Sadly, whilst The Collective have got much right, the game is still ever-so-slightly plagued by that which mars many a third-person game – the camera angles. Whilst a huge improvement over many of the games, I did find myself disorientated from time to time, and annoyed that I had to keep fiddling with the trailing-view, at moments when I should have been concentrating on matters more pertinent to the in-game action. Credit where due however, this was far less intrusive than many of the Tomb Raider titles, and did become less of an issue as my control of the game grew more proficient. With this in mind, the controls aren’t always as user-friendly as they might be, the most notable irritation being the necessity of standing still to take accurate aim with a weapon. Something more like Max Payne's free-roaming cross-hair might have been better, but I'm not going to make a mountain out of a mole hill.

Of course, as with any self-respecting Indiana Jones title (The excellent Fate of Atlantis, anyone?), the story is very important, and The Emperor’s Tomb isn't a badly told tale, even if the details of the plot may be decidedly unoriginal. It's 1935, and you’ve got to prevent a powerful Chinese artefact from falling into the hands of the evil Nazis. Basically its an excuse for all manner of exploration around various exotic locations, taking on vicious enemies, and falling through a lot of crumbling masonry. There's even a love interest in the shape of Mei Ying.

Throughout the game Indie will venture from India, to Hong Kong and mysterious Istanbul – forwarding the plot through cut-scenes, discoveries, and of course a rather handy map. Original, it is not, but fun it certainly is, providing you don't find the sometimes repetitive process of trial and error too grating.

Whilst you are given a variety of ways to kill or be killed, and can even complete levels in a few varying ways, The Collective have rather shepherded the player in the direction of progress through the game, leaving the player with little non-linear exploration, instead the game is always directing you towards the next action-packed encounter. Of course, the combat is easily the games most accomplished element, but the fact remains that this can leave the game seeming a little dumb at times; a tad easy. You can however utilise your whip to save yourself from falling though traps, and to traverse lethal pits – which can be grin-spreadingly amusing.

The Emperor's Tomb is not an enormous, life-sappingly engrossing adventure, nor a brain-bustingly addictive puzzler. What it is however, is a slick and generally well-made officially licensed game, that manages to stand out from a crowd of mediocre film cash-in action adventure games because of some well designed levels, great combat, and a few inspired moments. This is not something that the hardcore fraternity will lap up for its originality or detailed intricacies; it is however a damn good laugh.

The theme tune was enough for me anyway..

78%

By Luke Guttridge