The penultimate archetypical game to be released by LucasArts, "The Dig" remains one of my favourite point-and-click adventure game to ever exist. It contains within a genre I don't normally particularly care for a riveting, beautiful journey into a figurative and literal dig.
Our hero of the tale, Boston Low, is a no-nonsense pilot of a spacecraft headed for a meteor on course to strike Earth. The goal is to carefully align the meteor Attila with Earth's orbit to prevent it from crashing onto the surface. Accompanying him is a straight-talking Maggie, a journalist gifted with the ability to learn and understand languages at an amazing rate; and Brink, a brilliant archaeologist. After accidentally activating the alien technology inside, the three are rapidly transported to a desolate alien world, where all three must survive and try and find a way back home.
The title is an interesting one, it not only refers to the literal digging that occurs frequently throughout thanks to Boston's trusty shovel he brings with him, but a figurative dig deep down inside all three heroes, and discover what makes them tic and their grasp onto sanity as they discover a trove of mysterious crystals that promise eternal life. The crystals are not what they seem, and it seems the font of eternity is dangerously addictive and can turn a man irrational and disconnected from reality.
The highlight of the game by far was the soundtrack. Accompanied with the often barren but beautiful landscape, Michael Land encapsulated the feeling of bewilderment and awe of the alien world, the majesty of space and the beauty of the natural world around you perfectly. I cannot think of a score that has enhanced the gameplay better than this one, and it is a great substitute for other games too.
The puzzles are outrageously challenging (turtle bone puzzle, I'm looking your way!) but they're not completely impossible - mainly it requires a lot - and I mean A LOT - of trial and error to even figure out how to solve them, but ultimately, it makes the experience all the more worthwhile when you do solve them. In no way does this game undermine the player's intelligence, and you too feel as lost and alone as Boston trying to make sense of a literal alien world.
I can - and will - play this game again and again. It is mysterious, droll, and ultimately rewarding. Highly recommended.
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