Loom
Platform: MS-DOS / Commodore Amiga
Developer: Lucasfilm Games
Published: Lucasfilm Games
Released: 1990
About Loom
Loom is a 1990 graphic adventure game based on a serious and complex fantasy story. It was the fourth game to use the SCUMM adventure game engine. However, it was the first of those to avoid the verb–object interface first introduced in Maniac Mansion.
First it was released on MS-DOS, Amiga and Atari-ST (16 colors EGA).
A 256-color version was released on the Japanese FM Towns (1991), Turbografx-CD (1992) and again on the MS-DOS on CD (1992). Source
Gameplay
Loom is an adventure game that sets itself apart from other titles in the genre through its unique gameplay system. The player character does not carry items around, but rather manipulates objects through the use of spells. Source
Loom’s gameplay centers around magical four-note tunes known as “drafts” that the protagonist, Bobbin Threadbare, can play on his distaff. Each draft is a spell that has an effect of a certain type, such as “Opening” or “Night Vision.” Some drafts can be reversed by playing their notes backwards, so the “Dye” draft played backwards becomes “Bleach,” while others, such as the “Terror” draft, are palindromes (e.g. C–E–E–C) and so cannot be reversed in this manner. Source
Plot
The Age of the Great Guilds has arrived. Communities and states comprised of people united by a common trade were created. The Guild of Weavers has achieved such mastery in their trade that they discovered the secret of weaving the very fabric of reality. They were treated with suspicion by other guilds, who eventually accused them of practicing witchcraft and banned them to a secluded island, which they called Loom. Source
On his birthday, Bobbin is summoned by the Elders in order to determine his fate. He arrives at the Sanctuary in time to witness the Elders punish Hetchel with the “Transcendence” draft for educating Bobbin. However, Hetchel reverts to a swan’s egg, which puzzles and frightens the Elders. As they contemplate this turn of events a swan comes down from the sky and crashes through a window in the Sanctuary.
She casts the “Transcendence” draft on the Elders, as well as the rest of the villagers, transforming all the Weavers except Bobbin into swans who leave through a rift in the sky. Source
Tricks and tips of Loom 1990
If you beat the game on expert mode, you’ll be rewarded with an extra scene NEAR the end.
Opinion
Loom 1990 is different! First of all, it has completely different interface and gameplay than other point and click games, which is good? Personally I am not the biggest fan of this gameplay – writing down “notes” is kind of plain. It has a very limited replay value.
It’s also a bit too short and easy. You’ll probably finish it on your first go. I didn’t.
You would probably still love it! It has a wonderful deep story and interesting characters (but be aware – if you intend playing the VGA version, most of it has been cut out).
And it has one of the most poetic endings ever. Definately worth seeing!
Soundtrack is fitting nicely and sounds great (depending on version actually). The original EGA version doesn’t have any in-game speech or CD audio, but has still more sounds in overall. In VGA version the audio dissappears from time to time.
Even if it doesn’t sound logical at first, the EGA version is slightly better than VGA version which was released 2 years later. Even though, the VGA version has 256 colors, CD audio and in game speech audio – A lot was cut out (scenes, character close-ups and even there is less audio due limited disc space).
There is however an excellent FM-Towns version. It has superb revamped graphics, great sound quality and all original scenes. Too bad almost nobody ever heard of FM-Towns.
My Score for Loom 1990
Soundtrack: 4
Graphics: 3.5
Gameplay: 3.5
Story: 4
Overall: 3.75
Composed by: Retroconsole xyz
