The Dig Overview
The Dig presents a science fiction narrative where an Earthbound asteroid threat leads to an expedition uncovering alien technology. This discovery inadvertently strands the crew on an unknown world, forcing them to unravel its mysteries to find a way home. The player controls a team including a NASA commander, a journalist, and an archaeologist.
As a point and click adventure, interaction is managed through a single cursor interface. The gameplay is considered challenging, with a focus on inventory puzzles that are often more intricate than those in earlier titles from the same developer. Progress also depends on solving logic puzzles involving the alien environment and its mechanisms.
While dialogue options exist, the primary driver of the story is puzzle solving rather than conversation. The tone aims for a more serious, realistic science fiction feel compared to other comedic adventures from LucasArts, though occasional humor appears in text and character exchanges. Visually, the game combines hand drawn artwork with some pre rendered 3D elements.