Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (Jewel Case)

Discount Price: $48.50

Accessories:
PC Gamer (1-year)	Games for Windows: The Official Magazine

Customer Reviews:

would not run!!! [Posted on 2003-06-24]
tryed it one two computers. Would not run. Kept freezing up before the game even started. What a waste. It is proabably good if you get a good disk.

A tremendously flawed adventure [Posted on 2005-05-21]
First, I need to remember that this is a six-year old game. And considering all the delays it endured before its release in 1999, that puts the original conception date closer to 97 or 98. Now, as I try to recollect those ancient years of gaming, what was hot at the time? Oh, yeah, a little franchise called "Tomb Raider." This clearly was the target for LucasArts' "Infernal Machine," and for better or worse they hit the mark.

The programmers essentially copied the scheme of "Tomb Raider," then pumped it up graphically and acoustically for the PC. Which would have been fine if Tomb Raider was ever as good a franchise as the sales indicated. Unfortunately, Infernal Indy moves with the grace of an arthritic Lara Croft, and has all the depth perception problems also. Walking forward and backward, lining up for a simple rock or ladder climb, strafing, firing a weapon: all of these are as bad, if not worse than, Lara on a hangover (don't even get me started on swimming). I found reasonable success with a Logitech dual analog controller, but even then the only analog movement was the walk/run forward stick. No other function was analog compatible, making walking in a circle almost impossible. But mostly the controls are forgiveable, as fast action sequences are few and far between and liberal use of the quicksave minimized vulgar outbursts (by me, not Indy).

Enough griping, now the good stuff: Level design in the Infernal Machine is nearly brilliant. The geography of each exotic location is colorful, lush, and detailed. Each new stage is a visual pleasure. Meroe, the mine cart level, and the Peru bonus level stand out as highlights. And now that I type that, I think back to quite a few lowlights. Hmmm...actually there are some really terrible levels like Palawan Lagoon and the final "Aetherium" disaster (which really sours the end of the game). And lots of pull-switch insert-key puzzles which were old after the first TR game. Uggh.

Let's get positive again. The Infernal Machine "feels" like Indiana Jones. Although Indy's voice actor doesn't even attempt a Harrsion Ford impression, he has a comforting tone that grows on you. All voice work is pretty solid, actually, and the sound effects are fantastic. The whip cracks, boulders crunch and rumble, and the Indy score is inserted masterfully. While it's a backhanded compliment, the Infernal Machine is almost more fun to watch than to play.

One final downer, the code is a disaster. Patches must be downloaded for the game to operate properly, even then there are a number of flaws that are really unexcusable for a big-budget release. And don't even try it in XP. Just don't.

XP probelm [Posted on 2006-11-15]
Please note that this game will not run on XP systems. LucasAtrs (as usual) offers no upgradeability. So unless you have 65/98/me do not buy this game.

A Really Great Game, a Must Have [Posted on 2007-02-16]
I originally had this game on N64, but it broke, so I decided to get the version for PC, the one I'm reviewing. It's the same game, so this review also applies to the N64 one.

In all, this game was exellant, I don't care much for graphics when I'm gaming, just so long as I can make out what's going on. I focus on gameplay. This game did not let me down... at all. The plot is original, its a change of pace from the usual Jones enemy- Nazis (even though they do need their butt kicked a lot). Here, Jones fights the Soviets in the post WWII era. The gamplay is great. After a few hours you'll start to pick up on the controls- there's an almost "training ground" as your first mission.

Some levels include Utah Canyons, Babylon, Russia, and "other worlds". Shoot, they even have a level where you're in the temple from the opening of raiders. I don't want to give much away, but you'll have a blast uncovering the traps and twists in this game.

Infernal Machine promises hours- no- DAYS of fun gaming. My friend put it in really good words when he said "If you beat this- you pretty much can call yourself Indy".

Order- and good luck!

Backward Incompattable [Posted on 2007-03-13]
I have a Dell with a windows xp operating system. My computer does have backward compatible programs but I was only able to play the first level (after much installing, uninstalling, installing, swearing...) so unless you have an old windows 95, 98 PC lying around just say no.

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