Loom

This review boils down to the fact that Loom is special. It is highly entertaining and is so unusual that you must experience it. We recommend its purchase.

Loom is a more than enchanting translation of a PC classic. Although diehard street fighters may find Loom too tame for their blood, the majority of gamers will enjoy its change of pace. In fact, if CD means gamers can look forward to more gaming "experiences" like Loom, then it has a great future in store. Let Loom weave its magic around you.

Loom es una fábula hecha aventura, rezuma encanto desde todos los ángulos. La atmósfera es tan envolvente que nos imbuye por las retinas el cuento de hadas tan bellamente narrado.

The Loom recipe is frustrating because it's almost perfect. The combination of audio tape, superb animation, sound, and storyline is potentially very powerful when it comes to narrative games. What's needed, however, is a mite more interaction with the environment and the people in it. That doesn't need a text parser, but imagine what this system would be like with a couple command icons and the ability to swap control/viewpoint between, say, three different characters. Then you've got something really special. As it is, we're left with a game that's great for younger players but will leave the rest of us craving a little more zap.

The game comes with three levels of difficulty, which all affect how much help you are given with the musical interface. I'd certainly recommend Expert Level as you'll get the most out of the game this way - not to mention a bonus animation sequence. Loom may be criticised for being too easy, especially for the money you're paying. This is a fair comment but Loom is a wonderful experience. Graphically and aurally excellent coupled with the superb scene setting cassette that's included, Loom manages to exude a refreshing innocence reminiscent of the classic Disney films. Sit back and let it flow all over you.

Dennoch ist Loom ein echtes Erlebnis, das sich eigentlich kein Computer-Spieler entgehen lassen sollte, allen voran die Neulinge im Adventure-Geschäft. Eine wunderschöne Geschichte, in Verbindung mit einfachster Handhabung, wunderbaren Musikstücken und sauber animierten Bildern (samt jeder Menge optischer Gags) machen Loom zu einem der sehens- und Spielenswertesten Games überhaupt. Lediglich gegen Ende wird die Geschichte ein kleines Bißchen langatmig, da dann die „Film-Szenen“ auf die der Spieler keinen Einfluß hat., etwas überhand nehmen. Ansonsten ist es wirklich zu schade, daß das Vergnügen so kurzes ist!

This game was first released in 1990 then re-released on CD-ROM in 1992, an "old" game by computer standards. However it does have full soundtrack for music and speech with a true point and click interface and there are no configuration hangups as the CD plays as an audio CD. (In fact you can put it in your Audio CD Player and hear the entire soundtrack without any punctuation or logic!) It even runs happily on a single speed CD-ROM without a sound card by plugging headphones or speakers into the headphone socket.

"Long after the passing of the Second Shadow, when dragons ruled the twilight sky and the stars were bright and numerous,” comes the epic adventure of Loom. Loom is a graphic adventure game set in a fantasy world inhabited by members of the Great Guilds. Each of these Guilds, including the Blacksmiths, the Shepherds, the Glassmakers, and the Clerics, possesses secret knowledge about its own crafts gained over generations. Among these Guilds are also the Weavers, who have decided to settle away from civilization so not to involve themselves with the earthly politics and affairs of the other mortals. The rules of the Weavers are strict, and they prohibit membership to any but the child of a member from their own Guild. Over the centuries, the fabrics woven by the Weavers have earned the envy of the whole world and their techniques have transcended to the realm of magic such that they can even weave the fabric of reality itself.

There’s not a whole lot more to it than that. It plays like Indiana Jones, only totally different, and it gives you a totally different approach to the Lucasart way of things. There’s no longer only one option, but a few. Take it as you like, but for gods sake enjoy the story line for what it is because by god is it brave. You won’t experience another story like it. So enjoy it. Embrace it.

Insgesamt gehört 'Loom' zu den schlechteren LucasArts Adventures. Die gute Atmosphäre, kann nicht über die recht schwachen Rätsel hinwegtrösten. Zumindest Fantasy Fans werden ihre Freude an 'Loom' haben, während Freunde knackiger Rätsel nicht auf ihre Kosten kommen.

As Loom opens, it’s the dawn of Bobbin’s 17th year! Hurrah, a birthday! Summoned to meet the patriarchal elders, Bobbin, in the typical fashion of all eavesdroppers, fails to hear anything good about himself, instead discovering he is to be banished from the Island. Suddenly a ‘draft’ or spell rebounds upon them, bizarrely turning the entire community into swans! In typical adventure gaming fashion, he must now begin a direful quest to save his Guild and prevent an evil Third Shadow falling. Hmmm—seems Bobbin had best put the jelly and ice cream on hold...

Loom ist einfach und kurz, und doch ein Meisterwerk. Es spielt sich leicht, und trotzdem steckt viel Tiefe und Sinn dahinter. Meiner Meinung nach ein absolutes Muss für LucasArts/Film Fans, und ein durchaus empfehlenswertes Spiel für Adventure Fans, die die veraltete Optik nicht stört. Loom ist in der LucasArts 10 Spiele Sammlung erhalten, jedoch nur in der EGA Version. An die VGA Advanced Version, die wirklich besser aussieht, heranzukommen, würde ich bei einem Auktionshaus vorbeischaun, wo es für höchstens 3€ zu haben ist.

Loom gibt's jetzt auch in einer komplett deutschen Version für den Amiga. Man hat das Gefühl, vor einem PC-Emulator zu sitzen, denn die Amiga-Version spricht 1:1 dem PC-Vorbild. Man hat sogar das PC-Ruckelscrolling übernommen, was auf dem Amiga nun wirklich besser geht. Spielerisch hat sich nichts geändert.

Die Grafik ist fantastisch. Manchmal will man nicht glauben, daß nur 16 Farben am Bildschirm zu sehen sind. Bei der Musik stand Tschaikowkys Schwanensee Pate: Langsam werden Computerspiele erwachsen. Doch leider ist Loom nicht besonders umfangreich. Man hat maximal ein Wochenende Spaß; dann hat man alle Ecken gesehen. Wer auf hartes Knobeln wie bei "Indy III" und "Zak McKracken" steht, wird enttäuscht. Wer dagegen auf eine tolle Geschichte in Kinoqualität steht und seine Freunde mit einer Masse Grafik beeindrucken will, der hat Spaß.

Alles in allem muß ich aber aufgrund des monotonen Spielgeschehens eher von LOOM abraten, auch wenn bald eine deutsche Version erscheinen wird. Von packendem Spielgeschehen, wie es LUCASFILM dem Käufer verspricht, konnte bei mir jedenfalls keine Rede sein.

Great atmosphere, enhanced by the accompanying tape, booklets etc. It's certainly a lavish package. An adventure without typing? It certainly won't appeal to purists, and the 'audio drama' is laughable. Once again Lucasfilm strive for something different. The results are interesting, if not totally successful.