This game is
one of the few examples of when a license can enhance the gameplay of a
title. In fact if the name had been Fred Smith and the Emperors Tomb,
this game would have probably been lost in the shuffle. Basically, the
addition of a lovable hero and therein an entertaining story make this
title worth checking out. The gameplay will not be earning any
innovation awards, but it provides a good vehicle to get you through
another nostalgic romp with our whip-toting friend. LucasArts has a full
house when it comes to popular licenses and this game is yet another
instance of them flexing their movie muscle.
Bringing the
name Indiana Jones to the table is naturally going to demand that some
expectations be met, namely in the storyline. This new title boasts a
truly new story and new chapter in Indys career. That doesnt mean the
developers have abandoned what makes us flip to the Temple of Doom every
time we see it on some cable station. True to form, Emperors Tomb is
chock-full of exotic locales, treasure, and of course those nasty Nazis
trying to take over the world. This time theyre after an ancient
Chinese artifact named the Heart of the Dragon, a valuable black pearl
hidden away in the tomb of Emperor Chin Shih-huang-ti. Sure, who
doesnt want something like that to put over their fireplace, but
theres more to the pearl than its beauty. The man commissioning Indy to
find the treasure before the Nazis admits that it can be used to control
the hearts of mortal man. All of the sudden you really dont want those
goose-stepping thugs to get hold of such a powerful artifact and the
race is on. Along the way, players will, of course, have their share of
people to meet and stunts to perform. That is what the Indiana Jones
license does for this game.
Graphically,
the Emperors Tomb is average. There are several cases of jagged edges,
which, if you are the kind of gamer who pays attention to detail, can
serve as a distraction from what is going on. Also the animation can be
pretty rigid at times. In the beginning levels Indy must avoid a ghostly
crocodile patrolling the waters around a valuable artifact. Upon
inspection, the crocs movements are rather robotic as are Indys when
he decides to take a swim. On the flip side there are times when the
games graphics get the job done. Facial detail is done well. Aside from
the occasional rough edges the environments provide good atmosphere and
ambiance. I really appreciated the detail given to Indys equipment. By
that I mean that whatever he has picked up will be seen on his person.
By the end of the first sequence I was running down halls with a
revolver on one hip and a whip on another along with the shotgun Id
lifted off a thug slung over my shoulder. It is an element of realism
that I would love to see done more often in video games. Another small
touch I appreciated was that his gear moves independently of him as he
runs, jumps, and climbs. If you read through the notes in one of the
coolest instruction booklets Ive seen a long while, youll notice a
doctors note telling Indy to take it easy on his right arm along with a
prescription for pain medicine. If you dont move for a few moments in
the game, low and behold Indy will not only start to favor his arm, but
try to stretch it too. These are all small details, but they really go a
long way to counteract the less savory aspects of the games graphics.
Speaking of less than savory, lets take a look at the control scheme of
Emperors Tomb.
Control is
the biggest problem this title has. It is by no means bad enough to
really handicap the game, but it can be a source of irritation until you
get used to it. Indys movements dont seem to be in sync with the
controls and youll see this particularly during the jumping sequences.
The animation can be partly to blame for this because it can be hard to
get a feel for that "last step" you have before leaping. Since several
of the jumps you must make require that timing, gamers will find
themselves jumping too early or even running off a ledge before they can
jump. This is a problem you can get used to with experience, though,
making it only temporary. If you have access to a good controller, I
would recommend it over using the keyboard. I noticed how much more
intuitive the controls felt using a controller, especially having the
use of shoulder buttons.
Once you
come to grips with the control scheme of the Emperors Tomb, youll
start to have a lot more fun. Particularly enjoyable are the fistfights
youll get into. The developers have created a relatively simple and
effective avenue for beating up thugs and Nazis. Indy basically has two
different punch combos available to him. Beyond that he is able to put
up his fists and block enemies punches. The real fun lies in Indys
ability to grapple with the bad guys. You can grab someone and use one
of the two punch combos to either get some good punches in or even share
your knee with their gut a few times. More devastating maneuvers are
available if you are able to catch someone from behind. Indy can also
use his environment in a limited way in combat. If a wall is nearby Indy
can shove his enemy into it, setting them up for a wicked beat down.
Even better is your ability to shove your opponent off of ledges. It is
particularly gratifying to see a Nazi bouncing down the roof youve just
pushed him off of. There are also a few nasty things you can inflict on
the opposition with Indys trusty bullwhip.
The game
provides good audio in the form of several movie inspired tunes and some
decent voice acting. I guess asking Harrison Ford to do any voice work
is out of the question, but his replacement doesnt do too badly. Make
sure you have your speakers turned up because several of the hints you
get are from Indy himself as he wonders aloud how to get past an
obstacle.
Overall,
Indiana Jones and the Emperors Tomb is a quality title that you can
feel good about owning. While the gameplay alone is neither innovative,
nor unique, the addition of the Indiana Jones name really enhances the
quality of the game. Once again Id like to recommend using a good
gamepad to get a more intuitive sense of control. LusasArts and The
Collective have collaborated on a good game that provides enough
substance to live up to the Indiana Jones name.