Review – LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues (PSP)

If you’ve never picked up one of Traveller’s Tales LEGO-themed games, it’s something I’d recommend for most people. Sure, they seem a bit childish, but when you combine the nostalgic feel of LEGO’s with Star Wars, Batman or Indiana Jones you’re going to have a good time. The second LEGO Indiana Jones game has been released, and today I’ll bring you my thoughts on the PSP version.

If you’ve played any of the previous LEGO games, then you’ll be in familiar territory. The premise is to run around, smash things, build stuff and solve puzzles. Along the way you’ll collect studs and bricks that will allow you to unlock new characters, maps and bonuses.

Unlike the console versions of the game, you’ll be playing a scaled-down story which is limited to the fourth Indiana Jones flick. Sure, some of you will argue that there are only three. If you’re one of these people, then I assure you that you won’t be missing much by forgetting this game exists as well. Sure, you’ll get a few bonus missions that take place in the other movies. Unfortunately these are short and uninspired.

The amusement of this title is limited greatly by the controls, which seems to be a familiar theme with PSP titles. It is all too easy to completely miss jumps due to not being able to gauge them properly or just having unresponsive controls. Thankfully like the other titles in the series, there is no real incentive to stay alive, as you’ll find yourself reappearing with only a few studs missing.

The graphics aren’t bad (everything is made from LEGO’s, how bad could it really be?) though the scenery of each level seems a bit more bland than the other games in the series. The classic John Williams score is present, though the selection of music is rather limited. Be prepared to hear the theme song a few hundred times before all is said.

This is the first LEGO game that I haven’t really gotten into. I don’t know if the repetitive nature of the series has finally taken its toll, or if the combined factors that I mentioned early simply sapped away most of the enjoyment. LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is currently available for the DS, PSP, Wii, Xbox 360 and PS3.

[ LucasArts ]