[Jony]

Yep, I just bought the game for 20 bucks. Lets hope that its good. Got it new for Playstation 2, but I heard that the Xbox version is twice as better. Could somebody comment on that?

[Intrepid Homoludens]

"Dig this, Archaeologist Jones!"

:eek: Jeezus Cripes, Jony, I was just replaying the Prague and Istanbul levels just now! I finished the game the other night. I highly recommend it as a perfect 'popcorn game'. IMO, out of all the Indy games it's the most faithful to the world of Indiana Jones and to the movies, in terms of story, globe trotting, exploration, traps, and all out, raw action. I've heard great things about Fate Of Atlantis, etc., but I never warmed up to the idea of an Indy Jones game being pure adventure, i.e. nothing but puzzle solving, pointing and clicking, and no action. In that sense I'd say that Emperor's Tomb would be the quintessential Indy Jones experience - next to the movies, of course.

I have to warn you, this game is HEAVY, serious platformer, just like Tomb Raider. There are some jumping puzzles highly demanding of your skills and timing. But far, far more fun than that is the marvelously raw fist fights you get to have. It's sinfully satisfying on the primitive level, you'll find yourself ignoring your weapons and simply resorting to punching, grabbing, and kicking. LOL, I even found myself grunting like a real man during the fisticuffs. They did an excellent job with melee combat. There is, however, one boss sequence that's infamously horribly tough - Von Beck's Revenge, which involves split second timing with jumping and whip swinging. Fans reported having to replay it 50 times at least to beat it. I'm no exception, it is cruel and very, very difficult, but possible to beat. Don't give up, you might even have to give it a couple of days.

Graphically, it's quite pretty, though not beautiful. I have the PC version and hadn't seen it on any of the consoles. On the PC it looks wonderful, though some of the textures look washed out (a result of an average job of porting over, I guess). I'll wager the Xbox version is second place in graphical amenities, with the PS2 right after.

All in all it's a good solid romp, worthy of the Indiana Jones pedigree. I'm very much looking forward to the next title from them.

[D.C.]

Originally Posted by Jony

Yep, I just bought the game for 20 bucks. Lets hope that its good. Got it new for Playstation 2, but I heard that the Xbox version is twice as better. Could somebody comment on that?

Just as long as you don't buy the piece of shit PC version.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

SerialFreak

Hey, the PC version wasn't that bad at all! If you're talking about the controls, I had very few problems whatsoever. The only annoyance was the camera, and even then it's a problem on the consoles as well, the developers' fault. I remapped all the keys and was fine. Sadly, however, it didn't allow for hotkeys for weapons and items. But then neither did the console versions.

[Skinkie]

I've been stuck in VOn Beck's revenge for like 8 months now, haven't been playing it regularly for a loooong time though. After that level beat me solid for 3 straight hours two days in a row I gave in. Now I just go back and try it once in awhile, but it still holds power over me.

[D.C.]

The game would have been decent if it wasn't for all those horrible frustrating scenes. I think everyone got stuck at that Von Beck scene. I stopped playing for a few months. For crying out loud... Even the final boss is easier to defeat then that.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

LOL! I knew it. Von 'Big Effeminate Fag Nazi' Beck's Revenge is absolutely unforgiving. I think I finally beat it after around 30 to 40 tries, I was more relieved than proud. The trick, I realized, is remembering when to jump a bit further and when to jump a little earlier. And you must be very skilled in whip swinging. The final boss battle with Marshall Kai was a silly cakewalk compared.

There was also that very tricky whipswinging you had to do in the Istabul level, in that big grotto with that one shark swimming around. You had to time it perfectly. And then that swing onto that balcony in the Prague castle, just after you kill those four gestalt agents by dropping the huge chandelier on them. That was difficult.

BTW, which levels were the most fun for you guys? My favourites were all the Prague levels (fist fights for non-acrophobics) and the Istanbul levels (great fist fights again).

[The Seed]

I gave up on Von Beck too, it was just crazy. I actually swapped that level file with another one, just because I couldn't tolerate it any longer, then I saw the level that followed and gave up on the game completely.

[D.C.]

Was the next section that part were you had too make your way too the other side of the level by jumping over moving stuff, killing the bad guys, and swinging on chains?

[RLacey]

I think you guys have just totally put me off ever buying this game... :S

[The Seed]

Originally Posted by SerialFreak

Was the next section that part were you had too make your way too the other side of the level by jumping over moving stuff, killing the bad guys, and swinging on chains?

I think that was about the just of it. There were also flying things that were quite annoying.

[Jackal]

I really liked Von Beck's Revenge.

Yeah, it took me a gajillion tries, too, but once I got the timing down, it was a lot of fun. At least the level felt fresh, rather than just more of the same old. I changed my control method for it, though. I used mouse/keyboard for the whole game, but found VBR was a lot easier with the gamepad. Or vice versa; can't remember which. One of those.

Overall, I completely agree that it was a fun romp, and very true to the spirit of Indiana Jones. My biggest gripe is the pathetic save system, which they couldn't be bothered customizing for PC. But that's moot if you're playing it on a console.

[D.C.]

The game has cool music though. I like Von Beck's theme song.

[Jony]

I just got to Prague. Could somebody tell me when is the "hard part" of the game, so I will know in advance how much time is left for me to play the game.
Anyway so far I am dissapointed by the graphics and the framerate (sometimes very sluggish) and the camera. The fighting is good, it one of the best fighting engines. I kinda got tired of the constant jumping...but I am still doing it. Before I got to Prague, I played one of the best levels so far in the game. When I had to lock the giant crocodile and get the artifact. It was truly remarkable how I was able to trick the monster. By the way did anyone notice the similarities between Indiana Jones and Ecco the Dolphin and Ico?
Indiana Jones might not be the perfect game, but it has by far the best manual in a game I have ever seen. The manual appears like a little archiological journal, with stamps pictures and all kinds of different writing fonts.

[D.C.]

The worst part (although it's not the only frustrating part) is the Von Beck mission and is towards the end of the game. It's when you're in the Emperor's Tomb so you've still got a while to play.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

Originally Posted by LaceyWare

I think you guys have just totally put me off ever buying this game... :S

LOL! Don't be a wimp. On the contrary, it's a pretty good game, precisely because it's breathlessly challenging. The pacing is excellent too, I might add.

Originally Posted by Jackal

I really liked Von Beck's Revenge.

Yeah, it took me a gajillion tries, too, but once I got the timing down, it was a lot of fun. At least the level felt fresh, rather than just more of the same old. I changed my control method for it, though. I used mouse/keyboard for the whole game, but found VBR was a lot easier with the gamepad. Or vice versa; can't remember which. One of those.

Overall, I completely agree that it was a fun romp, and very true to the spirit of Indiana Jones. My biggest gripe is the pathetic save system, which they couldn't be bothered customizing for PC. But that's moot if you're playing it on a console.

What's funny is that I completely forgot I had a Thrustmaster gamepad in my drawer, I played the entire thing with keyboard/mouse. It was still good that way. This is one of those ports where I didn't mind that much that there weren't unlimited in-game saves, though I'd still take points off for it [ at LucasArts]

Originally Posted by SerialFreak

The game has cool music though. I like Von Beck's theme song.

You can download a couple of the tracks from the official site: 'Indy Action', and 'Nazi Action'.

Originally Posted by Jony

I just got to Prague. Could somebody tell me when is the "hard part" of the game, so I will know in advance how much time is left for me to play the game.
Anyway so far I am dissapointed by the graphics and the framerate (sometimes very sluggish) and the camera. The fighting is good, it one of the best fighting engines. I kinda got tired of the constant jumping...but I am still doing it. Before I got to Prague, I played one of the best levels so far in the game. When I had to lock the giant crocodile and get the artifact. It was truly remarkable how I was able to trick the monster. By the way did anyone notice the similarities between Indiana Jones and Ecco the Dolphin and Ico?
Indiana Jones might not be the perfect game, but it has by far the best manual in a game I have ever seen. The manual appears like a little archiological journal, with stamps pictures and all kinds of different writing fonts.

SerialFreak is right, Von Beck's Revenge is the absolute worst part. But I really wouldn't call it 'worst', I'd describe it instead as the most 'grueling' part. But yeah, there are other areas that are pretty challenging. Thankfully there are little bits of help scattered around the levels. For example, you can pick up skulls and throw them to distract crocodiles or gauge traps. Whatever maps you find are absolutely useless because the levels are extremely linear anyway. Some boss battles are a combination of action, combat, and puzzling, and will involve trial an error (to figure out the puzzle part). Make sure to fill up your canteen at every single water source, you never know when you'll come across trouble (some water sources are hidden, keep your eyes peeled). Sharpen your multiple whipswinging skill, that's the toughest to master.

The manual is great little fun, there are correlations between it and the in-game details. For example, on page 14 there's a note along with a pain reliever prescription from Indy's doctor, who tells him to "...participate in less strenuous digs". Notice in the game that Indy occassionally flexes and adjusts his shoulder and arm, he seems to have a discomfort there. On page 10: "Good news! Marcus wants me to help locate an artifact in Ceylon [where the first few levels of the game take place], and the campus Board of Directors is more than happy to send me on a sabbatical.... Albrecht Von Beck (?) is after the idol as well This tip comes from a most unlikely source: Belloq! Though Belloq and I fiercely compete for the same artifacts, it appears the rivalry between Von Beck and Belloq is even greater!" You remember Belloq, don't you? He's the Nazi-hired French archaeologist Indy scrapes with in Raiders Of The Lost Ark.

[Jayel]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

I've heard great things about Fate Of Atlantis, etc., but I never warmed up to the idea of an Indy Jones game being pure adventure, i.e. nothing but puzzle solving, pointing and clicking, and no action. In that sense I'd say that Emperor's Tomb would be the quintessential Indy Jones experience - next to the movies, of course.

but but but... both indy adventure games in the past had plenty action.
Not as polished and fun to look at as the ones in Emperor's Tomb, I admit.

[Intrepid Homoludens]

But, but, but.....that's true of Infernal Machine. Considering the goal of LucasArts to this time give as total an Indiana Jones experience as possible, Emperor's Tomb pretty much renders its predecessors pale. ET's pacing, you have to admit, is closest and most faithful to the Indy movies - action followed by more action, furious globetrotting, traps upon traps, cliffhanging last minute rescues. I'm talking conceptually. For me personally I'd rather experience it this way than as a pure traditional adventure game with a lot of slow paced puzzles and only a couple of action sequences (again, it doesn't mean I think the other games suck, this is just stating my preference). This has mainly to do with my experience of the Indy Jones world through the movies, what I loved most about them.

On that note, I think I'll go back and reload and play that boss battle b/t Indy and Kai's two twin bitches. BRB....

[Skinkie]

I enjoyed getting around the traps in the different levels,... mostly, that one with the lightning shooting balls or whatever, that one was annoying.

[ConcreteRancor]

Originally Posted by Intrepid Homoludens

SerialFreak

Hey, the PC version wasn't that bad at all! If you're talking about the controls, I had very few problems whatsoever. The only annoyance was the camera, and even then it's a problem on the consoles as well, the developers' fault. I remapped all the keys and was fine. Sadly, however, it didn't allow for hotkeys for weapons and items. But then neither did the console versions.

What passes for excellent games on consoles will often be considered poor to mediocre for PC games. Best evidence I've found in the past:

Goldeneye (N64): Considered one of the best N64 games ever released. But compared to PC games at the same time, it wasn't that hot. I mean, you couldn't even JUMP.

Halo (Xbox): Probably the most commonly played game on campus where I go to school. I hear my friends with Xboxes talk about their intense 4-player deathmatches, and I'll cut in with: "Sounds good. I played a 16-on-16 CTF game on Gyrophobia, where I had an intense 2-on-2 Banshee dogfight. You ever done that? Oh, wait, I forgot, you have the CONSOLE version."

Half-Life: Released for PS2 YEARS after it was on the PC. I remember reading an article reviewing it in a PS2 magazine, saying how it was an absolutely amazing game, one of the best, etc. And I thought: "Good for you. I bought that game 3 years ago."

In conclusion, not only do excellent console games pale in comparison to their equivalent PC games, excellent PC games will just blow away the console crowd.

But then, the only console I've ever owned was one of the original Gameboys. So maybe I'm biased.