Computer Gaming World's Article On Indiana Jones And The Infernal Machine

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Posted by Nick from 7.chicago-15-20rs.il.dial-access.att.net on August 18, 1999 at 10:31:21:

Indiana Jones and the
Infernal Machine

The Archaeologist Adventurer Lays Claim
to Tomb Raider's Turf

By Terry Coleman

With all the hoopla surrounding The Phantom
Menace and its supporting games, the other
signature franchise of George Lucas might seem a bit like a
redheaded stepchild, albeit one wearing a fedora. Forgetting about
Indiana Jones' Desktop Adventures (we've tried), there hasn't been
a major game based on Indy's exploits since Indiana Jones and the
Fate of Atlantis, the underrated LucasArts adventure game
released five years ago. Until now.

If you're expecting a traditional adventure game,
say in the Grim Fandango style, you might be in
for a bit of a letdown. For Indiana Jones and the
Infernal Machine is unashamedly, without a
doubt, a powerful challenger to the Tomb Raider
throne. And why not? Tomb Raider obviously
drew inspiration from the Indiana Jones films,
just as Indy was a product of Lucas' and
Spielberg's fond memories of adventure serials
of the 1930s.

Exhuming McCarthy

As Infernal Machine opens, WWII is over, and
the victorious Allies have a new worry: the
Soviets, who are trying to tap into the secrets of
the Tower of Babel. Now, we all know the US
government could just sic the Ark of the
Covenant on them, but that wouldn't make for
much of a game. So you, with your timeworn
fedora flapping in the wind, assume the role of
Indiana Jones.

First, you hotfoot it to the Utah desert, where, in
a manner typical of tomb robber tutorials, you
learn the simple keyboard interface. There, you
find that Infernal Machine is a very user-friendly game. For example,
when you want Indy to jump up and grab a ledge, you just position
yourself reasonably near, push the up arrow, and you're there - none
of this "having to find the exact pixel" crap. Every control works in
similar, common-sense fashion, whether you're jumping across a
chasm or driving a Jeep through the hills.

While you're performing an action - especially a dangerous one -
the camera often pulls away to heighten the drama. This had even a
jaded old adventurer like me chuckling with delight and relief, given
the horrible camera implementation in The Phantom Menace. I'm
also impressed that Indy can be killed when you do something
obviously stupid.

On the other hand, the game is so linear that it actually helps with
gameplay; you can't move on from one level, for instance, without
getting all of the items you need for the next. None of the puzzles we
saw were so difficult as to keep anyone stuck for long, and Indy
muses out loud to himself with over 2,000 lines of recorded
dialogue (surely a sign of too many harrowing adventures), giving
you clues on how to proceed.

Indiana Jones and the
Infernal Machine

Trans-World Airlines

The 17 levels in the game take you all around
the globe, from the United States and South
America to Asia and the ruins of ancient
Babylon. Everywhere, it seems, you find a
bunch of cookie-cutter Soviet thugs, along with
a half-dozen or so Russian "bosses" (in the action game sense) to
be dispatched. Since you also have to face a serpent god,
scorpions, and Indy's least favorite foe, snakes, you'll come to
appreciate the 1940s weaponry you find along the way, which
includes a machete, a bazooka, and the occasional satchel charge,
all to complement Indy's Smith & Wesson pistol and trademark
bullwhip.

My main concern is that this "heavily story-driven game" (according
to LucasArts) has only a half-dozen or so characters that you
interact with in any way other than by opening fire. We do get
Sophia Hapgood, our heroine from Atlantis (now a CIA agent), and
her Soviet counterpart, Gennady Volodnikov, who promises to be a
nasty villain. The music, by the same composer who scored
Outlaws, is excellent; we just hope that LucasArts uses it throughout
the game to dramatically drive the action along. Infernal Machine is
gorgeous, seemingly well paced, and filled with interesting foes. For
those of us who love third-person action games, it's a dream come
true to see Indy, the original tomb raider, in 3D action.

Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine

Indy at E3
http://www.gamespot.com/features/e3hotties_99/p7_01.html

Indy Screens
http://e3news.gamespot.com/e3news/e3screens/0,1360,727,00.html



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