Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is one of the best-received adventure games, earning critical acclaim for its multi-solution puzzles and its narrative design. Yet, the 1992 LucasArts game mirrors some of the larger shortcomings of the Indiana Jones franchise, and it's worth looking at some of the more problematic ideas the title depicts.
Indy's interaction with ancient cultures drives all of his stories, making archaeological digs and artifact use integral to the plots. Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis is no stranger to that, as it recreates lost dialogues of Plato, treks through the jungle and arctic caves, and searches through Indiana's department archives.
However, the environments are never fully fleshed out or made sensitive to cultural dynamics. Instead, they're mere two-dimensional backdrops to the action. The game does a great job of bringing the player into the world of Indiana Jones, if not into the cultures he visits, so it's important to remember it's a world embroiled in controversy.
One of the main criticisms levied against Indiana Jones is his cultural pilfering as he repeatedly robs sometimes-active cultures of their artifacts. His "this belongs in a museum" mantra is hugely problematic, as it's how much of the white world comes to terms with the looting responsible for stocking their museums.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis highlights moments of reckless archaeology, like pouring kerosene on wall reliefs to "uncover them," robbing graves, and trading artifacts for information. Indy's replication of the antiquities market and his disrespect for other cultures asks players to support a protagonist as he actively propagates this problematic idea.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis has one of the best hinting systems of old-school adventure games. As players interact with other characters to complete puzzles, eventually the dialogue options will begin to include specific hints worked into sentences. When Indy is supposed to complete a puzzle by using the verb "push" to throw his companion into an altercation, talking with her will eventually reveal the phrase "Stop trying to PUSH me into this!" By directly referencing the verb, the dialogue is supposed to clue the player in to the way to solve the puzzle.
While this hinting system is truly helpful and well implemented, it highlights some of the problematic sexism of Indiana Jones. Indy's partner Sophia, originally an archaeologist in her own right, becomes just another object that he uses to complete a goal. With few other women in the game, it's a shame to see The Fate of Atlantis' main woman character reduced to the role of "tool."
That same accusation has haunted the Indiana Jones franchise for years. While some claim it represents the gender politics of when it was made, or the period it depicts, that doesn't really excuse it. It would still be great to see women given a stake in the game.
One complaint brought against the Indiana Jones series that The Fate of Atlantis steers clear of is the alien controversies. The reviled fourth movie introduces aliens and then attributes aspects of Mayan architecture and culture to these extraterrestrials. This follows a long line of problematically crediting aliens with the work of specifically non-white cultures, most notably the Egyptian pyramids. While The Fate of Atlantis avoids this pitfall, the series' reputation cannot escape the tarnish of the fourth Indiana Jones movie.
Indiana Jones and the Fate of Atlantis furthers a lot of the problematic themes of the Indiana Jones franchise, including its sexist treatment of women and the disrespect it shows to other cultures. As long as players keep these issues in mind, however, the game is still an excellent showcase of some of the best that old-school adventure games have to offer.