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

Written by Nick Doukas on March 28, 2003

Full Review: If adventure has a name, it must be Indiana JonesЕ

In 1981, George Lucas and Steven Spielberg introduced a new hero into the pop culture lexicon. A fedora wearing archeologist who lived as much in the world of adventure as he did in academia, Indiana Jones was an instant hit and the film, Raiders of the Lost Ark, took moviegoers on a thrill ride back to the 1930's. Audiences were on the edge of their seats as Indy raced the Nazi regime for the lost Ark of the Covenant, and the incredible power contained within. Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade completed the trilogy, with Indy seeing action in India (interestingly, the events of Temple of Doom take place several years before the first film) and confronting an ancient, Kali worshipping cult. Last Crusade sees Indy take on the Nazis once again, although this time, the Holy Grail is the highly coveted prize. After several attempts by different developers to bring Dr. Jones to the world of videogames, each meeting with varying degrees of success, The Collective tosses their cards onto the table with Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb. I'm very pleased to report that they really did right by the doctor, and Emperor's Tomb effortlessly captures the spirit of the films in a big way.

The game is set in the Far East in 1935, and the story immediately plunges Indy 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. After an excellent training level set in the jungles of Ceylon, the game proper kicks in, as 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 is a catch: Just as in the films, Indy must traverse the world in order to achieve the goals at hand. To assist him on his quest, K'ai's beautiful assistant Mei Ying will accompany the good doctor (during certain portions of the adventure), providing support, as well as important information.

The environments in Emperor's Tomb are huge in scope and quite impressive. From the streets of Hong Kong, to Prague and the jungles of Ceylon, the game looks excellent. There are some technical problems (the occasional visible seam, a bit of slowdown, and some clipping issues) but overall, it looks quite good. The textures are solid, lighting and particle effects are well done, and the character model of Indy looks great, right down to the battered leather jacket and trademark fedora which, by the way, can easily be knocked off in the course of numerous fist-fights. You'll have to pick it up or you lose it until the next level. It's a nice touch and a tip of the hat (no punЕreallyЕI swear) to the Indiana Jones that fans love from the films.

You'll move Indy with the left thumbstick, and control the camera with the right. B is used to jump, while A represents your primary attack, and X your secondary. Actions such as opening doors and picking up objects utilize the Y button, while the directional pad accesses the inventory and allows you to navigate the menus. The right trigger places Indy in guard mode, and the left switches the view to first person. The character has plenty of cool moves and interacts with the environment well. You'll find yourself leaping off of ledges and grabbing swinging chains high above the courtyard of a castle in Prague, as well as rolling, jumping, and dodging whirling blades in a tight temple corridor. The game flows well, with exploration, enemy combat, puzzle solving, and boss encounters making up the bulk of the adventure. Some scripted sequences are featured as well, such as taking control of a stationary gun and shooting down German fighters, a harrowing chase through the streets while Indy machine guns the pursuers in first person view, and a few other cool moments I don't want to spoil. Suffice to say that the game moves along at a great pace, with the action and story well balanced and true to the tone of the films.

The combat in Emperor's Tomb is well implemented, and you'll find yourself in numerous situations straight out of the movies. Crashing down through a skylight to land on an enemy, beating him to a pulp, then grabbing his gun and shooting the other two guards as they advance is great fun, and countless wild combat scenarios unfold in full cinematic glory. Using a combination of the left thumbstick and face buttons, Indy can punch, kick, grab, and throw enemies. Ranged weapons, such as machine guns, Lugers, and Indy's trusty six-shooter, are fired by using the A button. The weapons are nicely executed, and they all fire with satisfying realism. Indy's whip is used in combat, and you'll also need it for swinging over impassable chasms. Once again, just like the movies. Wall hugs, shimmies, rope and chain swinging, as well as swimming and climbing, round out Indy's solid arsenal of moves, which are all well animated, and look fluid and natural. Health is restored by drinking from Indy's canteen (which can be refilled at various fountains), or by using med-kits found strewn about each level. Trust me, they come in very handy!

The sound is excellent, and the various whip-cracks, weapons fire, and explosions reverberate with gritty realism. The voice work is great as well, with all of the voice actors contributing excellent performances. Of particular note is David Esch, who plays Indy in a pitch-perfect performance (wow, that's some serious alliteration for you). You literally can't tell the difference. The music rocks, with the famous theme swelling at just the right time, and more subtle passages marking the lighter moments of exploration.

The developers have gone out of their way to provide a superlative Indiana Jones experience, right down to the instruction manual. Themed as the journal of Dr. Jones, it features interesting tidbits, such as a poster from Club Obi Wan, advertising a performance by Willie Scott (Indy's love interest in Temple of Doom), and an early request from Marcus Brody to raid a South American stronghold for a 2,000-year-old golden idol. Of course, this alludes to the beginning of Raiders, where Jones outruns a 3-ton boulder to escape a trap-laden temple. Good stuff, and a real pleasure for fans of the character.