Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures

Last updated

Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures
IJ-GA.jpg
US cover art
Developer(s) Factor 5, LucasArts
Publisher(s) JVC Musical Industries, LucasArts
Producer(s) Julian Eggebrecht
Designer(s) Kalani Streicher
Thomas Engel
Julian Eggebrecht
Willi Bäcker
Programmer(s) Thomas Engel
Artist(s) Frank Matzke
Jon Knoles
William V. Tiller
Andreas Escher
Ramiro Vaca
Composer(s) Rudolf Stember
Platform(s) Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Release
  • NA: October 1994
  • EU: March 30, 1995
Genre(s) Platform
Mode(s) Single-player

Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures is a 1994 platform video game released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is a video game adaptation of the Indiana Jones films Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981), Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989). The game was developed by Factor 5 and published by JVC Musical Industries. The story is told through cutscenes and text and is mostly faithful to the movies. Its release coincided with that of Super Star Wars: Return of the Jedi , also released by JVC and LucasArts and in the same platform style as the Super Star Wars trilogy.

Contents

Gameplay

Indy fights Walter Donovan's skeleton. Indy last level.png
Indy fights Walter Donovan's skeleton.

The game is primarily action based, and the player controls Indiana Jones through levels based on events of the films. Jones's main method of attack is his bull-whip, but he can also damage enemies by punching or rolling into them. Occasionally a gun can be found that has unlimited ammo, and grenades are available in limited numbers. Besides attacking, the whip can also be used as a method of swinging across pits. [1] Once in a while, the game breaks the mold from the typical action and plunges the player into various other types of gameplay, such as flying a plane, riding a mine cart, and going down a mountain on a raft.[ citation needed ]

Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures uses the same engine as the Super Star Wars series [2] and is divided into 28 areas, many of them in side-scrolling view and others in driving stages. If Indy dies in an area, the player restarts from the beginning of the current area or at the last checkpoint. All three of the movies are featured in the game, but Raiders of the Lost Ark is the only one playable upon starting the game. In order to play Temple of Doom and Last Crusade, the player must progress through the game or use a password.[ citation needed ]

Release

A Sega Genesis/Mega Drive conversion was reported by Electronic Gaming Monthly to be 100% complete and reviewed in gaming magazines. [3] [4] [5] [6] Like many third-party titles near the end of the Genesis/Mega Drive's lifecycle, the game was shelved and was never released. A prototype of the Genesis/Mega Drive version was sold on eBay for GB£770.00. [7] In 2017, Factor 5 co-founder Julian Eggebrecht said that the Genesis/Mega Drive port was left unpublished due to U.S. Gold ceasing operations. [8]

Reception

Computer and Video Games praised the graphics and sound, but also opined that the game "doesn't break any new ground", stating that it "packs a great challenge but with few surprises". [11] GamePro described it as a decent though unexceptional side-scroller. They cited the game's faithful recreation of the scenery and enemies of the films as its strongest point, but found that the graphics are inconsistent, the music is excellent but stays the same through most of the game, and the stages are far too easy. [16] The four reviewers of Electronic Gaming Monthly contradicted this, saying that the game is extremely challenging, with two of them adding that it suffers from frequent unavoidable hits. However, they praised the game's graphics, especially the Mode 7 effects, and gave it a score of 7 out of 10. [2]

In a later review for AllGame, Brett Alan Weiss praised the gameplay and found it faithful to the films, although he gave criticism to the repetitive music and graphics being a bit choppy. [10] In 2008, Levi Buchanan of IGN included it on his list of top 10 Indiana Jones games, calling it "a great platformer that delivers real challenge as well as faithful adherence to the heart and soul of each film". [17] Buchanan praised the music and graphics: "The recreation of the classic themes is fantastic and the looping never waters down their effectiveness. [...] The sprite work is solid, the Mode 7 stuff is well done, and lots of great color choices really bring the game to life". [12] The game was re-released for the Wii in 2009, as a Virtual Console (VC) game. This version was reviewed by Marcel van Duyn of Nintendo Life , who praised the graphics and music. Van Duyn considered it one of the best Indiana Jones games ever. [14]

Reviewing the SNES version in 2011, Jeuxvideo.com praised its graphics and music. [13] In 2021, Gerald Lynch of TechRadar included it on a list of the best Indiana Jones games ever, while calling it "brutally hard". [18] In 2018, Complex rated the game 55th in their "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". [19]

See also

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">32X</span> Video game console add-on

The 32X is an add-on for the Sega Genesis video game console. Codenamed "Project Mars", it was designed to expand the power of the Genesis and serve as a transitional console into the 32-bit era until the release of the Sega Saturn. The 32X uses its own ROM cartridges and has its own library of games. It was distributed under the name Super 32X in Japan and South Korea, Genesis 32X in North America, Mega 32X in Brazil, and Mega Drive 32X in all other regions.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sega CD</span> Video game console add-on

The Sega CD, known as Mega-CD in most regions outside North America and Brazil, is a CD-ROM accessory and format for the Sega Genesis produced by Sega as part of the fourth generation of video game consoles. Originally released in November 1991, it came to North America in late 1992, and the rest of the world in 1993. The Sega CD plays CD-based games and adds hardware functionality such as a faster CPU and a custom graphics chip for enhanced sprite scaling and rotation. It can also play audio CDs and CD+G discs.

<i>Earthworm Jim</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Earthworm Jim is a 1994 run and gun platform game developed by Shiny Entertainment, featuring an earthworm named Jim, who wears a robotic suit and battles the forces of evil. The game was released for the Sega Genesis and Super Nintendo Entertainment System, before being subsequently ported to several other video game consoles.

<i>Ristar</i> 1995 video game

Ristar is a 1995 platform game developed and published by Sega for the Sega Genesis. The game stars an anthropomorphic cartoon star who uses his hands and long, stretchable arms to both move and fight enemies. Reception for the game was generally positive, but the game's initial release was overshadowed due to the imminent ending of the Genesis's lifecycle and the succession of the Sega Saturn and other fifth generation video game consoles.

<i>Flashback</i> (1992 video game) 1992 video game

Flashback, released as Flashback: The Quest for Identity in the United States, is a 1992 science fiction cinematic platform game developed by Delphine Software of France and published by U.S. Gold in the United States and Europe, and Sunsoft in Japan.

<i>Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure</i> 1994 video game

Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure is a side-scrolling action-platform video game developed by Activision in conjunction with Kroyer Films and originally published in North America and Europe in 1994. The fourth installment in the Pitfall! franchise, players assume the role of Pitfall Harry Junior as he embarks on a journey through the Mayan jungles of Central America in an attempt to rescue Pitfall Harry, his father and the protagonist of previous entries in the series, from the evil Mayan warrior spirit named Zakelua. Its gameplay mainly consists of action and platforming mixed with stage-based exploration using a main six-button configuration.

<i>Jungle Strike</i> 1993 video game

Jungle Strike is a video game developed and published by Electronic Arts in 1993 for the Sega Genesis. The game was later released on several other consoles such as the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES), and an upgraded version was made for DOS computers. The Amiga conversion was the responsibility of Ocean Software while the SNES and PC DOS versions were that of Gremlin Interactive, and the portable console versions were of Black Pearl Software. It is the direct sequel to Desert Strike and is the second installment in the Strike series. The game is a helicopter-based shoot 'em up, mixing action and strategy. The plot concerns two villains intent on destroying Washington, D.C. The player must use the helicopter and occasionally other vehicles to thwart their plans.

<i>The Jungle Book</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Disney's The Jungle Book is a series of platform video games based on the 1967 Disney animated film of the same name. The game was released by Virgin Interactive Entertainment in 1994 for the Game Boy, Nintendo Entertainment System, Master System, Genesis/Mega Drive, Game Gear, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and MS-DOS. While gameplay is the same on all versions, technological differences between the systems forced changes – in some case drastic – in level design, resulting in six fairly different versions of the 'same' game. This article is largely based upon the Genesis/Mega Drive version.

<i>Brutal: Paws of Fury</i> 1994 video game

Brutal: Paws of Fury is a 2D fighting game published by GameTek in 1994. The game features a cast of various anthropomorphic animals as selectable fighters. It also features the ability to learn new attacks and save them via passwords. Originally a Sega CD exclusive, it was later ported to other game consoles.

<i>The Adventures of Batman & Robin</i> (video game) 1994 video game

The Adventures of Batman & Robin is a series of video game adaptations released between 1994 and 1995 featuring the DC Comics characters Batman and Robin based on Batman: The Animated Series. The games were released for numerous platforms, with the Genesis, Game Gear, and Sega CD versions published by Sega while the Super NES version was published by Konami.

<i>The Pagemaster</i> (video game) 1994 video game

The Pagemaster is a platform game released in conjunction with the 1994 film The Pagemaster for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, and Sega Genesis. It was developed by Probe Softwareand published by Fox Interactive.

<i>Mighty Morphin Power Rangers</i> (video game) 1994 video game

Mighty Morphin Power Rangers is the title of five different video games based on the first season of the television series of the same name, one for each of the following game platforms: Sega Genesis/Mega Drive, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, Game Gear, and Sega CD. The Nintendo versions of the game were released by Bandai, while the Sega versions were published by Sega itself and the production of the cartridge versions was carried by Banpresto, a pseudonym of Bandai. The Green Ranger is only playable on the Genesis and Game Gear versions of the game.

<i>Toughman Contest</i> (video game) 1995 video game

Toughman Contest is a boxing video game for the Sega Genesis and 32X. It is based on the Toughman Contest, and features Eric "Butterbean" Esch on the cover and as the game's final boss. The game was released in 1995. It received mixed reviews, generally criticizing the sluggishness of the gameplay while praising the selection of special moves.

<i>Batman</i> (1990 video game) 1990 video game

Batman is a video game developed by Sunsoft and released for the Sega Mega Drive in 1990. It was inspired by the 1989 Tim Burton-directed Batman film. The game is more faithful to the film's plot than the NES game of the same name and includes levels in which the player controls Batman's vehicles.

<i>Samurai Shodown</i> (1993 video game) 1993 video game

Samurai Shodown, known in Japan as Samurai Spirits, is a fighting game developed and published by SNK for the Neo Geo arcade and home platform. Released in 1993, it is the first installment in the Samurai Shodown series. In contrast to other fighting games at the time, which were set in modern times and focused primarily on hand-to-hand combat, Samurai Shodown is set in feudal-era Japan and was SNK's first arcade fighting game to focus primarily on weapon-based combat.

<i>FIFA Soccer 96</i> 1995 video game

FIFA Soccer 96 is a football video game developed by Extended Play Productions and released by Electronic Arts in 1995. It was released for the Mega Drive/Genesis, Sega Saturn, Sega 32X, Game Gear, PlayStation, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, and MS-DOS compatible operating systems.

<i>Bubsy 2</i> 1994 video game

Bubsy 2 is a platform video game, the sequel to Bubsy in Claws Encounters of the Furred Kind, and the second game in the Bubsy series. It was originally released by Accolade in 1994 for the Sega Genesis, Super NES, and Game Boy, and re-released for Windows through Steam on December 17, 2015.

<i>Disneys Pocahontas</i> (video game) 1996 video game

Disney's Pocahontas is a platform game based on the 1995 film of the same name. The Genesis / Mega Drive version was developed by Funcom on contract with Disney and was released on January 1, 1996. It was followed by a later version for the Game Boy developed by Tiertex Design Studios and released on June 10, 1996, nearly a year after the film's premiere. A Super Nintendo Entertainment System version of the game was under development, but was canceled due to development being too far behind to coincide with the Genesis release.

References

  1. "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 73. Sendai Publishing. August 1995. p. 126.
  2. 1 2 3 "Review Crew: Indiana Jones". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 66. Sendai Publishing. January 1995. p. 38.
  3. Gurka, John (August 1995). "Fact-Files - Genesis: Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". Electronic Gaming Monthly . No. 73. Sendai Publishing. pp. 126–127.
  4. Squideo, Captain (August 1995). "ProReview: Genesis - Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". GamePro . No. 83. IDG. p. 66.
  5. "GAMERS (Germany) review Part 1, November 1995 issue". Archived from the original on September 12, 2012. Retrieved July 6, 2009.
  6. "GAMERS (Germany) review Part 2, November 1995 issue". Archived from the original on July 16, 2011. Retrieved July 6, 2009.
  7. ureaking (May 14, 2015). "Indiana Jones Mega Drive / Sega Genesis rare prototype PCB GAME UNRELEASED !". eBay. Archived from the original on July 10, 2015. Retrieved December 6, 2020.
  8. McFerran, Damien (July 21, 2017). "Factor 5 Almost Ported Super Castlevania IV To The Sega Mega Drive". Nintendo Life . Nlife Media. Archived from the original on September 18, 2018. Retrieved December 7, 2020.
  9. "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures review score". GameRankings. Archived from the original on May 3, 2019. Retrieved January 21, 2021.
  10. 1 2 Brett Alan Weiss. "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved December 22, 2020.
  11. 1 2 "Supershorts...". Computer and Video Games. No. 157. United Kingdom. December 1994. p. 143.
  12. 1 2 Buchanan, Levi (May 19, 2008). "Indiana Jones Greatest Adventures Retro Review". IGN . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  13. 1 2 "Test Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". Jeuxvideo.com (in French). September 2, 2011. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  14. 1 2 van Duyn, Marcel (November 16, 2009). "Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures Review (SNES)". Nintendo Life. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  15. NEW GAMES CROSS REVIEW: インディ・ジョーンズ. Weekly Famicom Tsūshin. No.346. Pg.30. 4 August 1995.
  16. "ProReview: Indiana Jones' Greatest Adventures". GamePro . No. 64. IDG. November 1994. p. 120.
  17. Buchanan, Levi (May 20, 2008). "Top 10 Indiana Jones Games". IGN . Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  18. Lynch, Gerald (January 16, 2021). "These belong in a museum: the best Indiana Jones games". TechRadar. Retrieved September 28, 2021.
  19. Knight, Rich (April 30, 2018). "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". Complex. Archived from the original on January 16, 2018. Retrieved February 1, 2022.