Gaming Target - Xbox: Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb

Written by Nick Doukas on June 10, 2003

First Impressions: No time for love Dr. JonesЕ

There's a scene at the end of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom where Indy has just returned the sacred stones to the peasant village (as well as all the children). As the famous theme swells up, Indy is surrounded by the cheering kids (while kissing Kate Capshaw of course) and it's at that moment that you realize: Indiana Jones is the quintessential adventurer. That's right folks, long before Lara Croft was raiding tombs, Indy was the original RaiderЕ of the Lost Ark. Thanks to publisher LucasArts and developer The Collective, Indy fans can unfurl their whip and take a crack (no pun intended, seriously) at the new globe spanning, heart stopping Indiana Jones adventure. Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb promises to bring cinematic thrills to the Xbox this fall, and capture all of the dynamic excitement of the film trilogy.

The Indiana Jones films have always had a unique feel. Set in the 30's, the series harkens back to pulp adventure novels, and much of the action takes place during World War II. Indy's most formidable foes have always been Nazis (although he takes on an ancient cult in the jungles of India in the second movie). In keeping with the tone of the films, Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb will take gamers from crocodile-infested waters in Ceylon, to the bustling streets of Hong Kong. The development team's proprietary engine supports completely immersive, extremely interactive environments. The adventure will unfold across 10 levels, each set in a unique locale. These will include: an underwater palace in Istanbul, a mountaintop fortress in China and a 15th century castle that looms over Prague. Players can expect to find themselves participating in over the top, cinematic confrontations, such as a rickshaw chase in Hong Kong and a phenomenal battle atop moving gondolas in the South China Sea. Indy will have the ability to engage in hand-to-hand combat, as well as fire upon enemies using his pistol. Of course, the trademark Bullwhip is here as well, a huge plus for fans eager to make use of Indy's favorite toy.

Indy's newest adventure is set in the Far East in 1935, and will plunge him into an international crisis of epic proportions. As the game begins, a powerful secret Asian society, called the Black Dragon Triad, and a German mercenary, Albrecht Von Beck, have established an alliance to search for the Heart of the Dragon, a black pearl that gives it's possessor the ability to control minds. Rumored to be buried in the crypt of China's first emperor, it has remained hidden for more than two thousand years. To thwart this covenant of evil, Indy is hired by an Asian business man named Marshal K'ai, who requests that he retrieve the pearl and return it to the government of China. However, there's a catch (isn't it always that way?!). Indy must first traverse the world in order to find and assemble the three scattered pieces of the Dragon Seal, the key to unlocking the crypt. To assist him on his epic quest, K'ai's beautiful assistant, Mei Ying, will accompany the good doctor, providing support, as well as important information.

Developer, The Collective, based in Newport Beach, California, is utilizing the combat engine they created for their upcoming title -- Buffy the Vampire Slayer. The two-button system allows for a plethora of combos, and is designed to handle fighting with a single enemy or a group. You'll also be able to disarm your opponents and take their weapon. When your back's to the wall, you'll have the option to make use of whatever's at your disposal, such as table legs, bottles or perhaps a shovelЕ hell, why not whack him with a chair while you're at it!? Early screen grabs are looking excellent, displaying exquisite lighting effects, clean impressive textures, and a wide and varied color palette. Indy's character model looks robust as well. If The Collective can continue to polish the already solid core gameplay and design, as well as properly execute the sweeping story, they could have a real winner on their hands: an Indiana Jones game that puts you into the movie like never before. To quote Tom Byron, director of product marketing for LucasArts: УIndiana Jones and the Emperors Tomb faithfully recreates all the heroism, action and edge-of-the-seat adventure of the blockbuster film series thanks to a state-of-the-art game engine, a rich story, and compelling gameplay.Ф Now that sounds like just what the Doctor ordered, doesn't it? (I just can't stop with the terrible puns, can I?!)