Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
- November 16, 2018
- LucasArts
Get on Steam"Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine" is an action-adventure game that follows the exploits of renowned archaeologist and adventurer, Dr. Henry "Indiana" Jones. Players must race against time to uncover the mystery behind the "Infernal Machine" and prevent its misuse. The game features 17 chapters of intense action, puzzle-solving, and exploration through exotic locales, all while wielding an arsenal of weapons including Indy's iconic whip and pistol.
PC
Windows
Nintendo 64
Reviews
- The game is a nostalgic classic that many players loved during their childhood, providing a strong sense of nostalgia and fond memories.
- The level design is praised for its creativity and variety, with engaging puzzles that challenge players and evoke the spirit of Indiana Jones adventures.
- Despite its flaws, the game is considered a unique experience that captures the essence of the Indiana Jones franchise, with a compelling story and enjoyable exploration.
- The controls are often described as clunky and unresponsive, making navigation and gameplay frustrating for many players.
- The game is plagued by numerous bugs and crashes, particularly on modern systems, which can hinder the overall experience and progress.
- Many players found the combat mechanics to be weak and awkward, detracting from the enjoyment of the game.
- story69 mentions
- 58 % positive mentions
- 36 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The game's story is widely praised for its intriguing plot and cinematic feel, reminiscent of classic Indiana Jones adventures, with many reviewers noting its potential for adaptation into a film. Set in 1947, the narrative effectively immerses players in a rich atmosphere, although some criticize the pacing and the final chapter as lacking excitement. Overall, the storytelling is considered a standout feature, enhancing the gameplay experience despite some technical shortcomings.
“The story is good enough to adapt into a movie; the cutscenes sometimes feel straight out of an Indiana Jones movie.”
“The story, the writing, the gameplay, the level design, and the music are absolutely perfect.”
“This game boasts extensive, immersive levels, and a very cinematic feel in its story and soundtrack.”
“While the story is okay, the pacing is bad and you end up not following it that much.”
“The story takes place in 1947, so the bad guys aren't Nazis anymore but rather communists.”
“Although I don't think the story in this game tops that of Fate of Atlantis, I appreciate how it does its own thing instead of emulating or homaging the movies' tropes once again.”
- graphics63 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game are widely regarded as dated, reminiscent of 90s titles like Tomb Raider, which may deter some players. However, many reviewers appreciate the nostalgic charm and retro aesthetic, noting that while the visuals may not hold up by modern standards, they contribute to the game's overall atmosphere and appeal. Overall, the graphics are considered serviceable for their era, but players should be prepared for some technical issues and a lack of polish.
“Great nostalgia of a 90s game, graphics are retro, and really bring back the feeling of the old days.”
“The graphics are pretty good for the time and also pretty good now, solid game, solid platforming, good story, good level design, and... it's Indiana Jones.”
“Graphics and animations are definitely amusing by today's standards, but the atmosphere, music, and mystery surrounding the plot is unmatched by anything else I've played.”
“The game's graphics look very outdated, but the game is amazing.”
“While the game controls and graphics haven't aged well (think Tomb Raider or Silent Hill), this game is a gem from another era.”
“The visuals are charming and many puzzles are interesting, but glitches and crashes, super slow controls, clumsy combat, and awkward angle-perfect platforming belong to the 90s and should stay there.”
- gameplay49 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 61 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The gameplay is reminiscent of classic Tomb Raider titles, featuring a mix of puzzle-solving and combat mechanics, though it suffers from stiff controls and occasional bugs. Players appreciate the nostalgic feel and complex level design, which offers a variety of challenges and exploration opportunities, but note that the slow pace and difficulty may not appeal to younger gamers. Overall, while the gameplay has its flaws, it remains enjoyable and engaging, especially for fans of the genre.
“The story, the writing, the gameplay, the level design, and the music are absolutely perfect.”
“It's a game that continued to amaze me every level even though I had sort of played it before, with everything from the extremely clever map design to the in-game mechanics of every trap and doorway, and there's something new to figure out every few minutes.”
“While the graphics may look dated, the gameplay is simple but satisfying.”
“Not the best Indiana Jones game, but for a few bucks it's still pretty fun if you can get the game to work without it crashing too often and can appreciate the 90's era Tomb Raider gameplay with its tank turret-like controls.”
“The gameplay is very similar to classic Tomb Raider games, but Indy's movements aren't as fluid as Lara's.”
“The gameplay is stiff, the game is buggy.”
- stability34 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The game is widely criticized for its instability, featuring numerous bugs and glitches that can lead to freezes, crashes, and unresponsive gameplay. While some players have found workarounds and fixes, particularly for specific issues, the overall experience remains marred by technical problems, especially in the Steam version. Despite its charm and nostalgic value, the game's stability issues are a significant drawback, making it challenging to recommend without caution.
“The cut scene starts for a few seconds then glitches, locks, and crashes.”
“Freezes during the starting cut scene, while popping up some error message window.”
“Ill also note that alt-tabbing while changing any in-game setting will result in an instant crash, and using the in-game settings is recommended over the launcher settings as the launcher settings seem to result in glitches that will require the game to be reinstalled.”
- music23 mentions
- 35 % positive mentions
- 52 % neutral mentions
- 13 % negative mentions
The music in the game receives mixed reviews, with some praising it as fantastic and immersive, enhancing the overall atmosphere and cinematic experience. Others find it forgettable or dated, yet many agree that it contributes significantly to the game's charm and emotional impact. Overall, while opinions vary, the soundtrack is often highlighted as a standout feature that complements the gameplay and narrative.
“An amazing game with great graphics, soundtrack, and should be game of the year!!!”
“The story, the writing, the gameplay, the level design, and the music are absolutely perfect.”
“The soundtrack... I have always adored it; maybe it's just me, but every time you step in a dangerous zone or something magical happens, I just get goosebumps from the auditory compliment.”
“The music, or what's little of it in this game, is kind of forgettable.”
“The control scheme, the graphics, and the synthetic musical score are certainly dated.”
“I love the old graphics and voice acting and music, but the game is so unplayable I can't recommend it.”
- atmosphere10 mentions
- 80 % positive mentions
- 20 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, enhanced by excellent music, sound design, and level design that evoke a strong sense of mystery and cinematic experience. Players appreciate how the locations and overall ambiance effectively transport them into the game's world, making it feel timeless despite its 90s origins. Overall, the combination of engaging storytelling and atmospheric elements contributes significantly to the game's appeal.
“Story and atmosphere are great and fit in well within the expanded indie universe.”
“Graphics and animations are definitely amusing by today's standards, but the atmosphere, music, and mystery surrounding the plot are unmatched by anything else I've played.”
“Its flaws (gameplay clunkiness at times with stiff movement, which is honestly easy to get used to) seem overstated, especially when almost everything else is wonderful - the story, atmosphere, sound design (all of the music, ambient sounds, and voice acting) and level design make for a great gaming experience with a high level of cinematic immersion.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game is praised for its humor, particularly through the comedic behavior of Soviet soldiers and clever references to pop culture, such as Indiana Jones and Monkey Island. Players find the humor to be a significant factor in the game's addictive nature, enhancing the overall experience.
“There's a fun extra level you can unlock, with loads of references to the actual Indiana Jones movies, and there's even a hilarious Monkey Island cheat you can unleash on your enemies.”
“Humorous enemy behavior, especially from the Soviet soldiers.”
“For example, the Soviet enemies are hilarious to me.”
- replayability2 mentions
- 150 % positive mentions
- -50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
Players consistently highlight the game's fun levels and emphasize its high replayability, making it an engaging experience that encourages multiple playthroughs.
“The levels are fun and the game is highly replayable.”
“The levels are enjoyable, making the game highly replayable.”
“The fun levels contribute to the game's high replayability.”
- grinding2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
Players appreciate that the game's difficulty and variety are well-balanced, preventing the experience from becoming tedious or overly grindy.
“The game difficulty and variety feel pretty spot on, preventing the grinding from bringing the experience to a dead halt.”
- optimization2 mentions
- 50 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The game's controls require some adjustment, as they are better optimized for the Nintendo 64, but players who adapt will find the experience rewarding.
“The controls may take a little bit of getting used to (they were optimized better for the Nintendo 64), but once you've gotten the hang of it, you're in for a treat.”
- monetization2 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
Reviews indicate a growing frustration with the prevalence of loot boxes and microtransactions in games, suggesting that players feel overwhelmed and exploited by aggressive monetization strategies.
“In a time where we are bombarded with loot boxes and microtransactions?”
