Matt Chat 73: The Dig

gilgamesh · 30 August 2010, 22:03

Attila is a real Hun.

Ahem, what I meant is that Matt's latest episode covers The Dig. Enjoy!
[ Show youtube player ]

I personally consider that game a failure. It has a great start, but the end is a disaster. The hero saves a race of alien junkies by sheer coolness? That's so – well, it spoiled the whole game for me, not even the timeless graphics and music can change that...

Please ask Mr. Moriarty for an explanation someday.

TCD · 30 August 2010, 22:14

Nice episode as always Matt

The Dig has its moments, but it surely was way too 'moviesque' and too little adventure to stand up to the other LF/LA adventures (same with Full Throttle). Both decent in story telling, but quite lacking as adventures. Replayed it in ScummVM some time ago and found it too easy and too fiddly in a very few spots (the dreaded bones puzzle

). Didn't mind the end that much, but it surely wasn't great either.

desiv · 30 August 2010, 22:27

Great vid..
(OK, the first part of it.. I had to stop it and finish it later...)

One of my favorite Adventures..
Right up there with Full Throttle for me.. :-)

TCD, that's funny.. You thought it was too linear, like Full Throttle.. Which is my other favorite game. :-)
Different tastes... ;-)

desiv

mattbarton.exe · 30 August 2010, 23:12

I got the bones puzzle first time, but didn't REALIZE I had beaten it. I kept expecting it to make some indication that I had it right. Of course, you have to leave the puzzle, and the description of the bones changes to "dead creature." Definitely not a good design for that puzzle.

I also got stuck the first time because I didn't see the ramp in the first cavern you go into. Other than that, though, it was pretty smooth sailing for me, especially on the second go through (I first played it about 5 years ago).

Hehe, I found my old review of it: http://www.gameology.org/reviews/rev...s_the_dig_1995

I had almost forgotten that I had written that!

TCD · 30 August 2010, 23:26

Quote:

Originally Posted by desiv

TCD, that's funny.. You thought it was too linear, like Full Throttle.. Which is my other favorite game. :-)
Different tastes... ;-)

Yep, I really think that Day Of The Tentacle and/or Sam & Max were the way to go for LA and while I still enjoyed both The Dig and Full Throttle I noticed the change. They aimed for a different 'experience' as with the earlier games, but for me they simply lost it. Was really surprised to see Broken Sword to carry on with the way LA should have made their adventures. Anyway, it's been like that for quite a while now and some of the more recent dtp adventures still tickle the 'LA' spot in me (while they always manage to f*ck up the end

), so that's okay with me I guess

alexh · 31 August 2010, 15:06

I liked it. It is very fun to play on a hacked Wii with ScummVM. At the time I thought that the plot, the music and some of the puzzles were the best yet in an LA point-n-click adventure. Just the odd repetitive section.

hipoonios · 31 August 2010, 16:51

Quote:

Originally Posted by gilgamesh

the end is a desaster.

Awww, you don't like happy endings?

The alien race who has been dead for thousands of years (or so) came back to life thanks to the humans. Brink and the girl died at one point in the game but came back to life at the end. And they returned back home and the aliens and humans will share all they know which each other and became bestest of friends :P....

is that bad?

And the game has two endings, both included in this longplay:

[ Show youtube player ]

In my opinion and many others: the best darn adventure game ever made.

gilgamesh · 31 August 2010, 21:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by hipoonios

Awww, you don't like happy endings?

I don't like a hasty deus ex machina. Somebody obviously wanted to get the job done.

The story evolves beautifully around the onset of Brink's madness. But in the end it all boils down to a hero who saves the day without much effort.

PS.: Happy birthday!

Nostalgeek · 01 September 2010, 10:17

Mmmh, I would love to watch that one...but I'm in China for work for 3 weeks and youtube is blocked

and don't really want to proxy..

As for The Dig...I got mixed feelings about it. Did all the LA adventure games, and I agree with TCD, I would put below other LA games along with Full Throttle.

The GFX, overall ambience/mood, and the start of the plot is awesome. But the happy ending is way too lame to be truly enjoyable in my opinion, some puzzles are simply frustrating and plain bad and a few developments of the story are just "too-much" and are not credible for a single second.

Still I enjoyed it and it was worth playing it and even recommended it to a few friends that had common love for SciFi and Adventure games, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece.

DOTT, Sam and Max, MI1, MI2, Indy3 and Indy4 are true masterpieces in my opinion.

The Dig and Full Throttle I would put one category below along with Loom, Zak McKracken, Maniac Mansion and others. Great games, memorable, enjoyable, but not that close to perfect.

And well, it's all subjective anyway

mattbarton.exe · 01 September 2010, 15:39

That's a good point about the deus ex machina ending (maybe that's why I selected this game next after Deus Ex!)

It's starting to get difficult to pick computer games that everyone (well, everyone with any sense) likes, so we're getting down to games like The Dig. At any rate, I had Bad Mojo, The Dig, and The Longest Journey on the list, but my Twitter followers chose The Dig. Hint: join Twitter for a vote on the games selection!

I'll probably be doing an interview for the next show if everything works out. It may not, in which case I'll probably end up doing another genre (maybe something like Wing Commander, Populous, or Psychonauts).

seuden · 01 September 2010, 15:47

I like these reviews, keep up the good work Matt.

cough! Dune II cough!

blade002 · 01 September 2010, 18:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbarton.exe

The Longest Journey on the list,

The Longest Journey is an IMPECCABLE Adventure Game if not THE best Adventure i have EVER played! I know that's a big call but it really was that good!!!

mattbarton.exe · 01 September 2010, 18:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by seuden

I like these reviews, keep up the good work Matt.

cough! Dune II cough!

Nostalgeek · 02 September 2010, 10:20

Hey Matt, you're doing an awesome job, my ranting had nothing to do with the quality of your videos! Even if you did the same trying to focus on the worst games ever I would still probably enjoy it very much

It was just a chat on The Dig, and it's funny to see that people can have such diametrically opposed opinions about a game, but it's part of the fun.

Keep on with the great job, and add my vote to a Dune II video

gilgamesh · 02 September 2010, 22:08

Nostalgeek is right. The episode is entertaining and informative as always. The Dig is by no means my favourite game, but it is interesting and definitely deserved to be covered.

I'd love to see you presenting MDK and Citizen Kabuto. *cough, harrumph, choke*

TCD · 02 September 2010, 22:13

The Nomad Soul / Omikron

gimbal · 03 September 2010, 09:46

what I'd like to see? An episode on a game that Matt actually HATES. Now that would be entertaining

mattbarton.exe · 04 September 2010, 00:27

I've thought about doing that a time or two, gimbal, but you know it would just anger people. No matter what game it is, somebody out there loves it and would hate to see it dissed. Heck, I even catch flack for pointing out some of the warts on my favorite games!

If I ever saw someone hating Pool of Radiance I would have to reach for my morning star.

desiv · 04 September 2010, 00:38

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattbarton.exe

If I ever saw someone hating Pool of Radiance I would have to reach for my morning star.

Reminds me.. In film class in college, one of the films we watched was Bye Bye Birdie, and the teacher admitted:

Quote:

I had, and still have, a crush on Ann Margret so anyone who gives her a bad review can expect an F on their work..

He laughed, but we weren't totally sure that he was joking....

Ann was AWESOME IN IT by the way!!

Yeah, I'm not a fan of "games I don't like" reviews/videos personally...

But then, I like Dragon's Lair and get tired of the haters..

desiv

Skope · 04 September 2010, 11:47

Nice review Matt. I guess I'm among those few who doesn't really have anything negative to say about The Dig. I found it rather cozy actually and I'm definately playing it again. (:

30 August 2010, 22:03	#1
gilgamesh Linux snob Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Monkey Island Posts: 997	Matt Chat 73: The Dig Attila is a real Hun. Ahem, what I meant is that Matt's latest episode covers The Dig. Enjoy! [ Show youtube player ] I personally consider that game a failure. It has a great start, but the end is a disaster. The hero saves a race of alien junkies by sheer coolness? That's so – well, it spoiled the whole game for me, not even the timeless graphics and music can change that... Please ask Mr. Moriarty for an explanation someday. Last edited by gilgamesh; 04 September 2010 at 20:33. Reason: typo

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30 August 2010, 22:14	#2
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,730	Nice episode as always Matt The Dig has its moments, but it surely was way too 'moviesque' and too little adventure to stand up to the other LF/LA adventures (same with Full Throttle). Both decent in story telling, but quite lacking as adventures. Replayed it in ScummVM some time ago and found it too easy and too fiddly in a very few spots (the dreaded bones puzzle ). Didn't mind the end that much, but it surely wasn't great either.

30 August 2010, 22:27	#3
desiv Registered User Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Salem, OR Posts: 1,770	Great vid.. (OK, the first part of it.. I had to stop it and finish it later...) One of my favorite Adventures.. Right up there with Full Throttle for me.. :-) TCD, that's funny.. You thought it was too linear, like Full Throttle.. Which is my other favorite game. :-) Different tastes... ;-) desiv

30 August 2010, 23:12	#4
mattbarton.exe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Cloud, MN/USA Posts: 328	I got the bones puzzle first time, but didn't REALIZE I had beaten it. I kept expecting it to make some indication that I had it right. Of course, you have to leave the puzzle, and the description of the bones changes to "dead creature." Definitely not a good design for that puzzle. I also got stuck the first time because I didn't see the ramp in the first cavern you go into. Other than that, though, it was pretty smooth sailing for me, especially on the second go through (I first played it about 5 years ago). Hehe, I found my old review of it: http://www.gameology.org/reviews/rev...s_the_dig_1995 I had almost forgotten that I had written that!

31 August 2010, 15:06	#6
alexh Thalion Webshrine Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Oxford Posts: 14,396	I liked it. It is very fun to play on a hacked Wii with ScummVM. At the time I thought that the plot, the music and some of the puzzles were the best yet in an LA point-n-click adventure. Just the odd repetitive section.

01 September 2010, 10:17	#9
Nostalgeek OT Whore Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Switzerland Age: 41 Posts: 290	Mmmh, I would love to watch that one...but I'm in China for work for 3 weeks and youtube is blocked and don't really want to proxy.. As for The Dig...I got mixed feelings about it. Did all the LA adventure games, and I agree with TCD, I would put below other LA games along with Full Throttle. The GFX, overall ambience/mood, and the start of the plot is awesome. But the happy ending is way too lame to be truly enjoyable in my opinion, some puzzles are simply frustrating and plain bad and a few developments of the story are just "too-much" and are not credible for a single second. Still I enjoyed it and it was worth playing it and even recommended it to a few friends that had common love for SciFi and Adventure games, but I wouldn't call it a masterpiece. DOTT, Sam and Max, MI1, MI2, Indy3 and Indy4 are true masterpieces in my opinion. The Dig and Full Throttle I would put one category below along with Loom, Zak McKracken, Maniac Mansion and others. Great games, memorable, enjoyable, but not that close to perfect. And well, it's all subjective anyway

01 September 2010, 15:39	#10
mattbarton.exe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Cloud, MN/USA Posts: 328	That's a good point about the deus ex machina ending (maybe that's why I selected this game next after Deus Ex!) It's starting to get difficult to pick computer games that everyone (well, everyone with any sense) likes, so we're getting down to games like The Dig. At any rate, I had Bad Mojo, The Dig, and The Longest Journey on the list, but my Twitter followers chose The Dig. Hint: join Twitter for a vote on the games selection! I'll probably be doing an interview for the next show if everything works out. It may not, in which case I'll probably end up doing another genre (maybe something like Wing Commander, Populous, or Psychonauts).

01 September 2010, 15:47	#11
seuden uber cool demi god Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kent/England Posts: 2,073	I like these reviews, keep up the good work Matt. cough! Dune II cough!

02 September 2010, 10:20	#14
Nostalgeek OT Whore Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Switzerland Age: 41 Posts: 290	Hey Matt, you're doing an awesome job, my ranting had nothing to do with the quality of your videos! Even if you did the same trying to focus on the worst games ever I would still probably enjoy it very much It was just a chat on The Dig, and it's funny to see that people can have such diametrically opposed opinions about a game, but it's part of the fun. Keep on with the great job, and add my vote to a Dune II video

02 September 2010, 22:08	#15
gilgamesh Linux snob Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Monkey Island Posts: 997	Nostalgeek is right. The episode is entertaining and informative as always. The Dig is by no means my favourite game, but it is interesting and definitely deserved to be covered. I'd love to see you presenting MDK and Citizen Kabuto. cough, harrumph, choke

02 September 2010, 22:13	#16
TCD HOL/FTP busy bee Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Germany Age: 46 Posts: 31,730	The Nomad Soul / Omikron

03 September 2010, 09:46	#17
gimbal cheeky scoundrel Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Spijkenisse/Netherlands Age: 42 Posts: 6,944	what I'd like to see? An episode on a game that Matt actually HATES. Now that would be entertaining

04 September 2010, 00:27	#18
mattbarton.exe Registered User Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: St Cloud, MN/USA Posts: 328	I've thought about doing that a time or two, gimbal, but you know it would just anger people. No matter what game it is, somebody out there loves it and would hate to see it dissed. Heck, I even catch flack for pointing out some of the warts on my favorite games! If I ever saw someone hating Pool of Radiance I would have to reach for my morning star.

04 September 2010, 11:47	#20
Skope Protracker Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: 8364 Posts: 381	Nice review Matt. I guess I'm among those few who doesn't really have anything negative to say about The Dig. I found it rather cozy actually and I'm definately playing it again. (:

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