Research Dig

Baf's Guide

An interesting premise--you're an archeologist who stumbles on bigger things--undermined by poor coding. The story doesn't really drive the game--it sort of appears now and again--and just as it looks like the thing's starting to go somewhere, it's over. Lots of little implementation errors and such, and the puzzles aren't really inventive enough to overcome the overall rough feel. On the other hand, there are some nicely atmospheric moments as well, and clearly there's potential here for an interesting sequel.

-- Duncan Stevens

>INVENTORY - Paul O'Brian writes about interactive fiction

Research Dig has pieces of a good story, inexpertly handled so that they don't reach their full potential. In fact, the experience of the game was a bit like a real research dig -- you have to mine through some errors, cliches, and unclear writing, but you can come away with some pretty good pieces.
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SynTax
Basically it was just a stroll around, with very little in the way of objects or puzzles, and a very strange ending. It's such a shame, because with some thought and effort, this could have been an excellent game.
-- Karen Tyers
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SynTax
Although the author has miraculously managed to spell 'archaeological' correctly, the awkwardness of some phrasing and grammar in DIG suggests that his native language is not English. Two phrases which jumped out were "you are stood in a garden.." and "to your surprisement..." However, DIG is adequately written, and although locations are lacking somewhat in atmosphere, there's enough of that "but how DOES it end??" feeling generated to keep you interested.
-- Bev Truter
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SynTax
Research Dig is written along traditional lines with puzzles to solve. It is well written and I thoroughly enjoyed playing it.
-- Dorothy Millard
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