I just got a review copy of Lego Indiana Jones The Original Adventures - I have a soft spot for the lego adaptation games, such as the three (well two and a bit) Lego Star Wars games. They're simple fun, not too taxing and the definition of pick up and play games, that don't involve Italian plumbers or A.D.D. suffering hedgehogs.
First impressions are that the Indy game is initially more of the same, switch characters for specific abilities to help you complete the level; bash the bejesus out of things to collect the coins and health, then once the level has been unlocked play it through again in free play mode to release the secret items and collectables.
Where Lego Indy differs is in the use of items to solve certain puzzles, not only do you find you need to destroy things to create lego bits to rebuild items to progress through the game; but also you need tools and keys that require discovering to help you fix, unlock or generally assist you on your quest.
This is a small change but it makes a significant difference to the game play for something as simple as a Lego movie tie in which usually is nothing more than Attack and Jump button mashing.
Often you find an item that is, on the PSP screen at least, so small as to be almost impossible to identify and then you wander about trying it on everything until you realise its real purpose. Additionally you find that while holding a tool your fighting style slows down and so punch ups can be frustrating affairs as you slowly try to bludgeon someone with a monkey wrench while they put a gun in your ear.
In keeping with the childish nature of the Lego franchise, Indy lacks a gun, having to rely on his whip, his fists and throwing items, that come to hand, haphazardly around the level. The throwing items dynamic further complicates the game as a few early bosses will run away should you get too close, necessitating the need to run around a level grabbing items then running close (but not too close) to the boss and trying to get the game to lock on to the target automatically with a blue reticule. All the while standard thugs attack you from all directions requiring you to avoid throwing a punch (and in turn your item) at a drone and missing your chance at the boss.
These quibbles don't kill the game but they do manage to draw out a few infuriated expletives while playing and diminish the fun.
Lego Indiana Jones The Original Adventures covers the first three films (as far as I can tell, only two hours of play in to the game) so anyone fearing that there's the Crystal Skull episode where you'll need a "Stand Still And Spout Exposition button" needn't worry.
All in all the game isn't as good as the Star Wars versions, which had more charm and were simple fun games to play, but if you liked those games you will still find there's a lot of fun to be had even if you've seen it all before.
