I first picked this game up on PS2, which was the third console it released on when it came out in 2003. For the time, it blew my mind. The graphics, music, sense of scope in the levels. This game is underrated and it's a shame, because it is for sure the best Indiana Jones game out there. The combat in this game is broken down into hand-to-hand brawling, and light shooting mechanics. For the time and even still to this day, the hand to hand is absolutely a dream. The manual shows off multiple combos you can perform by hitting different attack buttons in sequence, you can grab and toss enemies a small distance away, useful for throwing them off cliffs, and you can also block. You'll traverse jungles, german castles, temples, aquatic ruins, a u-boat base, mountainous gondola stations, chinese forts and hell itself in this game. It absolutely has varied enviroments, and alot of them could be described as large, especially for the time. Along the way you will have light puzzle solving elements that aren't too demanding, but give you a rather enjoyable break from all the jumping and punching. Indiana Jones and the Emperor's Tomb remains to this day a game I know I can just always pick up and have fun with. Not much about it is frustrating, except for some minor parts toward the end. If you enjoy action adventure games I highly suggest picking it up.
"What if Treasure made a Sonic the Hedgehog game?" Freedom Planet began life as a Sonic fan game, but developer DiDuo quickly made it it's own ip. Freedom Planet takes tropes and gameplay elements from several classic Mega Drive/Genesis games, such as Sonic the Hedgehog, Ristar, Dynamite Headdy!, and Rocket Knight Adventures to create it's own identity and unique game. The game controls like a dream, and the speed is extremely fluid. The game's soundtrack is surprisingly not chiptunes and remains extremely catchy. Level designs is smooth, but the game's difficulty ramps up rather quickly, just like many Genesis games did. The voice work for the game is extremely well done for an indie title. In short, Freedom Planet is a love letter to the Sega Genesis platform. The high speed of Sonic, the platforming of Dynamite Headdy!, the boss fight intensity of Rocket Knight Adventures. It all mixes well, and it's a fantastic game.
