Infernal Machine is a fun game. Don't get me wrong. But it's... well, it's just
Tomb Raider with Indiana Jones instead of Lara Croft. Yes, there is an interesting plot, but it takes a sideline to the gameplay; Indy tries to stop an ancient artifact, that’s worshipped as a god from being brought back. And everything in
The Infernal Machine screams
Tomb Raider. The jump-grab-climb-jump smacks of it, the puzzles (which, although a good bit better than the standard pull-switch-to-open-door of the genre, never quite elevate themselves entirely from that status) smacks of it, and the combat smacks of it. There's the same scheme of putting the weapons and such away, even. If you don't mind the dead ringer for
Tomb Raider, though, you'll find a good game in
Infernal Machine. The areas are more expansive, the plot infinitely more interesting, and, hell, it's Indy! What more can you ask for in an action/adventure?
There's an interesting little sidequest, actually, in finding all ten treasures in each area. Of course, the fact that there are exactly ten treasures in each area sort of bombed my suspicion of disbelief for a bit, but it's a fun little scavenger hunt nonetheless. And one of the interesting things about Infernal Machine is that you can ask for a hint at any time -- but if you do, you lose IQ (Indy Quotient) points, which are just a sort of rough outline for how well you did in the game, even if you beat it. A higher IQ means you needed less help and did more 'nifty things.' An interesting little concept, I must say.
