Rereview: Does Lego Indiana Jones 2 ACTUALLY SUCK?

A year ago I critiqued this game hard, but come to find out, my points were hot garbage, so i'm hitting the reset, and taking another, and better crack at Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues!
(Also in the last annotation, I misspelt "because," whoops!)

Music used: Paper Mario OST - Goomba Village, The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker OST - Outset Island, Sonic the Hedgehog 2 OST - Chemical Plant Zone, Pokemon X&Y OST: Jubilife City

Links to the custom levels shown:

[joshualarson]

It has it's moments, but you can't beat the original. I think my favorite part of this game as a kid was playing as the janitor in the first level of Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, just because of how funny it was that they couldn't think of anything else for a co-op partner.

[The_Uncommon_Cole]

I know I’m a little late to the party, but there are two things I REALLY like about this game.

1. The nuke scene from Crystal Skull was pretty suspenseful with the alarm in the background. The bonus level with the charred remains was also really good since you see the aftermath.

2. The fact they ACTUALLY kept the book burning scene from Last Crusade. Sure, there’s no “imagery, ” but it’s pretty ballsy for a kids game.

[davidumann]

One thing that can't be ignored is how advanced the fighting mechanics are in this game. In the first game, and pretty much every other lego game, every weapon has the same damage, whereas in LIJ 2, swords and shovels do more damage than your fists, and some enemies can only be defeated by disarming the using a sword. There's also Indy's area whip attack and his ability to tie up enemies, that can then be picked up and thrown at other enemies, rightfully making Indy the best fighter in the game.

[peterlewis]

I'm pretty sure the reason the level builder was axed in later games is directly because of how poorly the game was received. They really went all in with the level builder as the flagship feature of this game. I remember seeing the advertisement for the game (I think in Lego Batman), and it was the primary feature they advertised, and the primary reason I was so hyped to buy and play the game.

So when the game performed badly, they assumed "Oh, we need to go back to the tried and true formula, and axe all the new stuff, since that didn't work". It's really sad that they didn't see the potential in it, or recognize that it really was very good, because if they had gone with it, I think Lego games today would be elevated so much.

[Mr.DL]

While I do still enjoy playing Lego Indiana Jones 2, think one of the Main problems with it is that many of the Main story levels are inaccurate to the film scenes they are portraying, such as There is more than one of the Soviet Jungle Cutter, Belloq not appearing until the desert chase, the flying wing fight is completely absent, the pankot palace instantly erupts into a massive beat em up fight instead of the dinner scene taking place, and Belloq, Mola Ram, Donovan, Dovchenko, And Spalko all turning into weird huge final bosses, still the game is always enjoyable to play. I really do hope we get a Lego Indiana Jones 3: The Complete Adventures In 2023 to come out alongside the 5th entry in the Indiana Jones Saga

[NotRealms]

What this game lacked in gameplay, it made up for tenfold with it's creative mode. I spent virtually no time playing the actual game but instead just making maps and inviting my friends to play l.

[milopresidente]

It does not suck. It is an absolute jewel and I love both the original and the second one. I absolutely love it.

[ChimboFunk]

I used to love this game and I gotta say I still do. The best way to play it is having a friend with you and barely even doing the main object and instead goofing around while trying to inconvenience each other in any way possible.

[peterlewis]

I think it's really interesting that this game basically has the same strengths and weaknesses as Lego Star Wars: The Skywalker Saga. They both have really short story levels, and really shine in the hub and new mechanics. But unlike this game, the Skywalker Saga has received overwhelmingly positive reviews. I guess it's probably because it's on such a larger scale, and is dealing with a more beloved and nostalgic IP (rather than focusing on a sequel that most people didn't like).

[NoahStakes]

I wasn't a fan of the second Lego Indiana Jones Game... however I will give it credit as being the first lego game to feature split screen coop gameplay.

[milesbaillie]

I loved this game. The little level builder they included was awesome too, I wish they'd expanded on it more in future Lego games. I feel like more ways to express your creativity is what the lego games are missing

[kenyy]

i do agree with every single point in this video, but honestly i think the first level in Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull is the best level in the game, and a brilliant introduction. If every level was like that this game would easily be in the top 10 lego games

[dr.glurak]

Lego Inidana Jones 1 was one of the first games I've ever played and I totally loved it! I was so thrilled when the second Lego Indy game came out. Although it is up to this day my favourite Lego game, I have to admit that I wasn't very fascinated when I first played it. Actually I was somewhat dissappointed because it was so different than the first game and Lego Star Wars which I played before as well.

But as I played the game I started to like it over time. I was just a little put off by the new features at the begining. Eventually I played it more than the first game and over time it became my favourite of the Lego Games.
I agree that exploring the hub worlds is the most fun thing to do. After beating the story mode, It's much more fun to have one big overworld for each film (Except Crystall skull that got 3) with 10 new levels to find instead of just playing the story levels again.

I also love the secrets and little details of the game. If you return to the house that was bombed and extinguish the fire, you can unlock the mannequins as living characters. I know this is weird as heck, but I just like that they thought about that. Another great detail is how you get the main villains. Dovchenko, for example, who was burried by ants, can be unlocked if you dig him out and then build him together, and then you can buy him. They did that with all important villains, and that's just cool.

Next to the overworlds, the level builder probably was the most fun thing in the game. Especially when playing it with friends.

Yes, that the main story levels are so short probably is a big problem for many, but to me personally I always loved this about the game! As a kid I always had the need to beat the levels of Lego Indy 1 as quick as possible, so that the levels there are short was perfect for me. I always was like "Huh? That was it? I beat it? Yaaay!"
But in total it is only fair to critizie that.

Playing the first 3 movies of the first game again in the second game always felt like a parody to me, and I just loved it. I think it would have been boring if they just told the same story of the movie again. That they instead made everything kind of goofy and different from the first game to be more humorous feels like a good choice to me.

I have to say I totally love the three different kinds of levels in the game.

The vehicle levels were very enjoyable to me personally. Maybe it's because I'm too used to this game, but I never found the controls of the vehicles to be problematic. I like how you usually start at the bottom with like the motorcycle or the horses and you first find a car and then a truck to get a more powerful vehicle. In Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Part 2 this is the opposite though, as you right away start with the jungle cutter that just one hit destroys everything. It's true that it's repatitive, but I was never bothered by it.

I can see why you think the battle levels are trash. They aren't anything special at all to be fair, you beat up some guys and that was it, but I thought them to be extremely fun. The game gives you a litst of characters you have to find and kill and you just go for it and beat them up. I also thought it was funny how the antagonist in the background gets mad when you killed everyone and calls for more.

I know that the boss levels are pretty controversal, but I just love them. I especially love the boss fight against the Kali statue in the temple of doom. In the first game you could climb on it and there was a minikit on its head, but in this game you can actually fight it! This is just my favourite level of the game. I find the idea so cool that you have to throw water bottles at it and use your whip to rip its arms off until you get the head in the end. I know this has like nothing to do with the films anymore, but I still think it's very entertaining to play.

Yes, the first two levels of the game aren't that short unlike the 3rd or the 5th level that can be beaten in under a minute. This is probably a more personal thing, but I actually prefer having 15 short levels with a overworld that is full of stuff to explore than 6 long levels that you have to beat twice.

In the end, I understand your problems that the levels are too short and repatitive, but I personally like that the levels are short. Well, opinions can be different, that's perfectly fine. It was a fair review overall

[taqresu]

In terms of experiencing the films, I far prefer the first LEGO Indiana Jones. But in the second game, I could spend hours in the level editor. And I had my siblings to share my levels with in couch co-op.

[ashtonwilaby]

We should get a Lego game that's just a level builder like super Mario Maker

[MangoRango]

I'm the only one that enjoys the car levels and fight levels?

[majesthijmenii]

Idk the vehicle levels were pretty cool, honestly. I remember playing the crystal skull level in the city/university building over and over. Agree with the rest tho

[MaccamatBux]

This was my favourite LEGO game for ages. Just how there are six different hubs which are all self contained so it isn't a daunting experience to 100% the game like the new LEGO games which are absolutely massive.
Obviously playing the 4th film is great as well.
All the bonus levels, revisiting the levels in the aftermath, the super bonus levels.
There were so much creative and clever ideas in here.
And then obviously making custom levels was a highlight.

[lico]

As much as I love it because it was my second ever (and still favorite) LEGO game, I'm glad that you have some really good points about the negative aspects of it. To be honest, I myself never liked the vehicle levels and I did feel like both the vehicle levels and the fight levels were repetitive. And I'm glad you shed some light on the more positive aspects, such as the bonus levels and the level editor. And the thing is, I only started playing the first game a couple years after this one but it's also a pretty good LEGO game. Overall this was actually a really good review and I'm glad you actually had good points and wasn't just slandering the game for no reason.

[theregularterrarian]

I recently replayed through the entire game to 100% with my brother recently to relive old memories, and we finished it in 20 hours over 2 days, and I could feel the burn out near to the end

still was great fun