LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues box art

System: X360, PS3, Wii, PC, PSP, DS	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Traveller's Tales	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: LucasArts	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Nov. 17, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Everyone 10+	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The gameplay found in the story mode is exactly what you'd expect from a LEGO game. You're given a few characters with differing attacks and abilities with which to make it through various levels. Along the way you'll need to solve numerous puzzles using these different abilities, all while fighting off enemies and destroying random objects to collect studs (LEGO currency). Some examples of abilities are Indy's whip which is used to swing from place to place and pull down bridges, Mutt's ability to climb certain types of walls, and Oxley's crystal skull (which functions similarly to the force powers from LEGO Star Wars).

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues screenshot

The combat, as with most LEGO titles, can get pretty boring after awhile since it is basically boils down to just mashing the attack button again and again until all your enemies have burst into a shower of studs. Exploring levels and traversing them is usually quite fun, but made less so in the PSP version of this game due to some issues. Depth perception is a constant problem, making it difficult to tell whether you're jumping in the appropriate direction or not. The game tries to compensate for this by having little arrows on the ground that can be used to line up jumps, but it ultimately fails due to the completely unforgiving ropes and vines in the game. In order to grab hold of these ropes/vines you have to hit them exactly; if you are just a sliver in front of or behind them, you'll plummet to your doom. While the LEGO games have always been good about not penalizing you when you die, this doesn't help when playing a very vertical level and falling back to the bottom level, surviving the tumble, and then being forced to climb the whole way back up just to miss the same jump again because you can't tell if you're lined up properly or not.

LEGO Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues is very much a missed opportunity. The PSP version doesn't include anything from the original three films except for the characters (available in free play) and a few tiny challenges, there's no ability to make your own levels, and jumping onto vines/ropes is one of the most frustrating experiences you'll ever have in a game. There's actually very little going for this title other than that the LEGO gameplay formula is still moderately enjoyable at times, although just about everything here has been done much better in several other LEGO titles. So unless you have already played them all, you're probably better off with one of the other various LEGO games already available on the PSP or other consoles.

By Adam Brown
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.2

Graphics
LEGO Indy 2 looks decent, although you'll notice some background and object flickering in some levels.

2.2

Control
Hit detection in combat can be iffy, steering vehicles is sloppy at best, and trying to jump onto vines and/or ropes accurately is just about impossible.

3.2

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Iconic Indy music is always welcome

2.8

Play Value
With only twelve levels in the story mode and sixteen tiny challenges to be had, this one won't keep you busy as long as most LEGO titles do.

2.7

Overall Rating - Average
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Collect artifacts through the game to unlock more than 60 playable characters, including villains and supporting characters; enjoy character swapping and free-play abilities.

Play all new Kingdom of the Crystal Skull characters such as Mutt Williams on his motorcycle and use special abilities, including Oxley's Crystal Skull Power.

Indy has all new animations, such as grabbing an enemy with his whip then throwing him over his shoulder as well as using Indy's newly enhanced whip to interact with Lego objects and help unlock iconic puzzles and battle with enemies.