Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb - $34.99 at Media Play

Dyre Straits · Jun 7, 2003, 12:28 PM

Well, I broke down and got this game since it was at a sale price. No one else in the area is selling it for less than $39.99.

But, it's the only game I've ever played that might make me physically ill. I've never suffered motion sickness from a game, but this one is coming as close as anything. Even Descent 3 was a blast to me.

But the camera control on IJ&ET is the pits!!! I've made it to the foot bridge that has all the broken spots in it. Along the way, I've had some intense fist fights with Indy actually going one on one with the WALLS!

I'm hoping there will be a patch that addresses this, but I'm not holding my breath.....just my stomach.

***Zardon*** · Jun 7, 2003, 12:29 PM

I loved this game but yeah ill admit the camera motion is pretty messed up. It never made me feel sick though, thats pretty bad man

Dyre Straits · Jun 7, 2003, 12:41 PM

I played the demo strictly from Mouse/Keyboard.

I'm trying to play the game with my LogicTech Wingman RumblePad. Maybe with a little more experience I can get a better handle on the camera control. (I wish there was a way to scroll through inventory with just the gamepad. So far, I can't assign anything to that.)

At least with the gamepad I can move the camera view where I can at least see what Indy might be getting himself into. But, that part of the game is so bad, I'm really surprised it got through testing intact.

EDIT: Let me ask this -- does your camera view default to looking almost straight down onto Indy's Hat? That's what mine does. Instead of getting a nice view of his surroundings, you only see the floor/ground. There's no peripheral view unless I use the controller to pan and scan the surroundings.

Dyre Straits · Jun 8, 2003, 01:49 AM

UPDATE and SPOILER ALERT!!!

OK, I've decided to completely do away with my gamepad. Nothing worked right and I'm now using the mouse/keyboard and it's MUCH more playable!!!

However, I STILL think it sucks that they didn't give us Free Saves. I just went through the level where you had to figure a way to lock up the giant crocodile in order to get the heart jewel.

I finally got it all done, cut my way out of the water trap and was on my way to the exit. The game COMPLETELY STOPPED MY FORWARD MOVEMENT WHILE LETTING THAT GIANT CROC catch me! It's one thing to spring a surprise, but it's altogether something else to render it nearly impossible to do anything about it.

One reviewer I read said he's had to pay for a new keyboard over frustrations like this because he had hit his so hard it broke it. I can understand after this little incident. And, those who've played it likely know exactly what I'm saying.

The game could be much more fun without the sadistic design flaws.

Dyre Straits · Jun 8, 2003, 11:58 PM

All right, I really do not like complaining. Honest.

But, why, or WHY, won't Indy WALL HUG when he's supposed to wall hug? I'm in Prague and finally got the running whip swing over to a locked door. "Well, that won't work," Indy says with a note of exasperation. It's nothing compared to MY exasperation.

Well, he's SUPPOSED to wall hug and take the ledges over to another opening. Only no matter HOW I tried, or how HARD I tried to make him hug the wall, he refused to do it.

I also don't like using any cheats in a game....but I dislike even more having to do the same blasted sequence over, and over, and over, and over....for something I don't think is my own failure.

Yet the game has such a potential and still a certain appeal. I just can't fathom how, in this present state, this could be considered 'fun'.

Dyre Straits · Jun 12, 2003, 05:12 PM

Is anyone going to tell me how to get Indy to WallHug? He did it just fine on a couple other occasions to this point. But he absolutely refuses to do so here. I've backed him up and run him into the wall at so many various places he should have a bloody nose by now.

I've even gotten him to drop and grab the ledges but, of course, he can't turn corners this way.

I'm really tiring of the swinging choppers, rolling spindly barrels, and twirling giant saw blades. The runniing whip swing is even growing tiresome. I'd like some new scenery.

Dyre Straits · Jun 14, 2003, 11:36 PM

Well, I didn't actually get any help on this, but I DID finally get Indy to WALLHUG at this location.

It took a COMBINATION of pressing the WALK key WHILE AT THE SAME TIME pressing the ACTION key. Even that didn't work right away. I had to get him to a 'proper' location at the wall to get it done.

So, I got past this point....only to have Indy die yet again before leaving this level.

Rayder · Jun 15, 2003, 01:35 AM

Interesting that the RumblePad didn't work out for you. I use one to play this game and it works great. This might be a silly question, but did you go into the game's options and setup the controller? It recognises the buttons if you set them manually. I didn't have to create any special profiles or anything; Left stick moves Indy, right stick controls the 'look-around' camera. If you set a button for 'first person' mode, it will also act like a quicky camera fix (places the camera behind Indy) if you tap it.

The only thing I use the keyboard for is the inventory selections.

And no, the view shouldn't point straight down on you like that. Maybe you still had the view controls set to the rudder/slider on the controller. (common problem)

Another thing I've noticed about Wingman RumblePads is that they act slightly differently between XP and 98. I'm running XP and have no problems.

Dyre Straits · Jun 15, 2003, 01:53 AM

Hi, Rayder,

Yes, I went into the Rumblepad's configuration and there seemed to be a problem with it wanting to Default the right hand controller to the BOTTOM of the square. I tried recalibrating it and it would just go back to the bottom on my next attempt.

I also got the latest drivers for it. Still no go.

That right controller would let me look around but I had to constantly move it to coordinate with Indy's moves...and it just got too wild and sickening after a little while.

I just installed a new hard drive, newly installed XP Home, and all my programs. I might give it another try just to see if there's anything different now.

Thx

***Zardon*** · Jun 15, 2003, 06:47 AM

its been a while since I played the game but yeah I had the same wall hugging problem, sometimes he would do it, other times he wouldnt. its a case of moving your position slightly and trying again........

I agree the game is good as it stands with some annoying flaws in the camera movement and other little quirks.....it could have easily been a brilliant game, although I still enjoy it. ill have to install it again.

Dyre Straits · Jun 15, 2003, 12:56 PM

I have found that the wall hugging seems to work more consistently if you use the WALK key/button while using the ACTION key/button at the same time. So far, after so much frustration at that dungeon location, this is what has worked for me since.

The big problem I'm having now is making the swinging leap to the balcony after you drop the big Chandelier onto the goons below. I've made it one time so far and then got swarmed (with no health remedies) in the next room. It seems you have to make that leap just TOO perfect to succeed.

EDIT: I STILL cannot get the leap from the chain to the balcony. Any clues on this? I've tried moving up and down the chain to get more momentum. I've tried swinging longer hoping to get a better jump.....just about everything I can think of. Knowing I made it once, this is really getting to me.

Dyre Straits · Jun 18, 2003, 03:14 AM

It's starting to get to be more fun than frustrating now. I hope it keeps up this way.

After one incredibly impressive 'ride' Indy says:

LOL

Dyre Straits · Jun 22, 2003, 12:16 PM

As frustrating as the game is, I find myself persistently struggling along through it. If it only had more save options!!

Anyway, I've made it to the Black Dragon castle and have made it through the Triple Whip Swing, gotten an artifact from a lone room at the top of the castle, and made it past the first onslaught of spear-wielding guards and crossbow foes. I finally got to the next level and have now found myself having difficulty keeping Indy from falling off a small platform after doing a Double Whip Swing across the top of the building.

I do love being able to grab an opponent and toss him over the edge. That blood-curdling scream as they fall is an adrenaline rush! LOL

OR, when there's no edge to toss them over, ramming their heads into a wall is fun, too.