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Indiana
Jones and the Fate of Atlantis:
The Action Game
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Developer:
Attention to Detail Limited
Publisher: LucasArts
Release date: 1992
Story by: Hal
Barwood
ST & Amiga versions
by: Jon Steele
Music & Sound Effects
by: Martin Walker
Production & design
by: Jon Dean
Cartoon Sequence by:
Nick Cook
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Technical Info: |
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Platforms:
Commodore 64,
Sinclaire ZX Spectrum, Amstrad CPC,
PC DOS, Atari ST |
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Genre:
Action Game |
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Mode(s):
Single-player |
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As with LucasArts'
1989 release of the Last
Crusade games, the 1991 release of Indiana
Jones and the Fate of Atlantis was also
marked with two versions, one an action oriented
game and the other a graphic adventure. And as
with the Last Crusade
games, the graphic
adventure of the pair remains as endearing
today as it did over a decade ago whilst the action
game for Fate of Atlantis
has fallen into obscurity. Why? Well, there are
many reasons that Fate
of Atlantis: The Action Game suffered the
same fate is its Last
Crusade counterpart. |
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Story and Gameplay
Sega Mega Drive/Genesis |
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The game was based around five levels
and the same general plot as the legendary graphic
adventure. Indiana Jones and Sophia Hapgood must
race the Nazis to the lost city of Atlantis before
they can harness its powers. Unlike the graphic
adventure, this action game was geared to appeal
to the gamer who liked a faster, more "real
time" feel. As such, the entire game was
presented from a ¾ perspective similar
to games like Diablo.
You control Indy through five levels with Sophia
in tow to find Atlantis. The game takes you through
locations like Monte Carlo, a nazi submarine,
exotic islands, and Atlantis itself. |
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Conclusion
This game is essentially the "dumbed
down" version of the graphic adventure and
it is not very enjoyable to play for quite a number
of reasons. For one, it is amazing to think that
Fate of Atlantis: The
Action Game and the graphic adventure were
released at the same time because the difference
in the graphics is so great. The graphic
adventure has beautiful graphics with well
rendered detail, color, and fluid animation. This
action game looks a little better than an average
Nintendo game with very poor detail and even less
coloring. Indiana Jones' pants are black and the
rest of his body is brown, if that gives you any
idea of the detail I am talking about. The play
control is choppy and stilted and the scenery
scrolling is very difficult on the eye. As with
the Last Crusade
action game, this game too found its way to
multiple platforms after initially landing on
the PC. The Amstrad CPC, Sinclaire Spectrum, Atari
ST, and Commodore 64 all received nice inferior
editions of this game.
The game is a combination of real
time combat with some puzzle solving thrown in
what I assume is an attempt to keep the game interesting.
The item and status menus are poorly interfaced
with the game and, for all intents and purposes,
are just plain awkward to navigate. Indy's main
weapons are his whip and fists, much like in the
Last Crusade action
games. Unfortunately, unlike the Last
Crusade action game, a bullwhip and fists
are hardly enough because they do not eliminate
any enemy permanently. This becomes very frustrating
very quickly. For example, in the first level
at the Monte Carlo casino, you are looking for
Sophia (who you can control separately in certain
sections of the game). However, there are these
crazy characters that look like bellboys who will
run you down and begin pummeling you should you
walk through the wrong door. So, naturally Indy
should be able to whip them and make them go away
but instead they just bend over for a second and
then get up and begin attacking you again.
Indy
& Sophia finding the way into the heart
of Atlantis. |
All in all, the game is unendingly
frustrating with poor play control and even poorer
graphics. It is no wonder that this game has fallen
into what I have dubbed "LucasArts' Museum
of Oddities" which also includes Indiana
Jones and the Last Crusade: The Action Game
and Afterlife.
I beg you, leave this game in the past. Play the
real Fate
of Atlantis, the graphic adventure we all
know and love. In regard to Indiana
Jones and the Fate of Atlantis: The Action Game,
I quote the immortal words of Dr. Henry Jones
Sr. "Indiana
Let it go." (MF) |
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