LOOM
From Lucasfilm Games
For IBM PC, XT, AT, PS/2, Tandy
512K Ram VGA, EGA, CGA, MCGA
Tandy 16 Color, Joystick and Mouse
Optional, Adlib and CMS sound cards
Suggested Retail $59.95

Enter the world of the magical Guild of Weavers. Loom, a
fantasy adventure game from Lucasfilm Games will transport
you there. You play the part of Bobbin Treadware, a young man
born of the magical Loom.

Play starts with an audio cassette. Pop it into the player
and give it a listen. It won't give you many hints for game
play, but, it will set up the story line.

Game play starts on the Island of Loom, home of the Guild of
Weavers. Bobbin is summoned to the Sanctuary of the Loom by
the Elders of the Guild, via a messenger thread. A thread is a spell
a weaver spins off his distaff. Various musical notes produced in the
right sequence will create one of several magical threads. Bobbin must
learn the different threads needed to finish the game.

Once in the Sanctuary, Bobbin over hears the Elders chastising his
foster mother, Hechtal, for teaching Bobbin the spells of the weavers.
Hechtal is transformed into a bird and is banished from the Island.
But another force, a Swan, transformed by the Elders years earlier
(Bobbins mother) swoops down and transforms the Elders into Swans.

Bobbin is left alone on the Island. Here is where you take over.
You must first figure out how to get off the Island. Explore the
Island well and you'll soon discover the method and means to leave.
Once off the Island, you'll visit other Guilds in your quest to find
Hechtal and the Elders.

Loom is not for adventure veterans. They'll find it to easy. I
finished the game in 3 days and I'm by no means a veteran. In
finishing the game in such a short time I felt somewhat cheated
out of the $53.95 I paid for the game. However, for those 3 days, I
enjoyed playing the game.

The Graphics are excellent, even for CGA. The interface, like most
Lucasfilm games, is unique.  No typing is required, just point and
click. The Animation is the best I've seen yet, smooth and fast. There
is no on disk copy protection. A manual is required though, as most
games are these days.

There is one feature in Loom I liked very much, your character can't
be killed. There are no setbacks. You just keep exploring and gaining
the necessary experience to solve the several puzzles needed to finish
the game. Lucasfilm could have made the game a blockbuster by adding
more puzzles and spells to Loom. Perhaps they will in the sequel. The
ending suggests such.

If you're new to adventure games, or never played any and want to try
an easy to medium adventure, then give Loom a try. You'll enjoy it.
If you're a veteran adventurer looking for a challenge, look else
where, Loom will disappoint you.



                                                            Gary Cole