Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
{{Short description|2009 video game}}
{{use mdy dates|date=September 2024}}
{{Infobox video game
| title = Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings
| image = Staff of Kings.jpg
| developer = Artificial Mind & Movement
Amaze Entertainment (PSP)
| publisher = LucasArts
| director = David Osborne
| producer = Stéphane Roy
| designer = Stéphane Brochu
Jason Dozois
| programmer = Jean-Sébastien Dasse
Frédéric Robichaud
Dominic Allaire
| artist = Ghislain Barbe
Mathieu Fecteau
| writer =
| composer = Gordy Haab
Ray Harman
| platforms = Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, PlayStation Portable, Wii
| released = {{vgrelease|NA|June 9, 2009|EU|June 12, 2009|AUS|June 18, 2009{{cite web |last=Kozanecki |first=James |date=June 14, 2009 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/au-shippin-out-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/1100-6211976/ |title=AU Shippin' Out: Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings [date mislabeled as "June 15, 2009"] |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=January 10, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090616205934/http://www.gamespot.com/news/6211976.html |archive-date=June 16, 2009 |url-status=live}}}}
| genre = Action-adventure
| modes = Single-player, multiplayer
}}
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings is a 2009 action-adventure video game developed by Artificial Mind & Movement and published by LucasArts for Nintendo DS, PlayStation 2, and Wii. Amaze Entertainment developed a PlayStation Portable version. The game is set in 1939, after the events of the original Indiana Jones film trilogy.{{Cite web |last=Hood |first=Cooper |last2=Barker |first2=Stephen |last3=Russell |first3=Tom |date=2019-07-27 |title=Indiana Jones Complete Movie Timeline Explained |url=https://screenrant.com/indiana-jones-movie-timeline/ |access-date=2025-04-18 |website=ScreenRant |language=en}} It focuses on Indiana Jones as he searches for his former mentor Charles Kingston, while working to prevent the Nazis from acquiring the "Staff of Kings", said to be the same staff used by Moses to split the Red Sea in two. The Wii version includes a copy of a previous LucasArts game, Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis, as an unlockable.
The game was announced in 2005, and was initially developed for the higher-end PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360 systems, before switching to the aforementioned lower-end platforms. The game received mixed reviews from critics.
Gameplay
{{expand section|date=July 2012}}
The plot centers around Indy's search for the Staff of Moses, a journey which takes him to several locations including the Sudan, Panama, San Francisco, and Nepal. The game incorporates a linear structure that includes puzzles to solve, obstacles to clear, and enemies that must be defeated through hand-to-hand combat. As Indiana Jones, the player can interact with certain objects when prompted to and can utilize his bullwhip both in combat or to proceed in an area. Some levels also include sections where the gameplay revolves around using the environment around Indiana Jones to defeat enemies and a shooting segment where the player's movement is restricted but is armed with Indy's sidearm and allowed to take cover and aim at enemies. Motion controls in the Nintendo versions (via the Wii Remote and Nunchuk, or the DS stylus, depending on the platform) allow the player to throw punches, use Indy's bullwhip, and perform a wide variety of actions.{{cite web |url=http://www.lucasarts.com/games/indianajones/gameinfo/news/summary.html |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Summary) |website=Lucasarts |publisher=Lucasfilm |access-date=March 8, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091128170817/http://www.lucasarts.com/games/indianajones/gameinfo/news/summary.html |archive-date=November 28, 2009}}
The Wii version of the game includes an exclusive co-op story mode (with Indy and Henry Jones Sr.) and an unlockable version of the classic point and click adventure Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (also set in 1939). On the console versions, Big Head mode, Henry Jones Sr., Tuxedo Indy, and Han Solo from Star Wars are unlockable.{{cite web |last=Fletcher |first=JC |date=February 3, 2009 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009-02-03-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings-includes-unlockable-fate-of.html |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings includes unlockable Fate of Atlantis (update) |website=Engadget (Joystiq) |publisher=Yahoo! Inc. |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624033342/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/02/03/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings-includes-unlockable-fate-of |archive-date=June 24, 2009 |url-status=live}}
Plot
The story begins with Indiana Jones hunting for an ancient ram's head idol in the Sudan in 1939, which a Nazi expedition is also searching for. Indy traverses a canyon and enters the temple of the idol. After a few narrow escapes, including fighting off a swarm of spiders and nearly getting crushed by collapsing statues, Indy finds the idol and is about to escape when the Nazis discover him. Indy is confronted by their leader, Magnus Voller, an archeologist and old rival of Indy's. Indy is forced to give up the idol but is able to distract Voller and fight his way through the Nazi camp. He gets in a truck and chases after a plane that is taking off down the runway; he manages to jump onto the wing and throw the pilot out. After getting in a dogfight with other Nazi planes, Indy flies off and returns to the United States.
Back in America, Indiana receives a letter from an old friend, antique collector Archie Tan. He explains that he has information about the disappearance of Indy's former college professor, Charles Kingston. Indy heads to San Francisco to talk to Archie, only to find that he and his granddaughter Suzie have been kidnapped by the local triad. Indy rescues Suzie, and she takes him to her grandfather's office. He also learns of an ancient artifact that Archie was guarding, the Jade Sphere. Indy finds a secret passageway, and then rides a rickety chair lift down into a subterranean chamber filled with old ships. The chairlift gets hit by a thug with a pistol, but Indy manages to survive the ride down. He meets more thugs down below but dispatches them before finding the Jade Sphere hidden in a pile of cannonballs. A day later, Indy finds Archie being held captive by Magnus Voller and a Nazi agent. Voller orders Indy to hand over the Sphere if he wants to save his friend. Indy appears to throw the Sphere to Voller before he and Archie flee, but it turns out to be nothing but a cheap statue. Indy and Archie are chased by gunmen in cars; Indy uses his pistol to shoot out the tires or engines of the cars (in the Nintendo DS version, this is replaced by a brawl on top of a cable car), and Archie helps him escape in a street trolley. After Archie tells Indy about the events that transpired, he decides to head for Panama, where Kingston found the Sphere years ago.
Upon reaching his destination, Indy gets into a minor argument with an Irish photographer named Maggie O'Mally, who forces him to let her accompany him. However, their campsite and the surrounding forest are attacked by native mercenaries in Magnus' employment. Indy manages to fend off the attackers (he also saves a village of Indians in the Wii and PS2 versions) and obtains the key to an ancient pyramid. Indy travels through the ruined pyramid, which is based on the Mayan underworld, which leads to a hidden diary of Kingston's revealing details of the Staff of Kings, the artifact that Moses used to part the Red Sea. After obtaining further clues on the staff's location in Istanbul (Paris in the DS version), Indy locates the elderly Kingston in a Nepalese village. Unfortunately, the Nazis followed Indiana to the Staff's resting place and kidnapped Kingston and Maggie (who is actually an undercover MI6 agent). Indy then sneaks onto the Nazis' zeppelin, the Odin, and rescues Maggie, but is unable to prevent Magnus from fatally shooting Kingston and using the Staff to clear a path through the Red Sea. In response, Indy and Maggie chase Magnus on a motorcycle with a sidecar and defeat him with a rocket launcher. Magnus then attempts to escape, but Indy sucker-punches him into the wall of water. Upon reaching dry land, the staff unleashes a blast that causes the water to sink the Odin. It then turns into a snake, and Indy throws it away, lamenting "Ugh.. It can take care of itself...".
Development
LucasArts began developing the game in 2004, for PlayStation 3 (PS3) and Xbox 360. The development team had more than 150 people. Industrial Light & Magic worked on the game's lighting.{{cite magazine |title=Indy's Back! |magazine=Official UK PlayStation 2 Magazine |publisher=Future Publishing |location=United Kingdom |issue=73 |date=June 2006 |pages=14–16}} The game's story is particularly inspired by the Indiana Jones film Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981). The story was devised by producers and team members at LucasArts who then took it to Indiana Jones filmmakers George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for input.{{cite web |last=Fletcher |first=JC |date=May 11, 2009 |url=https://www.engadget.com/2009-05-11-matt-shell-and-the-story-of-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings.html |title=Matt Shell and the Story of Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings |website=Engadget (Joystiq) |publisher=Yahoo! Inc. |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150127210254/http://www.joystiq.com/2009/05/11/matt-shell-and-the-story-of-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/ |archive-date=January 27, 2015 |url-status=live}} A rejected story idea revolved around the Monkey King, who had also been considered for what ultimately became Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989).
The game was announced in May 2005 and was scheduled for release in 2007.{{cite web |last=Adams |first=David |date=May 18, 2005 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/18/e3-2005-indiana-jones-goes-next-gen |title=E3 2005: Indiana Jones Goes Next-Gen |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054046/https://www.ign.com/articles/2005/05/18/e3-2005-indiana-jones-goes-next-gen |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Perry |first=Douglass C. |date=March 24, 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/25/gdc-06-lucasarts-and-ilm-a-case-study-in-the-convergence-of-games-and-film |title=GDC 06: LucasArts and ILM: A Case Study in the Convergence of Games and Film |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054047/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/03/25/gdc-06-lucasarts-and-ilm-a-case-study-in-the-convergence-of-games-and-film |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Miller |first=Jonathan |date=May 9, 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/09/e3-2006-lucasarts-announces-lineup |title=E3 2006: LucasArts Announces Lineup |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054045/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/09/e3-2006-lucasarts-announces-lineup |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}} It was expected to be technologically advanced,{{cite web |last=Shoemaker |first=Brad |date=May 11, 2006 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-06-indiana-jones-2007-first-look/1100-6150972/ |title=E3 06: Indiana Jones 2007 First Look |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150711042505/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/e3-06-indiana-jones-2007-first-look/1100-6150972/ |archive-date=July 11, 2015 |url-status=live}} and would have utilized a run-time animation technology known as Euphoria.{{cite web |last=Onyett |first=Charles |date=April 19, 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/19/indiana-jones-whipping-the-industry-forward |title=Indiana Jones: Whipping the Industry Forward? |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054048/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/04/19/indiana-jones-whipping-the-industry-forward |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Jason |date=May 3, 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/03/how-good-can-graphics-get-in-the-next-generation |title=How Good Can Graphics Get in the Next Generation? |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054047/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/03/how-good-can-graphics-get-in-the-next-generation |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}} LucasArts also partnered with Pixelux Entertainment to use its Digital Molecular Matter (DMM) technology in the game, increasing the realism of its environments.{{cite web |last=Allen |first=Jason |date=May 9, 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/09/e3-2006-lucasarts-digital-molecular-matter |title=E3 2006: LucasArts' Digital Molecular Matter |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054046/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/09/e3-2006-lucasarts-digital-molecular-matter |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Elliott |first=Phil |date=October 4, 2006 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/lgf-animation-out-simulation-in/1100-6159265/ |title=LGF: Animation out, simulation in |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150712065817/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/lgf-animation-out-simulation-in/1100-6159265/ |archive-date=July 12, 2015 |url-status=live}} The development team encountered problems in making the game physics work together. According to game designer Tony Rowe, "We had to combine the two [engines], but the two didn't talk to each other. You had a Euphoria object that worked with Havoc, which is a pretty standard physics system, and a DMM object and when they hit each other they would go right through each other". LucasArts eventually got the physics to work in another one of its games, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed (2008).{{cite web |last=Yarwood |first=Jack |date=April 1, 2021 |url=https://www.fanbyte.com/legacy/whatever-happened-to-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings |title=Whatever Happened to Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings? |website=Fanbyte |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240303063651/https://www.fanbyte.com/legacy/whatever-happened-to-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings |archive-date=March 3, 2024 |url-status=live}}
Tentatively known as Indiana Jones 2007, the first trailer was released in May 2006. Development was 20-percent finished at the time and its story was supposed to tie-in with the then-upcoming Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), with the developers having received a version of the screenplay from Lucas during the process.{{cite web |last=Castro |first=Juan |date=May 10, 2006 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/10/e3-2006-indiana-jones-eyes-on |title=E3 2006: Indiana Jones Eyes-on |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054045/https://www.ign.com/articles/2006/05/10/e3-2006-indiana-jones-eyes-on |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Ackerman |first=Dan |date=May 11, 2006 |url=https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/keeping-up-with-the-joneses/ |title=Keeping up with the Joneses |website=CNET |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054046/https://www.cnet.com/tech/mobile/keeping-up-with-the-joneses/ |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}} Although LucasArts was developing the game for PS3 and Xbox 360,{{cite web |last=Gibson |first=Ellie |date=June 9, 2008 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/next-gen-indy-game-still-on-track |title=Next-gen Indy game still on track |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230322160431/https://www.eurogamer.net/next-gen-indy-game-still-on-track |archive-date=March 22, 2023 |url-status=live}} versions for other consoles were also underway by third-party developers hired by the company. Artificial Mind and Movement worked on versions for the PlayStation 2 (PS2), Nintendo DS and Wii, while Amaze Entertainment worked on a PlayStation Portable (PSP) version.{{cite web |last=Reed |first=Kristan |date=May 22, 2006 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/p-indiana2007-ps3x360 |title=Indiana Jones 2007 (Preview) |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220521232502/https://www.eurogamer.net/p-indiana2007-ps3x360 |archive-date=May 21, 2022 |url-status=live}}
Progress on LucasArts' version stalled compared to the third-party versions, and the game eventually missed its 2007 release.{{cite web |last=Pattison |first=Narayan |date=July 22, 2008 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/23/e3-2008-missing-in-action |title=E3 2008: Missing In Action |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054047/https://www.ign.com/articles/2008/07/23/e3-2008-missing-in-action |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}} That year, LucasArts transferred much of its development team from the Indiana Jones game to work instead on Star Wars: The Force Unleashed.{{cite web |last=Bramwell |first=Tom |date=February 22, 2008 |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/indy-jones-game-in-production |title=Indy Jones game "in production" |website=Eurogamer |publisher=Gamer Network |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150501093005/https://www.eurogamer.net/articles/indy-jones-game-in-production |archive-date=May 1, 2015 |url-status=live}} A new LucasArts design team took over the Indiana Jones project and largely started from scratch, while retaining the story. Uncharted: Drake's Fortune (2007), an action-adventure game developed by Naughty Dog, was released at the end of 2007. It accomplished much of what LucasArts had wanted to achieve with its Indiana Jones game, taking away enthusiasm for the latter. Layoffs at LucasArts occurred in early 2008, and leadership changes were frequent, although development continued on the Indiana Jones game for the time being. LucasArts ultimately canceled its PS3/Xbox 360 version, which was largely unfinished. The company later cited timing and financial reasons as the cause of cancellation.{{cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=May 5, 2009 |url=https://www.videogamer.com/news/lucasarts-still-hope-for-next-gen-indy-game/ |title=LucasArts: Still hope for next-gen Indy game |website=VideoGamer.com |publisher=Resero Network |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220717205731/https://www.videogamer.com/news/lucasarts-still-hope-for-next-gen-indy-game/ |archive-date=July 17, 2022 |url-status=live}}
Reports emerged in January 2009 that the game had been scrapped.{{cite web |last=Ahearn |first=Nate |date=January 12, 2008 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/12/rumor-next-indy-game-canned |title=Rumor: Next Indy Game Canned |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231202145009/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/12/rumor-next-indy-game-canned |archive-date=December 2, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Ahearn |first=Nate |date=January 13, 2009 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/13/details-forthcoming-on-fate-of-indiana-jones-game |title='Details Forthcoming' On Fate of Indiana Jones Game |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054049/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/13/details-forthcoming-on-fate-of-indiana-jones-game |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}} Later that month, LucasArts announced that the externally developed versions would be released under the title Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings.{{cite web |last=Buchanan |first=Levi |date=January 24, 2009 |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/25/indiana-jones-whipping-wii |title=Indiana Jones Whipping Wii |website=IGN |publisher=Ziff Davis |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054050/https://www.ign.com/articles/2009/01/25/indiana-jones-whipping-wii |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Magrino |first=Tom |date=August 28, 2008 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/pegi-whips-indiana-jones-ds-psp/1100-6196948/ |title=PEGI whips Indiana Jones DS, PSP |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130626072328/http://www.gamespot.com/news/pegi-whips-indiana-jones-ds-psp-6196948 |archive-date=June 26, 2013 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |last=Tong |first=Sophia |date=May 1, 2009 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings-first-look/1100-6209045/ |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings First Look |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230906054046/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings-first-look/1100-6209045/ |archive-date=September 6, 2023 |url-status=live}} These versions use the same storyline as the canceled game, and were designed to take advantage of each platform's capabilities, such as the Wii's motion controls and the DS' touchscreen. Each version includes a few unique levels. For the Wii version, Artificial Mind and Movement suggested the inclusion of Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis (1992) early on in development.{{cite web |last=Yin-Poole |first=Wesley |date=May 6, 2009 |url=https://www.videogamer.com/previews/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings-interview/ |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings Interview |website=VideoGamer.com |publisher=Resero Network |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120324115635/http://www.videogamer.com/ds/indiana_jones_and_the_staff_of_kings/preview-1690.html |archive-date=March 24, 2012 |url-status=live}}{{cite web |author=GameSpot staff |date=April 3, 2009 |url=https://www.gamespot.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings-qanda/1100-6207400/ |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings Q&A |website=GameSpot |publisher=Fandom |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090413214218/http://www.gamespot.com/wii/action/indianajonesandthestaffofkings/news.html?sid=6207400 |archive-date=April 13, 2009}} The game includes Indiana Jones music previously composed by John Williams, as well as music from The Young Indiana Jones Chronicles (1992-1993). It also features original music by Gordy Haab and Ray Harman. Indiana Jones is voiced in the game by John Armstrong.
Author Rob MacGregor, who had written several Indiana Jones novels, was hired by LucasArts to write a novelization of the game. Although the book was completed, MacGregor's publisher decided there was not enough interest to warrant its release. In 2021, MacGregor published a series of audiobook podcasts retelling the novelization's story.{{cite web |last=Abbitt |first=John |date=October 4, 2022 |url=https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/the-story-of-the-cancelled-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/ |title=The story of the cancelled Indiana Jones And The Staff Of Kings |website=Film Stories |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221011160850/https://www.filmstories.co.uk/features/the-story-of-the-cancelled-indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/ |archive-date=October 11, 2022 |url-status=live}}
In January 2025, the PlayStation 2 version was released for the PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5.{{Cite web |last=Michel |first=Adam |date=2025-01-15 |title=PlayStation Plus Game Catalog for January: God of War Ragnarök, Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name, Atlas Fallen: Reign of Sand, and more |url=https://blog.playstation.com/2025/01/15/playstation-plus-game-catalog-for-january-god-of-war-ragnarok-like-a-dragon-gaiden-the-man-who-erased-his-name-atlas-fallen-reign-of-sand-and-more/ |access-date=2025-01-16 |website=PlayStation.Blog |language=en-US}}
Reception
{{Video game reviews
| DS = true
| PS2 = true
| PSP = true
| WII = true
| na = true
| MC_DS = 50/100{{cite web |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/critic-reviews/?platform=ds |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings critic reviews (DS) |website=Metacritic |publisher=Fandom |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230529034126/https://www.metacritic.com/game/ds/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings |archive-date=May 29, 2023 |url-status=live}}
| AVC_WII = F{{cite web |last=Wolinsky |first=David |date=June 22, 2009 |url=https://www.avclub.com/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings-1798216828 |title=Indiana Jones And The Staff of Kings (Wii) |website=The A.V. Club |publisher=G/O Media |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090624232143/http://www.avclub.com/articles/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings,29457/ |archive-date=June 24, 2009 |url-status=live}}
| Edge_WII = 3/10{{cite magazine |author=Edge staff |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Wii) |magazine=Edge |publisher=Future plc |issue=204 |date=August 2009 |page=98}}
| GI_WII = 5/10{{cite magazine |last=Reiner |first=Andrew |url=https://archive.org/details/game-informer-issue-195-july-2009/page/86/mode/2up |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Wii) |magazine=Game Informer |publisher=GameStop |issue=195 |date=July 2009 |page=86 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090613033242/http://gameinformer.com/NR/exeres/18D91A95-50D8-49CF-86B7-1513B339D551.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2009 |url-status=live}}
| GamePro_WII = {{Rating|3.5|5}}{{cite magazine |last=Kim |first=Tae K. |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/210708/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Wii) |magazine=GamePro |publisher=GamePro Media |issue=250 |date=July 2009 |page=80 |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090612224650/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/210708/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings |archive-date=June 12, 2009}}
| JXV_DS = 9/20{{cite web |author=dharn |date=June 15, 2009 |url=https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00011027-indiana-jones-et-le-sceptre-des-rois-test.htm |title=Test: Indiana Jones et le Sceptre des Rois (DS) |language=fr |website=Jeuxvideo.com |publisher=Webedia |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501230356/https://www.jeuxvideo.com/articles/0001/00011027-indiana-jones-et-le-sceptre-des-rois-test.htm |archive-date=May 1, 2021 |url-status=live}}
| NG_DS = 61%{{cite magazine |author=NGamer staff |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (DS) |magazine=NGamer |publisher=Future plc |date=September 2009 |page=72}}
| NLife_WII = 6/10{{cite magazine |last=McIlvaine |first=Spencer |date=August 23, 2009 |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/08/indiana_jones_and_the_staff_of_kings_wii |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings Review (Wii) |website=Nintendo Life |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230328015747/https://www.nintendolife.com/reviews/2009/08/indiana_jones_and_the_staff_of_kings_wii |archive-date=March 28, 2023 |url-status=live}}
| NP_WII = 7.5/10{{cite magazine |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Wii) |magazine=Nintendo Power |publisher=Future US |volume=243 |date=July 2009 |page=85}}
| OPMUK_PS2 = 5/10{{cite magazine |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (PS2) |magazine=PlayStation Official Magazine – UK |publisher=Future plc |date=September 2009 |page=106}}
| Retro_WII = 62%{{cite magazine |last=Jones |first=Darren |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Wii) |magazine=Retro Gamer |publisher=Imagine Publishing |issue=66 |date=July 16, 2009}}
| TELE_WII = 5/10{{cite news |last=Cowen |first=Nick |date=July 17, 2009 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/5844759/Indiana-Jones-and-the-Staff-of-Kings-video-game-review.html |title=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings video game review (Wii) |newspaper=The Daily Telegraph |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090726063154/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/video-games/5844759/Indiana-Jones-and-the-Staff-of-Kings-video-game-review.html |archive-date=July 26, 2009 |url-status=live}}
| rev1 = Teletext GameCentral
| rev1_WII = 4/10{{cite web |last=Jenkins |first=David |date=June 2009 |url=http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/82348afae0479e8d69251fba3c863eac/Indy%2BAnd%2BStaff%2BOf%2BKings%2B%28Wii%29.aspx |title=Indy And Staff Of Kings [sic] (Wii) |website=Teletext GameCentral |publisher=Teletext Ltd. |access-date=January 9, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090621000217/http://www.teletext.co.uk/gamecentral/features-reviews/82348afae0479e8d69251fba3c863eac/Indy+And+Staff+Of+Kings+(Wii).aspx |archive-date=June 21, 2009}}
}}
Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings received "mixed or average reviews" according to Metacritic.
Several critics reviewed the Wii version. IGN praised its interface, graphic effects, number of extras, interactive levels, and varied gameplay, but criticized its "stupidly implemented motion controls". The A.V. Club called the motion controls "inexcusable" and stated the game's best aspect was the inclusion of the point-and-click adventure Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis. GameSpot criticized its "terribly laid-out checkpoints", "out-of-date" visuals, and "atrocious, annoying motion controls".
{{clear}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{moby game|id=/41152/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/}}
- {{moby game|id=/43255/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/|name=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (PlayStation Portable)}}
- {{moby game|id=/88761/indiana-jones-and-the-staff-of-kings/|name=Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings (Nintendo DS)}}
- [https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1363107/ Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings] at IMDb
{{Indiana Jones}}
Category:Amaze Entertainment games
Category:Behaviour Interactive games
Category:Cancelled PlayStation 3 games
Category:Cancelled Xbox 360 games
Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games
Category:Paramount Pictures video games
Category:PlayStation Portable games
Category:Video games developed in Canada
Category:Video games developed in the United States
Category:Video games set in 1939
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Category:Video games set in Panama
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Category:Video games set in the 1920s