an image of Max the Bunny is hidden somewhere obscure. Even Guybrush "Monkey Island" Threepwood makes a cameo, for people who search hard enough; excused off as a "warp in reality" in the final level of the game. It's hard to get to, yet quite worth the laugh.

Any flaws are trivial to any Indy fan. Most are typical clipping problems, including Indy getting stuck, probably when you did something you shouldn't have in the first place (jumping recklessly off a cliff, for example). Also, there is no multiplayer; a big let-down for those who had heard rumors that this was being considered. In the end, though, such flaws are no big deal. If anything, the game didn't score a perfect "deep impact" because of a limited amount of originality, Tomb Raider clone that it is.

In the end, it's a pleasure to ride off into the sunset as Indiana Jones once again. This was one of the most fun times I had playing a game in all of 1999. LucasArts has delivered a game that surpasses much of the Tomb Raider series' gameplay value, right down to a cute ending. All LucasArts has to do now is make more Indy games, now that they have made the game engine for them. Please...?

	Final Rating : Large Crater. It's a shame that Tomb Raiders galore made this so much of a walk in the park (and a debatable clone), though it was fun to play.
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