Lego: Indiana Jones

As with Lego Star Wars, the game developers have made a real effort to make the DS version a different experience to the Wii version. You get microphone blowing (to say put out torches or as the `wind'). And it all works really well (just like Lego Star Wars). That said occasionally you feel it would be easier just using the DS buttons - although when playing you don't use your touchscreen for much other than the hidden mini-games. You can swap between the two main characters, who have different abilities, and sometimes you help the other one get through barriers. You have to play as set characters in gameplay mode until the level is completed. This game looks good (I like the earthy brown green tones and Tomb Raider feel) although it's naturally not as visually enthralling as on the Wii and gameplay is modified to fit into the DS. The cut scenes are funny, and the humour runs right through the game, rather like the movies. No Crystal Skulls though, this is a romp through the old Indiana Jones locales, giving you the typical jungle, cave and Indian mountain scenes.

Naturally the game-play has similarities to the great Lego Star Wars console games, although The Whip replaces The Force. Indiana's world is one full of hidden levers, spear traps and abyss's, and there is some puzzle element in finding the trap-door/bridge to the next level. There's a lot of fun to be had whizzing about the screens solving it all. There's also plenty of hidden stuff/areas to find (which you might easily miss first time through the level, so do try it again after it's unlocked). Like Lego Star Wars, you need to play the story mode to unlock a lot of the game content and allow you to change characters. The campaign mode is great but it's over fairly quickly on the DS, so the unlocked free-play mode after each level is very welcome. You build stuff on the way and there are also mini games to find, which bring the stylus into play. The DS Indiana tends to have to slug it out with his fists, but you have infinite lives and should you ever succumb, you just lose your Lego coins. This game looks good and handles well on the DS, and it is a safe buy for any Indie obsessed kids. Plus it has the superb two player wireless mode where you control a character each (but as well as a mate, you also need two game chips & two DSs for this). According to my son [12] the only downside is that 'the levels are a bit long' - and this can be very annoying as you can't save til the end. So you will get kids refusing to leave the car until the levels completed as otherwise they will lose everything completed on that level. Plus occasionally they accidently knock the DS off switch and lose it all that way.

OK the game is a bit similar to Lego StarWars (no bad thing really), but the storyline and game-play is different enough to make it all seem fresh. More importantly this Lego Indiana DS game doesn't seem to crash all the time like my son's old Lego Star Wars II [original trilogy] DS game, which rendered the game pretty much unplayable. However I notice a few reviewers are saying that their new Lego Indiana DS game is also freezing at the end of levels [e.g. chapter 2: "Fight at the Raven"] which could lose hours of game-play, so perhaps there are a few software bugs in Indiana. However our game seems pretty stable so far, and my son says he's completed all the levels. Possibly it's faulty game chips rather than bad programming, although being kid friendly the game apparently adjusts its speed to the ability of the player so the crashes could even be people specific. My son is a dedicated Indiana Jones fan, which no doubt helps him really like this DS game. At home he much prefers the longer Wii version, but on the move the DS Indiana takes over. So highly recommended for any kid over 6 - and this DS game is a bit less 'violent' (as suggested by it's rating) and a fair bit easier to play than our Wii implementation (making it great for youngsters under 9 - assuming they are interested in the Indiana movies).

This game, like Lego Star Wars is a lot of fun and very addictive!

In this game you play as Dr Indiana Jones, guiding him through the far flung reaches of places such as India and South America. The game looks nice, handles well and requires you to take on the various bad guys in movie themed levels.

Like the Star Wars game you are able to switch between various characters of movies past and present. You also break open boxes build bridges, whip shoot and jump your way along collecting as many lego pieces as possible.

When playing a game on the DS you obviously lose out a little with the smaller screen and the reduction in graphics capability but there is no doubt that in many cases you gain from playing with this unique platform.

In this game all of the DSs special features are utilized. Not only are the graphics lovely and colourful but you will also be required to blow into the mic, for example to extinguish candles and use the touch screen to choose which weapon to use.

With most levels being impossible to fully complete on the first go the replay value is quite good, although, in terms of difficulty the game is not that demanding. However, with the DS, you can bring this game anywhere and play at almost anytime. I found this game a lot of fun and I think you will too.

This game is faster to play, less complex, but just as much fun as the PS2 version. Nice use of the touchscreen makes interacting with whip, levers etc easier for younger players.

Could be completed in a day story mode only, but the additional games/ rewards available mean it has a longer shelf life.

However my copy is very 'buggy' and sometimes freezes right at the end of a level, preventing saves - very frustrating.