The Dig is a Sci-Fi point-and-click adventure that was initially conceived as a film by Steven Spielberg, but because of technological limitations that film was never made and the idea for The Dig was instead turned into a video game. That development too almost didn’t come to fruition; two versions of the game were planned and canceled over the years before the third and final one could see the light of day. Maybe it’s this history that makes The Dig a pretty atypical LucasArts game: Compared to Day of the Tentacle or Monkey Island it is less humorous and more mature, with the focus on telling an engaging story and exploring its alien locations. Though there is still some sarcastic banter and a certain 'hopefulness' to the core of the plot that is very reminiscent of Spielberg.
The gameplay is based on an advanced version of the SCUMM engine, where one click automatically results in the appropriate action. This could be seen as too simplistic, but the puzzles themselves more than make up for it. Because the game is set on an alien world, most objects seem strange and unfamiliar, and navigating through the locations and figuring out what you are supposed to do and how things work in this world is the reason for the puzzles' difficulty. This is great for immersion, because it makes sense in the context of the story and makes you approach these puzzles differently and with more curiosity than you might be used to from other point-and-click adventures. Even so, some puzzles are a bit too obscure and almost require a guide or at least a lot of patience. I personally can excuse that because the overall concept of how they are handled and woven into the narrative is exceptional.
The locations are stunning, suitably strange and at the same time beautiful. The colours and designs create a dream-like atmosphere that also evokes a sense of danger from the un-familiarity of this place. The soundtrack is mostly ambient and complementary to what you see; haunting, dark yet also majestic and hopeful.
Sci-Fi stories always make a statement about society or humanity at large in relation to advanced technology, and The Dig is no exception. It explores themes like mortality, greed and the human spirit, and while it doesn’t delve into 'hard science' and most of the technology stays rather fantastical these themes remain compelling and central to the story.
The gameplay is based on an advanced version of the SCUMM engine, where one click automatically results in the appropriate action. This could be seen as too simplistic, but the puzzles themselves more than make up for it. Because the game is set on an alien world, most objects seem strange and unfamiliar, and navigating through the locations and figuring out what you are supposed to do and how things work in this world is the reason for the puzzles' difficulty. This is great for immersion, because it makes sense in the context of the story and makes you approach these puzzles differently and with more curiosity than you might be used to from other point-and-click adventures. Even so, some puzzles are a bit too obscure and almost require a guide or at least a lot of patience. I personally can excuse that because the overall concept of how they are handled and woven into the narrative is exceptional.
The locations are stunning, suitably strange and at the same time beautiful. The colours and designs create a dream-like atmosphere that also evokes a sense of danger from the un-familiarity of this place. The soundtrack is mostly ambient and complementary to what you see; haunting, dark yet also majestic and hopeful.
Sci-Fi stories always make a statement about society or humanity at large in relation to advanced technology, and The Dig is no exception. It explores themes like mortality, greed and the human spirit, and while it doesn’t delve into 'hard science' and most of the technology stays rather fantastical these themes remain compelling and central to the story.