The demo for Lego Indiana Jones became available for PC this week, and seeing as how I’ve been looking forward to this game for a long time, I couldn’t wait to take a stab at it. The demo covers one level, which longtime Indy fans will recognize as the epic opening to Raiders of the Lost Ark. As Lego Indy, you’ll make your way through the jungle, use your whip for survival, defeat foes, run from falling boulders, and try to make your way out alive. It’s everything you want in an Indiana Jones game.

Turning a huge action franchise into a Lego-based action game seemed really strange when the first Lego Star Wars came out, but after a lot of positive reactions from fans and critics, it appeared that LucasArts was on to something. Now they have applied the awesome Lego formula to the original Indiana Jones trilogy, and it seems like it totally works.

At its core, the gameplay is very similar to the Lego Star Wars games, not that that’s a bad thing. Indy travels through each level with a friend, and the game allows for one or two players to enjoy the game together. If you’re playing alone, you can easily switch between characters to utilize their different skills and tools, and the computer takes control of the character not being played. Indiana, of course, uses his whip to swing across chasms, destroy obstacles, and pull things closer to him, while other characters use things like wrenches and shovels. Although playing single-player is definitely fun, this game will be far more fun (and lead to many more laughs) when played with a friend, with each of you taking control of one character. Teamwork is definitely an important part of the Lego formula.

Even though the game follows an already-established story, the humorous, self-referencing tone (which is standard for Lego games) makes the game even more charming and easy to love. For example, a couple of my favorite moments from the demo were Indy replacing the golden idol with a stack of Legos, and  Indy trying to pass off a tiny bust of C-3PO as the idol. Instances like that are part of what make the Lego action games so much more than just, well, Lego action games. It’s more than just the Lego brand that makes them fun and adorable, it’s the environments, the humor, and the way they handle the franchise.

By now, you probably already know whether or not Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures is something that will appeal to you. If you enjoyed the Lego Star Wars games, love the Indiana Jones series, or are a fan of fun, silly action games in general, this is exactly what you want. Personally, the demo just left me wanting more, and I’m looking forward to spending more time with this one when it hits next month.

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