Monster Media 1996 #14/Monster Media No. 14 (April 1996) (Monster Media, Inc.).ISO/magazine/cgw3.zip/ART2.DAT

Text File | 1996-02-17 | 8KB | 125 lines

┌─────────────┐
│ R E V I E W │
└─────────────┘

╔══════════════════════╗
║ LUCASARTS' "THE DIG" ║
╚══════════════════════╝

        Over the past two years or so, LucasArts' adventure known as The Dig has
gradually become associated with the unflattering "vaporware" category.  Now, it
is finally here, and though it shows its age in more than one area, it is still
a solid game from a company known for their adventure games.

        Few computer games short of Wing Commander 3 and 4, and certainly no
games not making use of filmed cutscenes, have such a distinguished cast as The
Dig.  George Lucas' company had something to do with the game; Orson Scott Card
himself wrote the game's dialogue; there is a novelization by noted sci-fi au-
thor Alan Dean Foster; and, of course, the story was developed by Steven Spiel-
burg.

        With such a powerful force behind its plot, The Dig doesn't disappoint.
Though the beginning - an asteroid on a collision course with Earth - is defini-
tely nothing new, the plot thickens and twists considerably as you guide your
character through over 200 well-designed screens filled with puzzles, danger,
and wonder.  The introduction to the game, allowing the player to become accus-
tomed to the standard LucasArts SCUMM interface, gives an eclectic group of five
the daunting job of diverting the asteroid from the collision course.

        Your main character is Boston Low, an experienced astronaut.  Accompany-
ing him are a reporter, an archaeologist, a mission specialist, and a pilot.
Moving the asteroid requires the use of nuclear charges, planted just right.
This introductory puzzle is much easier than it sounds, and makes for an exce-
llent way to become familiar with the simple but effective interface.

        After diverting the asteroid, you are sent into the rock again to ex-
plore it.  But, in another, slightly more difficult but still introductory level
puzzle, your team of three triggers something that turns the asteroid into an
alien ship which immediately flies across the galaxy, transporting you to the
alien home planet.  When you arrive, you find the atmosphere breatheable, but
there is no sign of alien life, with the exception of wrecks and plants.

        This is where the meat of the game begins.  You must find a way to get
home, but you also must figure out why you have been transported, along with
who the aliens are in the first place.  Along the way, you have to avoid star-
vation and other dangers.  However, one nice thing about The Dig is that though
you can screw up, you will very rarely screw up bad enough to end the game.  So
although the game is amply challenging, it holds frustration to a minimum.

        The atmosphere in the game is very well done.  Though the low-resolution
graphics are outdated, they are extremely well drawn, and some of the areas of
the aliens' ancient starport can actually draw a sense of wonder in the player.
The realistic backgrounds combine with the comic-book characters to create an
interesting, and well-desgined, look.  However, in some areas the comic-book
look is downright ugly, clashing with the backgrounds, but this doesn't occur
very often.  The sounds are also well done, with dripping water and swooshing
wind creating an ambience that very few adventure games can muster.

        Never seen before in any adventure game is the kind of character inter-
action found in The Dig.  Your three characters will get into a mild power str-
uggle as each one explains his or her theory on how to get back to Earth.  The
tension that ensues between your characters can detract from the game sometimes
(explained later), but most of the time it adds to it immensely.

        The puzzles are, for the most part, extremely challenging.  At times,
however, the puzzles can become obscure and annoying.  One of the first puzzles
requires you to manipulate a drone in three dimensions using only four direct-
ional arrows.  This puzzle, found so close to the beginning of the game, may
discourage less persistent gamers, as I found it nearly impossible.  One solu-
tion can be found at the end of this review, for those of you who are stuck at
this maddening puzzle.

        The puzzles, however well thought out they may be, sometimes clash with
the realism of the game.  Adventure games as a group are usually not terribly
realistic, particularly adventure game puzzles.  Sometimes, the game absorbs you
completely with its superior atmosphere, then slaps you in the face with a typ-
ical adventure game style puzzle.  This reduces the game's atmosphere, though
not the game's enjoyment.  Also, the character interaction exacerbates this
problem, as your companions will rarely help you with puzzles.

        Another small complaint deals with the voice acting.  LucasArts chose
Robert Patrick as the main character.  Mr. Patrick is known for his virtually
silent role in Terminator 2 as the evil robot.  And, as illustrated by The Dig,
Mr. Patrick's strong point is definitely not emotion.  Your character's voice
often sounds diffident and uninterested, even when faced with the threat of im-
minent death.  The supporting characters often suffer from the same problem.
However, while the acting lacks emotion, it is not downright bad, so chances are
the player won't turn it off in irritation.

        So is The Dig a good game or not?  If you're a gamer looking for an ac-
tion packed adventure, it's not for you.  The Dig's strengths lie in its writ-
ing and storyline, the likes of which have not been seen since Betrayal at Kron-
dor (written by noted fantasy author Raymond E. Feist).  It is one of the more
difficult games out there, with tons of locations, lots of things to do, and
plenty of brain-bending puzzles.  If you're looking for a challenge, or for a
game with a good plot (not many of those around...), The Dig is just the ticket.
LucasArts has done a good job of trying to live up to the hype, and while The
Dig is not perfect, it's a good solid game.


                      ╔══════════╡ Summary ╞═════════╗
                      ║ T H E   D I G                ║
                      ║ LUCASARTS                    ║
                      ║ Overall review: GOOD         ║
                      ║ Suggested retail price: $50? ║
                      ║ Rating: Kids to adults (6+)  ║
                      ║ Platforms: MS-DOS CD-ROM     ║
                      ╚══════════════════════════════╝

        Here are a couple of small hints to get you started in The Dig:

        Can't figure out how to trigger the asteroid's trap?  Use the zero-grav
digger on the strange projections (there are four of them, make sure you do it
to all of them), then push them in.  One of them looks pretty big.  Big enough
for a man...
        Stuck trying to manipulate that drone?  Here's one combination that will
work (yes, there are many others): 4x Purple, 2x Yellow, 1x Red, then walk over
and push the triangular button.  The drone will retrieve the lens.  Then, hit 5x
Purple, 4x Blue, 1x Red, triangular button.  The drone replaces the lens in its
correct place.  Bingo, puzzle solved.  Wasn't that a pain?
        Is someone dead?  Don't worry about it too much.
        Those engraved rods you find are sort of like keys.  Look at their col-
ors and shapes, and match them up with the locks.

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