As technology forges on and the scope of gaming veers closer and closer to the ‘reality’ of film and TV we should never forget the groundbreaking Lucasfilm adventures of the 80’s and 90’s that helped set the table for the games we get today. Here, the latest Lucasfilm Games Rewind takes a look at Loom, the 1990 fantasy adventure games that set new standards for gaming almost 35 years ago.
Loom, released in 1990, is a beloved Lucasfilm Games fantasy adventure designed by Moriarty alongside a team that included artists Gary Winnick and Steve Purcell. In this unique tale, players meet Bobbin Threadbare, a Weaver who lives in an exhausted world. He interacts with the people and things around him with magic spells cast by playing specific notes in a melody. Several elements of game design set Loom apart from its contemporaries, including an audio drama cassette tape included in the box and an emphasis on story and exploration over action or pure puzzle-solving.
“Most important of all,” declares the original game manual, “Loom is designed to be completed, not played halfway through and then thrown on a shelf and forgotten. We spent a lot of time and effort creating these disks. We want you to enjoy them all!”
Loom has certainly accomplished its goal over the decades: this adventure is absolutely unforgettable.
