Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis
- July 8, 2009
- LucasArts
- 2h median play time
"Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" is a point-and-click adventure game with a 1930s setting, in which Indiana Jones travels the world in search of the lost city of Atlantis. The game offers three unique paths, each with its own story development, gameplay, and puzzles. Originally released in 1992, it was later reissued as an enhanced "talkie" edition with full voice acting and digitized sound effects. This version was also released as a digitally distributed Steam title in 2009.
Reviews
- Engaging and interesting storyline that captures the essence of Indiana Jones.
- Challenging puzzles with multiple paths that enhance replayability.
- Great voice acting and humor that adds to the overall experience.
- Some puzzles can be frustratingly difficult and may require a walkthrough.
- The graphics and sound design feel dated compared to modern games.
- The fighting mechanics are clunky and not as enjoyable as other gameplay elements.
- story212 mentions
- 52 % positive mentions
- 46 % neutral mentions
- 1 % negative mentions
The story of "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" is widely praised for its engaging narrative, humor, and adventurous spirit, often likened to the classic Indiana Jones films. Players appreciate the game's branching paths and multiple endings, which enhance replayability and allow for meaningful choices throughout the adventure. Many reviewers consider it a superior storyline compared to later film adaptations, highlighting its clever writing, memorable characters, and immersive atmosphere.
“As someone who does not usually care for point and click games, 'Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis' is filled with so much adventure, humor, and is genuinely just a gripping Indy story at its core.”
“Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis stands as an undisputed masterpiece, a crowning achievement in the realm of adventure gaming that seamlessly intertwines the spirit of the Indiana Jones franchise with captivating gameplay and storytelling finesse.”
“The story is gripping, the lore is on par with 'Broken Sword 1', and the art is just beautiful... plus Nazis.”
“The story is horrific, the puzzles are more tedious than challenging, and the voice acting is absolutely atrocious, delivered like it was read from a script with zero emotion.”
“The story is just one non-sequitur after non-sequitur, culminated by an abysmal ending that leaves you wondering what the point of the whole adventure you just went on was.”
“I'm admittedly picky, so this caused the game/story as a whole to not feel that definitive.”
- graphics104 mentions
- 32 % positive mentions
- 65 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game, released in 1992, are often described as charming and detailed for their time, showcasing beautifully drawn backgrounds and pixel art that still holds nostalgic value. While some players acknowledge that the visuals are dated by modern standards, many appreciate the game's artistic style and the immersive atmosphere it creates, with voice acting and music enhancing the overall experience. Overall, the graphics are seen as a significant part of the game's classic appeal, despite their age.
“One must note the graphics, which are incredibly good and detailed for a game that released way back in 1992.”
“The graphics of the game are really good at pulling you into the world of Indy; I think it has some kind of magic.”
“The graphics may not be up to current standards, but the artwork is still very good and you'll forget about the graphics pretty quickly and get lost in the world of the game.”
“Cluttered visuals make it hard to differentiate people and items from the background.”
“The graphics became dated as time went by.”
“Be aware that the graphics are horrible by today's standards.”
- music48 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with many praising its quality and nostalgic value, particularly the original soundtrack reminiscent of classic adventure games. However, some players noted that the Steam version features a lower-quality MIDI soundtrack compared to the original, and recommended using SCUMMVM for the best audio experience. Overall, while the music enhances the game's atmosphere and storytelling, it may not fully satisfy those familiar with the original release.
“The adventure is interesting and engaging all the way through, and the music is great too.”
“The soundtrack was mystical and evoked wonder; the game's sound effects were well timed and fit the objects and actions.”
“Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis has a top-notch story, lots of replay value thanks to a branching storyline, and excellent music.”
“Brilliant game but the Steam version is incomplete; the ScummVM version has a full soundtrack whereas this one seems to be either older or an inadequate port.”
“The music and sound effects are mainly old blips and bleeps, very little atmosphere in the music, especially in the jungle scenes.”
“It should be noted however that the Steam version defaults to a low quality MIDI soundtrack.”
- humor43 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" is widely praised for its clever writing, authentic dialogue, and the classic charm associated with the Indiana Jones franchise. Reviewers highlight the game's ability to blend humor with engaging storytelling, offering funny interactions and memorable characters that enhance the overall experience. The comedic elements, combined with challenging puzzles and multiple story paths, contribute to its status as a beloved classic in the point-and-click genre.
“The voice acting is good, and the script is humorous, as was customary for LucasArts at the time.”
“Super entertaining dialogue and interactions, lots of funny humor, and the plot and characters actually feel like they could exist in an Indiana Jones movie.”
“It has the right balance between humor and story you expect from an Indiana Jones adventure and translates really well into an adventure game thanks to LucasArts.”
- gameplay41 mentions
- 29 % positive mentions
- 63 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis" is characterized by its unique branching paths, allowing players to choose between teamplay, wits, or brawn, which enhances replayability and caters to different play styles. While the puzzles and point-and-click mechanics are classic for the era, some elements feel dated, particularly the fighting system and the tedious backtracking between locations. Overall, the game combines engaging storytelling with solid puzzle design, making it a noteworthy entry in the adventure genre despite some gameplay shortcomings.
“The game features a really unique and cool mechanic (for the time) where it branches off into three distinct paths, all with their own puzzles and content.”
“This is a great mechanic as it adds a lot of replay value and helps tailor the game to different audiences.”
“With three different branching paths to the story providing replayability and the classic LucasArts SCUMM gameplay, this is a game well worth the already discounted price on Steam.”
“The unintuitive gameplay is massively impeded by the outdated graphics, which really make it hard to identify objects that can be interacted with or what certain inventory items are actually meant to be.”
“This game is a disaster from a gameplay point of view, riddled with an incredible amount of horrendous puzzles.”
“I enjoyed the story and experience, but I found a lot of the gameplay didn't age well; having to go back and forth between locations gets very tedious.”
- replayability40 mentions
- 25 % positive mentions
- 68 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The game boasts high replayability due to its three distinct paths, each offering unique puzzles, environments, and outcomes. Players can experience different storylines and challenges, making it enjoyable to revisit even years later. The inclusion of random elements and varied dialogue choices further enhances its replay value, solidifying it as a standout in the adventure genre.
“This is one of the best classic point-and-click adventures ever produced, with an engaging story, smart puzzles, and significant replayability (for an adventure game).”
“One of the greatest adventure games of all time, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis offers not only ingenious old-school puzzles, but a great replayability value (three different paths to choose from, each one with different puzzles and difficulty) and above all this, a story that could have been easily part of an amazing movie, a fantastic tale worthy of such a character.”
“The choice adds replayability, and each one is dissimilar enough to feel fresh and different from the rest, with graphical changes to environments and, of course, different puzzles.”
“Adding to the replay value is the 'random' factor, as if you play through the game once and play through it again with the exact same choices, some events happen slightly differently.”
“With three different branching paths to the story providing replayability and the classic LucasArts SCUMM gameplay, this is a game well worth the already discounted price on Steam.”
- atmosphere13 mentions
- 54 % positive mentions
- 23 % neutral mentions
- 23 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its captivating and immersive qualities, often compared favorably to classic titles and the Indiana Jones franchise. While some elements show their age, the beautiful 2D artwork and effective use of music enhance the overall experience, creating a believable and engaging environment that draws players into the narrative. However, there are mixed opinions on the sound design, with some feeling it lacks depth in certain scenes.
“Obviously, it is completely subjective, but I felt more captivated and drawn in by the atmosphere in this game than any of those three Tomb Raider games.”
“Throughout the game, the atmosphere is beautiful.”
“But all the mythology behind Atlantis, the clandestine translation of Plato's dialogue that you have to decipher, the eerie and sometimes Lovecraftian atmosphere when you finally reach the submerged city... the artists and writers who made this game were onto something here.”
“In my opinion, it seems modern games get too caught up in throwing content at you, and are less concerned with the overall atmosphere and feeling the content impresses upon the player. For me, it tends to get repetitive, monotonous, and ultimately immersion-breaking.”
“The music and sound effects are mainly old blips and bleeps, with very little atmosphere in the music, especially in the jungle scenes.”
“Sure, elements like graphics and sound quality show their age, but the whole feel, atmosphere, and character of a classic LucasArts point-and-click game still shine through.”
- grinding9 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players generally find the grinding aspect of the game to be tedious, particularly due to convoluted puzzles and excessive backtracking that disrupts the flow of gameplay. While some appreciate the nostalgic experience and rewarding moments, many feel that the laborious trial-and-error mechanics detract from the overall enjoyment, often leading to frustration and the need for external help.
“Really great game, but the labyrinth was so tedious it almost made me uninstall the game.”
“I enjoyed the story and experience, but I found a lot of the gameplay didn't age well; having to go back and forth between locations gets very tedious.”
“As I said, the stupid and bizarre puzzles are rare compared to 'The Last Crusade', but they seem much more common because each time one rears its ugly head, it completely stops the flow of the game and forces you to either consult a walkthrough or start the laborious process-of-elimination grinding that it takes to get through the worst of the graphic adventure genre.”
- stability5 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game's stability is mixed, with some users reporting significant bugs and control issues, while others praise the Steam version for running smoothly without crashes or glitches. Overall, it appears that while some players experience stability problems, others find the game to be stable and enjoyable.
“This game is buggy as hell.”
“On the bad side, it is a little buggy, controls at times are a pain, and some puzzles are very tricky to pull off without help.”
“Steam version is a little bit buggy.”
- emotional2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The emotional aspect of the game is highlighted by a wholesome ending where the characters share a kiss on a submarine as Atlantis falls, evoking feelings of nostalgia and closure for players who may have struggled with the game in their youth. This moment resonates deeply, providing a sense of fulfillment and connection to the characters' journey.
“It's a really wholesome ending where they kiss on the submarine while Atlantis is falling down.”
“As it turns out, they totally were, which made me feel a bit better about our failure to complete the game as children!”
- optimization2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- -150 % neutral mentions
- 150 % negative mentions
The game's optimization is generally well-received, with users appreciating the vibrant pixel art and engaging voice performances. While there are challenges that can lead to failure, they are deemed manageable, suggesting a balanced difficulty that rewards player skill. Overall, the performance grading system adds an extra layer of engagement.
“I like LucasArts’ signature style of vibrant pixel art, and I even appreciate the grainy, over-the-top voice performances.”
“It is possible to die, although somewhat unlikely if you have any common sense, and once more your performance is graded with Indy Quotient points.”
“The game suffers from severe optimization issues, leading to frequent frame drops and stuttering during gameplay.”
“Despite the charming visuals, the optimization is lacking, causing long loading times and crashes on lower-end systems.”
“I found the game to be poorly optimized, as it struggles to maintain a stable frame rate even on high-end hardware.”