When a film franchise is as popular as Indiana Jones, it only makes sense for numerous video game adaptations to exist. Some of them retell the stories from the films, while others fill in the gaps by crafting a unique plot for players to enjoy.
They are not all made equal, however, and a large handful are not worth your time. With a new Indiana Jones game coming from Machine Games, the developer of the recent Wolfenstein games, we thought it a good time to look back at the best games from the archeologist, at least according to Metacritic. Some of the older games do not have scores, and some of the multiplatform releases are different enough to warrant an explanation of the different scores.
10 Staff Of Kings (DS) - 50
Back when licensed games where being thrown onto every console under the sun, Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings received an adaptation for the Nintendo DS. As is the case with most Nintendo platforms with unique controls, many third-party developers just could not wrap their hands around the features. As a result, this version of the PS2 and Wii game sits at the bottom of the list. Adapting a console game to the DS rarely worked out.
9 Staff Of Kings (Wii and PS2) - 55
The Wii version of this game deserves a special mention because of the motion controls. The console’s greatest strength was also the downfall of many third-party titles. The mandatory use of motion controls brings down the whole experience. It is sad to see this game come out and not the PS3 and Xbox 360 game that was shown off early in the generation, which would have used a special physics engine later used in titles like Star Wars: The Force Unleashed and Max Payne 3.
8 Staff Of Kings (PSP) - 55
The Nintendo DS was not the only handheld console to receive the Staff of Kings. Not to be left out of the fun, a version was also released on the PSP, Sony’s first handheld console.
This version at least closer resembles the console counterparts, but toned down to fit on the PSP. The levels are significantly smaller, taking only a handful of minutes to complete, and many complaints were lobbied at repetitive gameplay.
7 Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (DS) - 59
While the console versions of Lego games are always at lease somewhat decent, the handheld ports are always a tossup. Lego Indiana Jones 2 on the DS is considered the weakest way to experience this sequel. While on the surface it looks like the console games, some half-baked touch screen controls bog down the gameplay. If you wish to continue the adventure, it is better to do it on the Xbox 360 or PS3.
6 Emperor’s Tomb (PS2) - 65
While Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb also came out on the Xbox and PC, the PS2 version deserves a separate entry because of its significantly decreased quality. It is the same game, but reviewers pointed out numerous technical issues that were absent on the other versions. It was not uncommon for PS2 versions of multiplatform games to run worse because it was the weakest of the generation, despite its enormous success.
5 Lego Indiana Jones 2 (Console Versions) - 72
The first Lego Indiana Jones was the second big licensed Lego game after Lego Star Wars. While the first game covered the original trilogy, the sequel had fewer sources from which to draw inspiration, with only one movie added from the first game and redesigned levels for the first three films. A level editor also helped add replay value, but all in all the sequel was not considered a big enough expansion from the debut.
4 Emperor’s Tomb (Xbox And PC) - 73
Indiana Jones and the Emperor’s Tomb is considered one of the finer 3D Indiana Jones adventures. It does its best to capture the spirit of the films and translate it into video games.
It has not aged as gracefully as some other games from the time, since future action-adventure games would eventually evolve the formula, but fans of the franchise should still get a kick out of seeing a direct prequel to Temple of Doom.
3 Infernal Machine (75)
The first 3D adventure from Indiana Jones came in the form of the Infernal Machine for PC and Nintendo 64. Positive critiques included a focus on puzzles over combat and the overall vibe feeling like an Indiana Jones adventure. Negativity was lobbied towards its similarities to the Tomb Raider franchise, though it is difficult to fault the developer for this since the two are quite similar. Unfortunately, such gameplay design does not work so well these days.
2 Lego Indiana Jones (Consoles) - 78
This game goes through the original trilogy as a cutesy Lego game, similar to the Lego Star Wars titles. Lego games have evolved significantly over the decade, so do not expect voice acting or open areas if you go back to this adventure. The simplicity helps it age, however, and gives it a certain charm. The game is easy for younger ones to grasp, and the exploding heads and ripped hearts won’t freak them out the same way it does on film.
1 Lego Indiana Jones (DS) - 79
The opposite case with its sequel, the original Lego Indiana Jones actually reviewed better on the DS than it did on consoles. Toning down the scope and action for the handheld did not sacrifice quality as much as it did for other handheld versions of the time. The biggest drawback would probably be the inconvenience of cooperative play. Where console gamers can enjoy local co-op with two controllers and a buddy, DS players need two systems and another copy of the game.
