The Lost Indiana Jones Game | The Staff of Kings

Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings is the last Indy game Lucasarts developed before their closing. However, the version that released was very different from what was being developed using Euphoria and Digital Molecular Matter in conjunction with Lucasfilm. Today, Luck Stat takes a look inside the canceled Indiana Jones game and its legacy on the greater Lucasfilm game bubble.
Sources:
Lucasarts announces 2006 lineup
www.ign.com/ar...
Shown Off
www.gamespot.c...
David Collins Interview
www.videogamer...
Fanbyte:
www.fanbyte.co...
Unseen 64
www.unseen64.n...
Euphoria Rundown
web.archive.or...
DMM Run Down;
• Collection of Digital ...
Euphoria Demonstration Video
• euphoria Demonstration
Complete Beta Footage
• [PS3, 360] Indiana Jon...
George Quote
www.ign.com/vi...
GDC 06: LucasArts and ILM: A Case Study in the Convergence of Games and Film
www.ign.com/ar...
Force Unleashed From Concept to Console
web.archive.or...
Marion Announcement
web.archive.or...
Tomb Raider Legend (2006)
www.metacritic...
“Dude Raiders”
web.archive.or...
Force Unleashed Delayed
web.archive.or...
Rumor: Indy Canceled
www.ign.com/ar...
Canceled Staff of Kings Book:
mixnmojo.com/n...
Video Games Blogger Cancellation, LiveWii Source
www.videogames...
2009 Preview
web.archive.or...
Get in touch here:
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[@LuckStat]

Thank you so much for watching! If you like what you saw please consider subscribing and telling a friend! And if you want to get in touch, follow me on Twitter and Twitch here: linktr.ee/luckstat

[@Dimension137]

Indiana Jones and the emperor's tomb on PS2 was the best Indiana Jones game

[@ValisFan3]

I remember playing that. I was in an Indiana Jones phase of my life back then. It was a good game for the PS2. It had good platforming like Tomb Raider, and was actually a prequel to Temple of Doom.

[@NebachadnezzaR]

Great game, but I still prefer The Infernal Machine. Came around the same time as Tomb Raider The Last Revelation and wiped the floor with it.

[@CharlieTooHuman]

I personally think Fate of Atlantis was the best Indy game. Not a super action-packed game but the story is really great. And you can play through it like 3 times to see all the different results from a branching path section in the game, so some decent replayability.

[@97vn44]

Still play it on my OG Xbox😭😭BEST INDY GAME EVER!!!

[@vincentclark8386]

The version on PC is really great. Excited to see what happens with the new one.

[@CultoftheCyberSkull]

What a tragic story. There was so much momentum going into this game and man, does that prototype footage look so interesting! Especially in the wake of what we actually got. As always, awesome work, dude! Deeply informative while still exercising brevity. Good stuff!

[@pipp33]

Staff of Kings is one of my favorite Indiana Jones games of all time…probably tied for first with Fate of Atlantis. Really enjoyed it on Wii.

[@ricardoaguirre6126]

I couldn't get past the blimp level were you used a piano to knock nazis down.

[@Dharma_enjoyer]

​@@ricardoaguirre6126 Still have childhood PTSD from that 😂

[@TristenSarelvun]

@@ricardoaguirre6126 I remember passing the controller between myself and two friends trying to beat that part, until suddenly one just did it without a sweat. He received due praise for that. It was one of the earliest games I ever beat.

[@somnia_7965]

Realistically, if the game had released. It could have beaten Uncharted 4 at its own game by an entire generation. The whip swinging would have been the same gimmick from U4 and been so much fun then too.

[@alexsm3882]

I mean you already had whip swinging in Emperors Tomb and the same principle in Tomb Raider Legend

[@Dass_Jennir]

Eh, idk. As the other reply pointed out, Uncharted 4 wasn't the first game to have this feature. Also, the reason why it's such a great mechanic in that game, is because it's a tool that can be used in combat and level traversal. The player has full control of their swing and it's not just a device to semi-automatically cross a gap like in Rise and Shadow of the TR. This Indy game didn't seem like it would offer something similar outside the combo in that prototype set piece.

[@mantistoboggan5171]

Never seen your channel before. Glad this video popped up. I thought that you'd be a massive channel already, considering the quality of this. Got another sub.

[@BlondeManNoName]

I was always waiting for this game, it's a shame that it never came to fruition.

[@anthonyjenkins2001]

The psp version is a good game!! One of my favorite adventure games on the system.

[@chacho7620]

God I remember watching those euphoria ads on my Ipod over and over and over being absolutely blown away.

[@kingstarscream3807]

I loved Emperor's Tomb and I was greatly looking forward to this at the time. The fist-fighting seemed to build on ET's.

[@SvenQ45]

I was so looking forward to this after the great Emperors Tomb. The action was even more dynamic here. Not every move the same. Only to find out it doesn´t come to PC - which I´m only using. But I saw a let´s play and was dissappointed - tho I wished it would have been for PC afterwards. Maybe that would have changed my mind a little bit. Hope the next game uses these technologies. It´s a shame. Didn´t like Jim Ward but Darrel Rodrigues brough a bit of "LucasArtsiness" back.

[@Beengus]

I wish it came out

[@joshuacormier1780]

Okay, I don't know if this is a false memory... but does anyone else remember playing that terrifying mission as a child where you can get absolutely covered in tarantulas? If so, do you know which game this was from? Thank you friends.

[@TristenSarelvun]

I grew up with Staff of Kings on the PS2, and I think it was one of the earliest games I ever beat (with some help). I mostly enjoyed it at the time but haven't had much fun with trying to revisit it since, especially having tried out Emperor's Tomb (best gameplay, poor narrative) and The Infernal Machine (which I had more fun with than I expected). I can only imagine what a "next-gen" version might've been like. I really hope The Great Circle comes out good. You make great videos!

[@CappnRob]

As much as the final game is a shadow of its former self I do enjoy it for trying to be a unique experience instead of just making Indy into an Uncharted clone where he guns down more Nazis than who served at D-Day. It’s jank and a bit clumsy and the Ps2 substitutions for the motion controls aren’t great but it did feel like it was trying to adapt an Indy movie plot and pace into a game. It had a lot of soul and presentation.

[@The_Kentuckian]

Of the versions that did release the best is the one on the PSP of all things. I had the PS2 version first & hated it, then got the PSP version, which was a marked improvement.

[@LuckStat]

I still haven't played the PSP version, but you're not the first to say this. Going to have to check it out!

[@douglaskroski3658]

the force unleashed released september 16 2008 not november 2009.

[@LuckStat]

You're right, doesn't even make the timeline work right. Not sure what happened there, appreciate it!

[@douglaskroski3658]

@@LuckStat 👍

[@TonyRaccaroniLIVE]

I had this game on the ps2 and I loved it as a kid

[@matthewbolitho-jones]

I like Indiana Jones and the Staff of Kings

[@georgeoldsterd8994]

Damn, this game really is lost, no list of Indie games I've seen had it. I wonder if anyone bothered porting it to PC, even as a total conversion mod for Emperor's Tomb or some other game.

[@neoncyan1015]

I enjoyed the Indy game on the wii

[@FoxInferno13]

I think about this game and Star Trek: Secret of Vulcan Fury more often than is probably healthy 🤣🤣🤣

[@LuckStat]

Vulcan Fury is another big one for me too. Really want to cover that one soon

[@collectthemall]

Shame it was canceled , funny that psp version is better than version for Wii and PS2 .

[@calciumcammando5717]

Guess im one of the few who got to play

[@SqualidsargeStudios]

And thus with george is meddling the game got bend over

[@propulsion_man]

............... IT WAS TWOTHOUSANDNINE

[@LuckStat]

Real "COMING SOON TO OWN ON VIDEO & DVD" energy, my bad

[@propulsion_man]

@@LuckStat lol yes. but please also know this: i had to watch on my phone without headphones or external speakers, and i didn't hear anything the first 16 seconds but some quiet high frequencies (the string-plucking), so quiet that i wasn't even sure if they came from the video. so i cranked the volume to max, and then your voice kicked in and IT WAS 2000 NEEIIIiiin

[@LuckStat]

I genuinely really appreciate the feedback. Leveling is always the hardest part on a video like this (I do it last, and every piece sounds a little louder or a little quieter because I've heard it so much). I tried something new this time around and didn't think to check it on phone speakers. Going to add that to the final review process from now on

[@propulsion_man]

@@LuckStat and that's why i like sub 10k channles ;-) but honestly, you ahouldn't need to pander to phone speakers - it should be outlawed to use them for anything other than alarms and ringtones

[@Zontar82]

3:50 infernal machine was also on PC, Just saying, you console lovers

[@DiegoReviews]

Oh my god. I’ve never seen that prototype footage with the fixed camera angles and Indy swinging. It looks incredible! Excellent job, Evan!

[@LuckStat]

Thanks so much, Diego!

[@garyking1986]

Cool hearing you in the vid, man!

[@DiegoReviews]

@@garyking1986 thank you!

[@amarel187]

There is a upcoming indiana jones game on its way next year

[@rosepinkink3138]

I was jumpscared by hearing your voice suddenly in this

[@sfvwildthings]

Emperors tomb is the best indie game, plays like a comic book, best ost, and voice acting that stuck with me to this day.

[@eziorobetthesecond4776]

Staff of kings was a better story

[@eziorobetthesecond4776]

Played them both

[@victor_fog]

Finding this channel is like finding gold! Keep it up and you will have 100k subs in no time!

[@Chubzdoomer]

Came down here to say the same thing. When I scrolled down and saw he had under 2k subscribers I was like "What!? HOW!?"

[@ianhall6614]

First of all you make absolutely fantastic videos, great job! Secondly I remember there was a trailer for the euphoria system in the extras section of the battlefront 1 disc. It was in the style of a 1930’s advertisement and I thought it looked amazing. I always assumed that game was released back on the original Xbox/PS2 era but now I am learning that it never got it’s true moment to shine. Absolutely fantastic video!

[@IronBeagle2003]

It’s shame this game didn’t see the light of day, but Bethesda is Working on an Indiana Jones Game which I’m hyped as hell to see.

[@chocov1233]

I'm surprised that they have time to work on that seeing as how they have all hands on deck for Starfield and will most likely move all their devs to The Elder Scrolls VI after they finish releasing Starfield's inevitable patches and DLC.

[@Stridewise]

It's been more than two years since their half assed trailer, we want more!

[@somnia_7965]

Didnt I see this game's trailer on battlefront 2? I always wondered what happened to this game.

[@thegadflygang5381]

I remember that screen shot of Indy fighting with the Asian guy from all the magazines as 15 years ago+ it was a real treat picking up all the global gaming magazines. I waited and waited but alas finally forgot about the game as things like Gears of War and Uncharted were new on the scene. A real shame but a great video

[@ERMediaOfficial]

Here's what you do: You remaster Infernal Machine and Emperor's Tomb the same way Nigthdive did with Shadow Man and Turok. For Staff of Kings, you remaster and combine the PS2/Wii version with the PSP version and you actually get a pretty good game^^

[@-.-.11]

That piano level was so hard as a kid using the wii controller. Same with the plane level. Took me so long to get past the levels.

[@TheArts8]

Fascinating, can’t wait to see what Bethesda do with the IP.

[@calebtheowl1516]

Is there any news on that?

[@michaelcasey1648]

@@calebtheowl1516 no

[@DatPRGuy2017]

​@@calebtheowl1516LOL

[@FR4M3Sharma]

You're making awesome videos dude, I know they're old games but would you make videos on God Hand and Urban Reign? They're my all time favorite games on PS2.

[@ghostofthefuture]

It's kind of a shame because UNCHARTED is so clearly inspired by Indiana Jones. It's a top shelf franchise that, as an action game, is superior to the actual Indiana Jones games. It just seems so difficult to produce a game based on an existing movie IP, because you're not getting the same time/budget that you get with something "original" like UNCHARTED.

[@Wade_Tyler]

Staff of Kings on PSP is the best version of that game.

[@Person-wz6iy]

0:21 Mate, Lego Indiana Jones: The Original Adventures came out the year before. And Lego Indiana Jones 2 came out the same Year as Staff of Kings!

[@jtukko]

I played the released version on ps2, finished it in one afternoon and forgot about it :/ yeah it clearly could have been way better.

[@9ALiTY]

I would Love a Trippel A VR Indiana Jones story driven Game

[@ScottsGameAsylum]

A2M *giggles* I loved this story. I flows so well and i want more!

[@LuckStat]

Not a studio known for their quality, that's for sure

[@bewsket]

@@LuckStat I'd have to say their early licensed titles, especially Looney Tunes games such as Bugs Bunny and Taz Time Busters - was one of the best coop games ever created. So there are definitely one offs that were good.

[@baroncalamityplus]

A very unfortunate name. lol

[@dodolurker]

I know, right😁. Nearly did a spit-take when I saw that logo.

[@professormoosesr6865]

08:40 Hot damn! Special guest appearance by Adam Sessler's hair!

[@rwdouglas04]

I remember playing Indiana Jones, and the infernal machine, then Indiana Jones and the emperors tomb on PC. Never knew much about this one, or it’s history. Thanks for sharing!

[@LucienVonKreuz]

I'm really enjoying your channel man, keep it up!

[@Kirusei]

I remember being around 8 years old when I was wandering around one of the LucasArts sites and found the trailer for Staff of Kings. I was completely mesmerized by what it seemed to be. Years later, I'd forget about the trailer until I had a craving to watch Indiana Jones and remembered about the trailer and was curious to see what became of it. Was pretty disappointed in what came out, but still looked a bit interesting in a different way.

[@Varrick24]

The best part of this game was that it included Fate of Atlantis in Full which is the only reason I boot up the game

[@gdparry2727]

Corporate...meddling... same old story trumps over creativity and skill

[@briankinney3140]

They cancel the good stuff or could of been like this and armada of the damned the pirate game

[@sunsetman22]

the PS2 version of this game was my childhood

[@AGoodJoe]

Bought a wii just for this game. 😮

[@Rschr101]

I bought an og xbox for WWF Raw....still hurts to this day🤣 thank god for Halo

[@dio007]

bruh your channel just popped up on my feed and your videos are freaking great, subscribed

[@VersedFlame]

While I would've loved it if we got this "lost game", I have to say I really enjoyed The Staff of Kings, both the PS2 (talked about here) and the PSP (actually completely different and not even mentioned I think) versions. I also think people were too harsh on Kingodom of the Crystal Skull. Revisiting it, it's clearly an Indy film, with action, adventure, impossible feats and charismatic bad guys. The bad guys (Cate Blanchett and Igor Jijikine) did a really good job, the soundtrack, like anything else by John Williams, is amazing and, overall, I think it's a pretty fun and enjoyable film. All that being said, I really hope this new Indy game turns right and steps up that third person action genre (we don't know what style of gameplay it's going to have, this is me hoping it's third person adventure).

[@LuckStat]

It's been long enough, people shouldn't be ashamed to enjoy Kingdom of the Crystal Skull! It's not that bad!

[@chrisrichfield8906]

I just hated the CGI. Really took the excitement out of the stunts and action cuz it all looked so fake.

[@alucard624]

Sad that what we did get eventually was the Wii, PS2, PSP, and DS versions instead. The motion controls on the Wii version were so half baked that it barely worked half the time. Best thing about that game was the unlockable Fate of Atlantis game.

[@FixiousMaximus]

9 months later and we still don't know what's going on with Machine Games' Indiana Jones game, other than being Xbox and PC exclusive.

[@Cobra-yo7fx]

Nice video! I didn’t even know about this game! Thank god this video and this channel appeared in my home feed! You have a lot of potential my friend! I wish you great happiness and success! :)

[@davidmills47]

Ha the company was called "A2M" Sounds like they went Bass to Trout all over this franchise XP

[@FATE522]

Am I the only one who liked the game?

[@Itamarot]

When will they realize that Indiana Jones was made for movies and Lara Croft was made for video games? You can't do the opposite!

[@devontitterington6418]

The psp version was alright.

[@ryanpeters1005]

I definitely gotta go back and see if it really is that bad. I grew up with this game on the Wii and beat it multiple times. I remember having some difficulties here and there with throwing punches, but I didn't think it was broken. Then again, I was like 8 years old and grew up with just a wii, DS, and some gamecube games; motion controls, no matter how forced or bad, were just a normal part of gaming to me.

[@maxkopfraumpoops]

Staff of Kings or whatever the title is now also exists for PSP and I guess it is the only way to play it because motion controls are so annoying

[@VersedFlame]

PS2 is the same version as Wii but, obviously, without motion controls.

[@maxkopfraumpoops]

@@VersedFlame thanks man good to know so you suggest I play the PS2 version of the game? Is it any good?

[@VersedFlame]

@@maxkopfraumpoops Well, I remember that I liked it back then, but it's been quite a few years already so I don't know how well it may have aged. I'd say if you can find it for reasonably cheap or through other means, you give it a try.

[@debonaire_nerd]

I hope i wasn't the only one who saw the G4 footage in this video and exclaimed, "IT BELONGS IN A MUSEUM!"

[@rihardsrozans6920]

I was just thinking about the old cancelled Indiana Jones game with euphoria physics. Really disappointed it didn't come out.

[@Lalaxbo]

I enjoyed Indiana Jones The Staff of Kings on Nintendo Wii 🙂. The motion controls and the combat was difficult to get used to and it feels repetitive . The gun shooting was fun and to use your surroundings and items as a weapon .

[@SeanVito]

So much potential lost. I remember that first footage and the tech demo; it got me so hyped. The animation and physics were astonishing, and I still don't see much of that today even.

[@vasilisbogodimos8107]

The music in 1:00 is amazing, I remember hearing it somewhere, where did you find it ?

[@LuckStat]

It's "Dragon Motif 2" from The Emperor's Tomb game

[@vasilisbogodimos8107]

@@LuckStat Thank you for your answer, I knew i heard it somewhere

[@yupperdude1]

Oh shit, just remembered bethesda is making an indy game…. Hopefully that one will fare better.

[@Film21Productions]

Too bad Dial of Destiny was terrible, I do have hope for the game.

[@ChristopherPreece1999]

I remember loving the psp version when I was a kid

[@gangstertalk]

Great video. This game was crap. Promo trailer was hype as hell though.

[@tikvision]

I can only remember having to look up for a tutorial on how to finish a labirynth after months of being stuck with ugly controls

[@wade_says]

I loved this, Emperors Tomb and Infernal Machine.

[@northdwarf]

BUT WHY is the PSP version the BEST VERSION of the game?

[@Alex-xg8py]

Excellent quality video. Definitely equal to those with 100k or more subs. Keep up the great work!

[@TheMaskedGeo]

I enjoy Staff Of Kings and playing it on the Wii with motion controllers was a lot of fun

[@isaiahadams1996]

This was one of my favorite video games growing up. It’s a shame to know it underperformed

[@bewsket]

Great video, thanks for shedding a light on a psp game i've played years ago. Finally a reason behind why it was so lackluster, there were bigger versions that were cancelled. I still believe Emperor's Tomb is the best Indy game we've ever had, and i wish there was a modern port for it for the big consoles.

[@andylikesstuffchannel]

Indiana Jones would never Whip someone in the face that close

[@emilianovillarruelhernande343]

Well if this game had been anything like uncharted 1 then we’re better off with out it

[@QuentinWinters521]

I had Indiana Jones and the staff of kings on ps2 and emperor's tomb

[@Stridewise]

This was superb

[@tomscott9230]

Subscribed. Sweet content. And you got a relaxing voice.

[@DeutschSozialUnion]

I remember seeing commercials of the ps3 game in stores in the late 2000’s

[@TheVortexPrime]

And then Dial of Destiny happened... RIP Indy...

[@locke2565]

Force Unleashed came out in 2008, not 09.

[@OvertheHedge06]

9:08 I owned that game and I remember it being fun as hell

[@Person-wz6iy]

6:18.

[@AshleyCollingwood]

Weird question, but what's the song at 7:30?

[@Pine_Time]

Hey, I recently started binge watching your videos and I just wanna say you’re a real inspiration, and I admire the work you put into these. They’re highly engaging and informational. Thank you for your hard work!

[@LuckStat]

Thanks so much for the kind words and for watching!

[@ConejoZing]

If you must know, Indiana Jones is the direct inspiration for two (maybe 3) legendary game franchises. One, an ancient hero talented with a whip and religious artifacts battles the forces of darkness ... this is Castlevania. Two, a lone battered hero battles hyper advanced fascist war machines in the series known as WOLFENSTEIN. Three, ok maybe it is in SNK's METAL SLUG. Now, to make an Indiana Jones game (or indeed film) just draw upon those sources.

[@purefoldnz3070]

Uncharted 4 is still the best Indy game.

[@the_dudeabides]

Emperor's Tomb was peak Indy

[@LuckStat]

You're not wrong, Lebowski

[@Rschr101]

The Dude abides

[@darenburton3098]

it would be sick on the ps5 I'd say

[@michaelcavanagh8087]

I played the psp version and it was okay at best

[@ChadKenova]

Uncharted what a great series, uncharted was the reason i picked up a ps3. And going through uncharted legacy of thieves collection on the steam deck now. Its crazy being able to play games like that on a handheld. Hadn’t played all the indiana jones games but remember liking the older point and click games.

[@sketchcom6679]

My childhood game

[@isaiahadams1996]

Same

[@MDigitalGaming]

I'm so glad I'm not the only who thinks about this game, I remember being in Elementary school, and following the tech demos for xbox 360 and finally getting my hands on the psp version of the game and remembering this wasn't what I was expecting, granted the story and gameplay was interesting, but I was expecting that much coveted tech demo where Indy is fighting atop a trolley in San Francisco. I sorta put this game up there with Star Wars Battlefront III, that euphoria engine blew my tiny mind back then, and still does to this day. I really wish we had gotten it, maybe we'll get a good game with Machine Games take on Indy, which honestly no one has mentioned for sometime now, and makes me so worried for the project. 😰