Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (Jewel Case)

by LucasArts

Product Details

• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• ASIN: B000063LH9
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 4.9 x 0.4 inches ; 3.2 ounces
• Media: CD-ROM
• Release Date: April 15, 2002
• Average Customer Review: 3.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #37,321 in Video Games (See Top 100 in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

His parents may have named the dog Indiana, but for millions of fans there's no better name associated with adventure than the moniker Dr. Jones took for himself. For Indy fans, the follow-up to a 1992 Indiana Jones adventure game has been a long wait, but trust us--it was worth it. A solid 3-D third-person role-playing game, Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine was built on LucasArts' own Jedi Knight engine, putting an entirely new spin on the series formula.

While his lady friends throughout the years may have considered Indiana himself "infernal," the title actually refers to a Babylonian device that has fallen into the wrong hands. In the past Indy took on monstrous Nazi officers; now he's working with the CIA to capture the machine before it falls into the hands of Soviet agents. This fight takes players through scores of wonderfully rendered scenes, both underground and aboveground.

There are some drawbacks, of course (and we're not talking about its similarity to a certain other tomb-raiding game). The primary fault is that it's single-player only, so don't plan any KGB-versus-Dr. Jones death matches. But the famous Indy wit and attitude goes a long way towards making up for that flaw. Also, Infernal Machine is easy to jump into and simple to play--unlike other games that require memorizing key assignments before even beginning.

A much-anticipated title, Infernal Machine--like the globetrotting, dust-covered, nick-of-time treasure hunter himself--delivers the goods.

Product Description

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Indiana Jones and the Infernal Game, March 3, 2003

By 

Darrell Heath (Little Rock, AR USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (Jewel Case) (CD-ROM)

I happen to enjoy playing "Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine". Sure the graphics are a bit dated and some of the puzzles can be infuriating (hey, that's why we have walkthroughs) but still this game managages to be great fun. I thought the folks at Lucas Arts really were able to capture that sense of adventure and discovery that are so integral to the films and transplant them fully intact within the confines of a PC game. At times it really felt like being part of an Indiana Jones movie. For the price this game is a worthy investment and I highly reccomend it.

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars INDIANA JONES-INFERNAL MACHINE, April 4, 2002

By 

"ian-macdonald" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (Jewel Case) (CD-ROM)

This game is really cool. If you think that it's hard, you can get a walkthru. It's rated t for teens because you shoot [this] guy but it's not really graphical. Great game, favorite level and a cool one if you like to shoot ..., the boat level. If the levels are all foggy, then go to options and somewhere in there you can change it to no fog. Also there's a bonus level!

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A tremendously flawed adventure, May 21, 2005

By 

W Coats "wijoco" (Midlothian, VA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine (Jewel Case) (CD-ROM)

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.