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Developer: LucasArts
Publisher: LucasArts
Release Date: November 1995
Systems: PC, Mac
ESRB Rating: K-A

0:00 Don't know much about this game, but the LucasArts and "Steven Spielberg" names on the CD case convinced me to throw down the $1.20 asking price at the thrift shop.

0:01 The camera pans over a stormy night with soaring clouds above "The Borneo Deep Space Observatory." String-heavy music in the background. "Of course I miss you, darling," says a radar operator. "This is the loneliest place on Earth. Most exciting thing that happens here is a day when it don't rain." Suddenly, a new object appears on the radar! "What the heck is that?" Earth collision possible... odds of impact are 1 in 1!" according to the screen. "THE DIG" appears in big letters against a black background.

0:03 "The asteroid has been named Atilla after the leader of the huns," says a TV commentator over video of a rocket launch countdown. The rocket launches, and we cut to a press conference. "If the shuttle is the last hope of the human race, then it will have to do the job, won't it?" says Commander Lowe. The voice acting has a cheesy but sincere quality to it. The low-res animation does the job, but the mouths don't even come close to matching the speech.

0:04 Reporter Maggie Robbins is in charge of laying the nuclear charges that will destroy the asteroid. Also, a candidate for Congress is part of the mission. This is starting to seem a little contrived. "We wanted the best and brightest for this mission," the square-jawed Lowe explains. "My job is to keep everybody alive. I don't have to be brilliant, I just have to be careful."

0:06 The credits continue to roll as some grainy, early 90s computer graphics show the shuttle opening over the asteroid. "Lowe here, come on out kids, the water's fine," he says over the radio as he hovers out of the pod doors using a ridiculous white rocket-suit. Robbins and geologist Brink join him out in space. "Welcome to the place where geology and astronomy meet," Lowe says poignantly.

0:07 Looks like I'm in control of Lowe. Clicking around space causes him to gently maneuver to that position.

0:08 I click on Robbins and a few options appear on screen, including one to "say something profound." "Have you looked up at the Earth yet, Robbins?" I ask. "Oh, is that big blue thing the Earth?" she says in a voice dripping with sarcasm. This gets a grin out of me.

0:09 Continuing the conversation, Lowe can't seem to get over the fact that Robbins is a journalist. She insists she's not working on her article at the moment, but is acting as an experienced member of the team. "I just want you to be happy, Robbins. So you'll write nice things about us." Ugh. "Can't you forget for even one second that I'm a reporter?" Well, you are one.

0:12 Moving on to talking with the Austrian-accented Dr. Brink. "No one has ever been this close to an asteroid, commander." Historic! "As you Americans might say, Commander, we will kick Atilla's butt!" Er, less historic.

0:14 Seems we've finally exhausted our talking points, so it's time to head over to the asteroid. "The forecast calls for clear skies, no wind, no rain, no air," says Robbins. I think I'm falling in love.