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The Dig

DOS - 1995

Alt names 异星搜奇, 디그
Year 1995
Platform DOS
Released in Brazil, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, United Kingdom, United States (1995)
Australia, Germany (1996)
Germany (2000)
Germany (2001)
Genre Adventure
Theme Graphic Adventure, Puzzle elements, Sci-Fi / Futuristic
Publisher Erbe Software, S.A., LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC, Softgold Computerspiele GmbH, THQ Inc.
Developer LucasArts Entertainment Company LLC
Perspectives 2D scrolling, Side view
Dosbox support Supported on 0.72 (works best on 0.65)
3.93 / 5 - 54 votes

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Guide available

Description of The Dig

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The Dig is a highly underrated sci-fi adventure, one of the few releases from LucasArts that were not commercial blockbusters.

I think part of the reason for this is that most people who bought the game expected The Dig to be another zany, humorous cartoon adventure in the same vein as Monkey Island or Day of The Tentacle. Contrary to their expectation, The Dig is a serious, “hard” sci-fi game – a genre that definitely has a much narrower audience than cartoon adventures. In addition to this niche premise, longtime LucasArts fans may be frustrated with most puzzles in the game, which are much more challenging than in previous LucasArts games (although I find them all to be quite logical).

The game therefore suffered the same fate as Sierra’s outstanding RAMA years later: a difficult game that appeals only to a limited audience, namely fans of hard sci-fi. If you belong to the game’s intended audience, though, you’ll likely enjoy the game despite a somewhat cliché plot. The involvement of celebrities such as Orson Scott Card (dialogue script), Steven Spielberg (original idea), and Sean Clark (director), should make The Dig much more original than it is. Not that it is without merit—the opening scenes are quite breathtaking, with excellent graphics and grand Wagnerian-style musical score: an Asteroid Attila, which suddenly appeared in orbit around the Earth, is threatening the world population with unavoidable collision in the near future. Your alter ego is Commander Boston Low, who together with geologist Ludger Brink, and journalist Maggie Robbins, form NASA's team for a mission to detonate Attila, blow it off its deadly path and save the world. Once on the asteroid, the team inadvertently triggers controls that transform the rock into a crystal-like spaceship, which immediately took the trapped human team to an abandoned planet on the other side of the galaxy. Being safely transported to an unknown alien world, but unable to stay together in the ever-changing fantastic world, your team breaks up. Because Maggie seeks independence and leaves, and Brink dies stupidly, you are soon on your own, struggling to explore and understand the new, mind-twisting surroundings.

Gameplay is typical point-and-click affair, with a vastly simplified interface: one mouse click is enough to do everything in the game, from talking to characters to manipulating the environment. As mentioned earlier, most puzzles are challenging, but none is illogical. Even those that require a lot of trial and error make sense (naturally that’s the only feasible approach when encountering alien technologies). Voice acting is somewhat inferior to the best of LucasArts’ CD-talkies (say, Sam ‘n Max Hit The Road), but it’s adequate. Although mundane, the plot is quite engrossing and retains consistency throughout the game, and there are even some plot twists to make things more interesting.

I thoroughly enjoyed The Dig and expect other fans of hard sci-fi to feel the same. Anyone who expects another clever, light-hearted LucasArts adventure will be disappointed, however. My biggest gripe is with the ending, which is too abrupt and “Hollywood-y” (i.e. everyone living happily ever after) that it’s a letdown. Also, given the exploratory/trial-and-error nature of most puzzles, alternatives to solving them would have been welcome. These are minor gripes, though. Two thumbs up for this underdog!

Review By HOTUD

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Comments and reviews

Wolfdale 2024-02-24 0 point

Finally The Dig 1995 beats Indiana Jones Fate of Atlantis 1992 in terms of depth. Both games are from LucasArt. Highly recommeded.

Inukaze 2019-09-29 0 point

LOL i just had the Spanish CD version for MSDOS xD

Chuck 2018-07-10 1 point

Can i transfer these files the dig to my computer

Steve 2017-11-27 -1 point

Also unless you have a FULL rip of the CD, you won't get any of the cutscene videos (so the ending, etc). This download does not contain those, so don't bother.

ramtin 2017-01-20 2 points

why in games full thruttle don,t have exe , imuse, file for run in dos 6,22
i want orginal file for dos run in old my pc please

Seanham247 2015-09-13 2 points

Remember playing this game when i was young intresting to solve the puzzles and send the crew back to earth

roy 2014-11-22 0 point DOS version

it's available on steam in multiple languages for a few bucks

netrom 2013-01-11 1 point DOS version

coolest gane i have had back in the days

DeepSurfer 2012-11-29 0 point DOS version

Yes...it is in french...
all titles here of this games have (fr) for notice that it is in french language.
many games here have titles with other language.

Necro 2012-02-11 -1 point DOS version

Excellent game. this is a rip of the CD but unfortunately it is in FRENCH

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Buy The Dig

The Dig is available for a small price on the following websites, and is no longer abandonware. GOG.com provides the best release and does not include DRM, please buy from them! You can read our online store guide .

Game Extras and Resources

Some of these file may not be included in the game stores. For The Dig, we have the following files:

GuideEnglish version 81 MB (DOS)

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