It definitely has all the elements that make up the attributes of the film. There's surprisingly impactful brawling, some gun play, exotic vistas and archaeological ancient platforming.

Whilst it has all these things, it masters none. It's all quite janky, but for a game of this period juggling so many elements, you forgive it. With all the things Indiana Jones has, you're just glad to see that they tried to include them where they could. And you appreciate that it feels like a relatively natural extension of the IP into the gaming space, even though its not the greatest game.

Despite its problems, Emperor's Tomb is probably for better or worse the best Indiana Jones action game, not counting Fate of Atlantis. The fight controls, the uses of the whip, along with its artstyle, as well as its sound effects and music give off a very professionally made presentation that isnt stinking of a low budget title. It truly feels like care was taken to make this - for the time - a true Indiana Jones title.

However, the game isn't a well oiled machine. Everything about the movement and physics of the game is very janky. Even when playing with the analog controls properly set up, Indy somehow can't walk in a straight line. The game is also sometimes finicky about whether or not the whip can reach its whippable point. There are also no checkpoints aside from the level load in, so there are the general annoyances of dying near the end of a large level and having to start over again.

With everything set up though, this old windows game is able to be played pretty well on the Steam Deck despite the graphical issue that appears only if the level is outdoors.

From the puzzle focused Infernal Machine to more action oriented take on the character and it's mostly decent.

The action itself is improved as you can now use the environment and have that brawling action with chairs, swords and anything you find in the environment. Sadly this is most of the focus in the game and the puzzles especially are just easy and forgettable; lots of lever pulling and button pushing. Some cool orchestral music and set-pieces here and there though.

On a side-note the saving system can be tad frustrating at times. 90% of time it's fine as the game is not that challenging so when you die, I didn't mind redoing the level. But when you die to an invisible wall or some other BS this saving system can grind your nerves little bit.

The perfect Indiana Jones gaming experience in my eyes.

Nails, not just the narrative tone and visual aesthetics of Spielberg's cinematic adventure serials to a T, but the game's combat.

The way the game's combat works is what sells the entire thing. Fights feel dirty and scrappy. Indy's hat can fly off during fights and you can pick it up again after you've defeated your enemy. It's the little touches like that which make "Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb" so special imo.