Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine is a Game Boy Color action game released in 2001 developed by LucasArts. It centers on shooting and weapon use, movement and immediate actions, and enemy and hazard responses, with controls, information, and pacing arranged around a color handheld screen, a directional pad, and two main action buttons.
- AI score · out of 10
- 6.9 / 10
About this game
Indiana Jones and the Infernal Machine is a Game Boy Color action release centered on shooting and weapon use, movement and immediate actions, and enemy and hazard responses. Stages build pressure through routes, enemy patterns, and changing objectives, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make its immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on campaign length or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Readable animation, hits, and hazards determine whether feedback remains dependable, while color choices need to distinguish characters, objects, and routes rather than serve as decoration alone. The main genre-specific friction is that period-specific collision rules, limited guidance, and repeated ground after failure can raise the entry barrier. In addition, battery saves, link cables, cartridge-specific hardware, the unlit display, and regional language can affect the original experience. This description covers only this release and excludes emulator features, modern-port conveniences, and content from other platforms.
Collected in series
Indiana Jones games turn the archaeologist’s travels into playable adventures of lost artifacts, ancient puzzles and dangerous escapes. Some focus on conversations and clever item use, while others put you in the middle of climbing, whip work and improvised fights.
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Game Boy Color (GBC)
AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
An engaging puzzle adventure with costly retries and an abbreviated story.
The GBC Infernal Machine is its own two-dimensional adventure, not a complete miniature of the computer game. Ledge jumps, whip swings and object-moving puzzles give exploration a satisfying rhythm, with later obstacles demanding more thought. Hidden treasure and a shop provide reasons to search beyond the immediate route. Clearly colored environments and recognizable musical themes preserve an Indiana Jones atmosphere, although modest sprite detail and repeated gun and whip effects limit its richness. Progress is less forgiving: dying restarts the current level, while passwords favor playing in separate stages rather than interrupting freely. The shortened story also loses connections present in the larger adaptations. Players who enjoy environmental puzzles and tolerate substantial retries will find more here than a basic licensed action game.
Strengths
- Traversal and environmental puzzles create varied exploration.
- Hidden treasure and clearly differentiated environments reward observation.
Weaknesses
- Deaths restart entire levels without intermediate checkpoints.
- Abbreviated storytelling and repeated effects weaken immersion.
Who it is for: Players who enjoy two-dimensional puzzles and can tolerate long retries.
Play notes: This GBC adaptation omits parts of the PC/N64 story. Record passwords and allow time for full-level retries.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Hidden treasure supports exploration, but full-level retries and abridged storytelling interrupt pacing. | Reviewed | 6.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Traversal, whip movement and environmental puzzles sustain engagement beyond simple corridor combat. | Reviewed | 7.4 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Environmental color and familiar melodies preserve the adventure mood, but character detail and repeated effects are limited. | Reviewed | 6.8 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Ledge jumps and whip swings are approachable, but limited target selection reduces combat precision. | Reviewed | 6.5 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Developer
- LucasArts
- Publisher
- Gradiente
- Release date
- 2001
- Platforms
- Game Boy Color (GBC)
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Action · Primary genreAdventure
- Tags
- ReplayableSolo-friendlyShootingReal-time CombatPlatformingLinear LevelsDodgeWar2D GraphicsSide-scrollingFast-pacedMain Story Under 10 Hours
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Not provided
Release editions
- Game Boy Color (GBC)Worldwide2001
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided