Lego Indiana Jones 2 GamesCom 2009 Preview
Lego games have been an exceedingly popular venture for LucasArts, and Lego Indiana Jones was no exception to that rule. Due to this, and the release of Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull, it seemed like a good opportunity to release a sequel, Lego Indiana Jones 2: The Adventure Continues.
The game will again contain content from the original Indiana Jones films, but it won't be the same as seen in the original game. The locations will be different and other aspects of the story will be focused upon. The hubs, which serve as a central focus in the game, have also been expanded upon. There are now 6 in total and their size has been significantly increased. Each of the hubs has 5 levels, and there are a ton of unlockables to find throughout each of the hubs.
Co-operative player has also been a big part of the Lego games, and Lego Indiana Jones 2 is no different. However, in this game they've made a few modifications. When players run away from each other, the screen splits in two and each player gets their own camera. It's a really subtle way of allowing each character explore on their own, and it means that neither player is restricted by the actions of the other.
There are going to be five different types of level, which will include puzzle, brawling, bosses and vehicles. It's hoped that this will lead to a good level of variety, which will keep players interested. However, due to the nature of the game, it can be played in bite-size chucks and still be enjoyed. Indiana can also now use his whip in a much more effective way, which will surely please fans.
Another interesting addition to the game is a level editor. What has made Lego so popular over the years is that it can be used to build things, and now the Lego video game franchise can do the same. Players will be able to build their own fully funtioning levels, which can either be made from scratch, or modified from existing levels.
It could be argued that it's too soon for another Lego Indiana Jones title, but it looks like a wealth of new content is going to be added to this experience. Very little will be recycled from the actual campaign, and with a level editor it looks like Lego Indiana Jones 2 will be a decent game in its own right.
It's due for release towards the end of 2009 on all major platforms.
