Parents' Guide to Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings

Game PSP , Nintendo Wii , Nintendo DS , PlayStation 2 2009
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Common Sense Media Review

Marc Saltzman By Marc Saltzman , based on child development research. How do we rate?

age 14+

Fast-paced, combat-heavy adventure starring you as Indy.

Parents Need to Know

Why Age 14+?

Any Positive Content?

Parent and Kid Reviews

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age 11+

Based on 13 kid reviews

Kids say the game has received mixed reviews, with many players highlighting issues with controls, especially on the Wii version, while others found the gameplay simplistic and lacking in challenges. Although some players enjoyed the combat mechanics and adventure aspects, the overall consensus points to disappointing graphics and repetitive level design.

  • controls issues
  • repetitive gameplay
  • simplistic design
  • mixed enjoyment
  • varying difficulty
Summarized with AI
 

 

See all 13 kid reviews

What's It About?

Good news for fans of Indiana Jones flicks: Not only is there a new edge-of-your-seat adventure this summer, but you get to star as the legendary 20th century hero. Not based on one particular film, though with "set pieces" borrowed from many of them, LucasArts' INDIANA JONES AND THE STAFF OF KINGS is an all-new, action-heavy video game playable on the Nintendo Wii and other consoles and handheld machines.

Combat, puzzle-solving, racing, and exploration make up the four main gameplay elements in this third-person adventure, as you race to find Moses' staff (carried during the Exodus) before the Germans can locate it. Players will traipse through deadly jungles of Panama, explore burial chambers in Istanbul, traverse across snow-capped mountains of Nepal, and fight through the streets of San Francisco's Chinatown. The game also lets you race motorcycles, biplanes, rafts -- and even on the back of a wild elephant.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say : Not yet rated
Kids say ( 13 ):

The Nintendo Wii version makes great use of Indy's whip as your motion-sensing Wii Remote can be snapped around to break items, inflict damage on baddies, or used to pull one towards you by their feet before you head-butt or punch them into tomorrow. The Wii Remote and Nunchuk controller can also be used to throw left and right hooks, respectively. At times in the game, Indy relies on his trusty pistol to shoot at enemies. While there isn't any multiplayer modes in Indiana Jones and the Staff Of Kings, there are many unlockable game modes, secret areas, and items and other goodies to add to the game's longevity. It might not be as fun on other systems due to the lack of motion-sensing controls, but you can count on the Wii version to satisfy fans of the films.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Since this game isn't tied to one of the Indiana Jones films, families can talk about whether this interactive adventure can stand up against the games based on popular Indiana Jones movies. Also, do you get the sense LucasArts is trying to create something worthy on its own merit or is this simply a marketing ploy, a quick cash grab to exploit the popular movie license?

Game Details

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