The programmers took a lot of liberties with the Nintendo port of this game, enough for some to argue it should be considered a different game altogether. But there are enough similar elements, from the music to the packaging, to prove Mindscape and Tengen were trying to catch the attention of the arcade game's fans, even if the companies didn't plan on giving them quite the same game. So, it is only fair to compare this "port" to its predescesor.
In that comparision, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom for the NES comes up very short. The quick pace of the arcade game is slowed down for more of a puzzle-type adventure, with Indy searching the Thuggee mines for lost treasure, slave children (now a requirement) and most importantly, keys needed to gain access to other areas. Maybe the idea was to give Indy fans something closer to the archeology expedition that is supposedly Dr. Jones's bread and butter, but it's hard to see who would be happy with a plodding quest of connect-the-dots after being teased with promises of arcade action.
As long as you know what you're getting into, NES's Temple of Doom could provide some enjoyment. Just don't expect the arcade game.