Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure logo Amiga Computing Excellence Award

The graphic adventure

FOLLOWING in the footsteps of the old crusaders, both the Nazis (boo!) and Indiana Jones (hooray!) are searching throughout war-torn Europe for the Holy Grail. With the aid of your father's diary and your bullwhip, you must follow a trail which leads from the rat-infested catacombs of Venice into the very heart of the Third Reich.

Having got yourself into another fine mess, you'll discover that your eccentric father is also stuck in the Wolf's Lair, so it's double trouble for the man in the Fedora.
Before setting off for Venice you can travel to your father's house to pick up some useful objects. If you survive the deadly traps protecting the tomb of the crusader, your trail will lead onward to an old castle in Germany.

Rescuing your father and escaping the clutches of the Gestapo (boo!) will enable you to pay a call on Hitler himself, before you make a further dash in a Zeppelin to the Holy Lands.
Here your most dangerous test awaits - three trials of faith must be endured before the secret of the Grail is at last revealed.

To make this adventure even more appealing, all commands use the point and click method, dispensing with typing completely. You may pick up and use objects, and talk to other characters by selecting sentences from an offered list.
In case your firsts are faster than your wits, the game will allow you to engage in punch-ups with various bad guys. Where an enemy blocks your progress, you have to resort to brute force and give him a right to the jaw.

The game has been designed with many different paths to success. Should you have managed to fool the Gestapo (boo!) and escape from the German castle with the Grail diary, you will automatically head for the airport. Otherwise the game will point you in the direction of Berlin and give you the chance to retrieve the book.

For this reason you may play sections of the game which have not been seen by other players who have completed the quest. A score of Indy's IQ is given to indicate how well you are doing in the solving of the complete game.

From time to time the view of the screen will change to an overhead perspective. This is used in a number of small mazes and in the castle corridors.
The animation and background graphics are first class. The title music and sound effects build up the atmosphere and do a great job of recreating the excitement of the film.

Like the movie, this game is big. By avoiding the temptation to push out a second-rate product which simply cashes in on the film's success, Lucasfilm has satisfied both Indy fans and computer adventurers with a brilliant game.


Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure logo

LUCASFILM/US GOLD £19.99 Mouse

"You have seen the film, now play the game". I can almost smell the advertising spiel going through their heads. Anyway, I must confess I am a closet Indy fan: but will even that qualification be helpful in playing the game?

Indy (the adventure game) follows the plot of the film closely, with a couple of extra scenes thrown in for good measure. For the uninitiated: Indiana's dad has been kidnapped while searching for the Holy Grail and Indy's gone to find them both. He travels to Venice, Berlin, Iskerderun and numerous other places and is swamped by thousands of rats, followed by the Gestapo and chased by the Luftwaffe.
Then he must find the grail place, pass the tests and then choose the correct cup. All in all, Indy's got a lot on his plate.

On to the game. It begins with a pretty basic intro screen, as in the movie, with Indy leaping over a train, but the game proper starts when you enter your classroom and hoards of screaming students demand to have their cards signed. After tactfully dealing with the situation and escaping, you visit the millionaire Donovan and you are then free to travel. First to your father's wrecked house and then to Venice.

Each part of the game leads on logically. It must be said that there is no set way to play the game, and you can act in whatever way you see fit for a surrogate Indiana. This also means you can complete the game and go back and try to do it a different way. You get a score in IQ (Indy Quotient) which not only shows your present score in the current game, but also how you fared in previous attempts.

The graphics are nothing to sing and dance about, nor are the music and sound effects, being sparsely dumped here and there and failing to add anything to the gameplay. The animation is acceptable but due to the overall sense of sluggishness, it gets a tad boring. Frequent disk changes are darned irritating and add to the general frustration that the game manages to create.

It is worth persevering with, though, if only to get to the end. The mouse interface is accurate despite being awkward in use. Atmosphere exits in the game but it does not leap out of the game and grab you by the throat saying "don't you dare turn me off!".

IJTLC is an above-average animated graphic adventure, suitable for a younger audience and those who do not want a particularly challenging game. It is not a meaty adventure, but it does have its moments. If you enjoyed the film, you will like the game. This time he brought his dad and decided to leave me at home.


Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure logo

Ein Indiana kommt selten allein - zum neuen Kinostreifen mit Harrison Ford wurden gleich zwei Computer-Games herausgebracht: ein popliges Actionspiel von U.S. Gold und ein irres Grafikadventure Marke Lucasfilm Games. Das Actiongame mit peitschenwindigen Indy ist schon zwei Monaten auf dem Markt, die Amiga-Version des Adventures jedoch brandneu! Logisch dass wir uns hier mit letzterem beschäftigen...

Indiana Jones, seines Zeichens Archäologe und smarter Abenteuer, kehrt gerade von einer Forschungsexpedition an seine Universität zurück. Doch die beschauliche Tätigkeit in den akademischen Hallen des Geistes währt nicht lange: Indy wird von zwei bewaffneten Männern in ein Auto gezerrt und zu dem schwerreichen Industriellen Walter Donovan gebracht.

Dieser erteilt ihm den Auftrag, einen vergammelten Kelch zu finden; den sogenannten heiligen Gral. Wer aus dem güldenen Schälchen seine Suppe schlürft, kommt nämlich in den Genuss der Unsterblichkeit - und die käme Donovan gerade recht, könnte er doch so bis zum Weltuntergang seine Taler zählen. Da Indys Papa zufällig auf der Suche nach eben diesem Gral erst kürzlich verschwunden ist, stürzt sich unser Held natürlich sofort ins Abenteuer: Vielleicht findet er ja Papi mitsamt Kelch? Dummerweise scheint die Aufgabe gar nicht so einfach zu sein, denn die Nazis interessieren sich ebenfalls für das gute Stück und setzen alles daran, es zuerst zu finden!

Zu allem Überdruss machen auch noch jede Menge Rätsel das Abenteuerleben schwer, aber glücklicherweise gibt es da noch einen Amiga-Spieler, der mit seiner Maus die Geschicke unseres Helden bestimmt.

Mit der Maus? Ja, bei diesem Adventure gibt es kein lästiges Eintippen oder frustiges Raten von Befehlen, die der Parser dann noch wieder nicht versteht. Wie bei "Maniac Mansion" oder "Zak McKracken" sind alle Befehle am unteren Bildschirmrand in einer Menüzeile aufgelistet. Will man beispielsweise, dass Indy zum Bücherregal marschiert, klickt man einfach "Gehe zu" an und führt den Mauszeiger im Grafikfenster auf's Bücherregal. Nochmal klicken - schwupp, wie von Geisterhand bewegt, läuft Indiana Jones zum gewünschten Ort. Dialoge funktionieren nach demselben Prinzip: Gerät man an eine auskunftsfreudige Person, erscheinen mehrere Sätze auf dem Screen, von denen der Spieler einen mit der Maus aussuchen kann - echt simpel!

Obwohl einfach zu bedienen, verlangt das Game schon einigen Zeitaufwand. "Indiana Jones und der letzte Kreuszug" ist nämlich ziemlich komplex, Grafik und Handlung sind immerhin auf drei Disketten verteilt! Leider bringt das den berühmten Discjockey-Effekt mit sich, ab und zu darf man gar dreimal hintereinander die Disketten wechseln, um an einen bestimmten Ort zu gelangen. Aber was nimmt man nicht alles in Kauf, um sich an den prächtigen Grafiken und Animationen zu erfreuen! Als besonderes Bonbon gibt es (ähnlich wie bei "Zak McKracken") gelegentlich kleine Filmszenen, die man verfolgt, ohne in den Ablauf einzugreifen.

Indy kommt während des Spiels ganz schön in der Weltgeschichte herum - Venedig, Uni, Höhlensystem, Nazischloss, Zeppelin und viele andere Örtlichkeiten sorgen für lang anhaltenden Adventurespaß. Gewürzt ist das Ganze mit humorvollen (deutschen) Texten und kleinen Actionsequenzen, sprich Prügeleien. Ich muß sagen, Lucasfilm hat bei der Amiga-version von Indiana Jones hervorragende Arbeit geleistet: Bis auf das leidige Diskettenwechseln und den etwas unbefriedigten Sound ist das Spiel ein echter Adventure-Hit! (Carsten Borgmeier)



Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure logo CU Screen Star

US Gold/Lucasfilm
Amiga
Price: £24.99

Indiana Jones' father has been kidnapped by Nazis, who need him to find the Holy Grail and so to ensure the perpetuity of the Third Reich. Indy sets off in pursuit, frees his dad, and via Venice, Austria, the Middle East and an encounter in Berlin with Adolph himself, finally finds the grail. Then he finds out that he still has not finished! There are three ways in which this adventure can end.

You will find plenty of action, animation, sound and music in this game, which is based closely on the film, and indeed, presented in film-like style. But make no mistake - this is a real adventure, nor is it anything like Labyrinth. Do not let any other magazine persuade you otherwise. In fact, no arcade skills are required, which makes it more "pure" than most Sierra adventures.

Lucasfilm have come up with an original animated graphics format, which although it will inevitably be compared with Sierra's, is totally different to play. Each location is depicted graphically, but is not necessarily confined to the area shown on the screen at any one time. Moving the character to the edge of the picture may cause it to "pan" smoothly across the landscape or room.

Enter commands by clicking on combinations of word icons and objects in the picture. WALK TO is the default command, and it is redisplayed after any other command is entered, so that the character is always ready to move to any position in the picture pointed to and clicked on.

Part of the action takes place in catacombs and castle corridors, and here the control is slightly different. Only the small area of such a labyrinth in the immediate vicinity of Indy is illuminated, and here he is moved by "beckoning" him with the cursor.

The action is cleverly linked with "cut away" shots, where the computer takes over. Sometimes these show what is happening elsewhere, and sometimes Indy is taken automatically into the next episode of the game.

On the whole the puzzles are quite cunning. Some involve referring to the Grail Diary, which displays a page appropriate to your current situation. It is essential that Indy does not embark upon his travels without it!

Other puzzles are a matter of logic. Saving the game at regular intervals will be very helpful, as you will often need to backtrack so as to do everything in sequence.

On three disks, the package includes Indy's diary and a fairly foolproof non-photocopyable anti-pirate device. So you would better get Indy for yourself - you will find it an intriguing adventure that is a pleasure to play.


Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure logo

Lucasfilm/£24.99 Amiga

Amiga review Sean: This is the second game based on the Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade movie, but this time it originates from Lucasfilm in America. Rather than the earlier arcade adventure, it's a traditional adventure game, relying more on quick wits than a fast joystick. The object is the same: find and recover the Holy Grail before the Nazis or the Monty Python crew get their hands on it.

Fortunately, like Lucasfilm's Maniac Mansion reviewed last ish, there's no typing involved whatsoever. All commands are issued using a selection of options at the bottom of the screen and the mouse, which can be pointed at the animated section of the screen to choose objects. So, to speak to Marcus for example, you simply highlight the 'Speak To' at the bottom of the screen and then click the mouse over the Marcus character on the main animated screen. S'easy, innit?

Just like the ST and PC versions, Indy: The Adventure Game is totally fab and likely to appeal to seasoned troll bashers and non adventurers alike. I fall into the latter category myself and had a bit of trouble getting anywhere. However, the mouse-only inputting made it so easy and fast that I kept on coming back to it whereas I would've given up on a traditional adventure long before. Sound is fairly limited but superfluous anway. The animation likewise is a bit stodgy but there is so much variety throughout the game that this can be forgiven. A great game likely to see you well into the New Year and beyond.


Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade: The Graphic Adventure logo

Lucasfilm/US Gold, Amiga £24.99

Zak Mc Kracken was one of those games which all ZZAP! reviewers drooled over, an unique achievement for an adventure! Now the unique format has been updated for Indy: The Adventure Game and it took all my cunning, and the sneakiness of the Geek, to grab the review form the Welshman.

The game follows the structure of the film quite closely, with a number of arcade sequences included as well. A hilarious start sequence has Indy dripping wet from recovering the fabulous Cross of Coronado, trudging into Barnett College. After Prof. Marcus Brody fills him in on some college news Indy is free to wander about, trying to follow in Harrison Ford's footsteps.

People who've seen the film will obviously have a slight advantage, but lots of details have been changed so no-one is going to find it easy.

After a visit to his student-filled office Indy gets the yearning for the quieter life of battling Nazis. In any case he is soon take to see Walter Donovan, a wealthy industrialist, Donovan, like Hitler and quite a few real US industrialists of the time, has become obsessed with mysticism, mythology and archaeology; in his case symbolised by the Holy Grail, the chalice which caught the blood of Christ when he was on the cross. Anyone who now drinks from the Grail may live forever, Donovan believes.

Indy's father was also interested in the chalice, and has disappeared while looking for it on Donovan's behalf. Indy must now find both his father and the Grail. A plane is put at his disposal to take him to Venice, which is where his father was last seen. But first Indy must find his father's diary, which will provide invaluable advice on his quest.

Finding the diary shouldn't prove that hard. As in Zak Mc Kracken you move Indy around simply by pointing and clicking with the mouse. More complex actions mean you have to use the keywords at the bottom of the screen. For example, to ring a bell in a boxing ring you click on 'Use', the word appears on the sentence line and then you click on the object you want. In this case it's a mallet, resulting in the sentence 'Use mallet with', click on the bell to put the word in the sentence, then click again to put it into action. It's all very simple, allowing a good deal of flexibility without vocab problems.

After meeting Dr Elsa Schneider in Venice, Indy must find his way into the catacombs to find the shield. Once near the catacombs' hidden entrance the Grail Diary - which loads in cryptic, but vital clues - can be used. When you get in the catacombs the view switches to an overhead one, a tiny Indy moves around the maze with only a small area around him illuminated.

With information from the catacombs Indy learns his father is being held prisoner by Nazis in a castle. Once in the castle you can get into fistfights with the Nazis in proper arcade fashion, although punches, blocks and movement is by keypad, not joystick. According to the instructions you can always avoid fights if you're clever enough, but they're good fun anyway.

After freeing Dr Jones, Indy pays a visit to Berlin and then tries to escape Germany in a Zeppelin. But the airship turns around midplane. This leads to another sub-game, with a first-person perspective of the cockpit. While Dr Jones shoots at the German fighters, Indy must keep the plane steady. Eventually though, the plane's shot down. Then it's on to the Middle East where you arrive in the Grail Temple to have another confrontation with the Nazis.

Like most 16-bit Lucasfilm games Indy started out as a PC product, before being converted to the ST and Amiga. The graphics then, are all quite attractive and nicely detailed but make very little use of the Amiga. Sound is improved from the PC/ST, with some great samples such as the squelch of Indy's boots at the start, but the tunes are disappointing. More importantly there's a good save feature, allowing you save over a dozen files to a blank disk - but sadly no RAM save.

The game is great fun to play, with some good puzzles, although obviously not quite the depth of an Infocom game. Also, humour isn't quite up to the standard of Zak, but this is still an essential purchase for fans of the movie, and most adventurers as well.