Chapter 12 Game Analysis:Loom..................
Chapter 12 Game Analysis:Loom ...................
Designed by Brian Moriarty
Released in 1990
F
or 1990, the year it was released,Loomwas a decidedly different type of adven-
ture game. Though it had many gameplay similarities to graphical adventure
games that had been released previously by LucasArts,Loomendeavored to
reduce the adventure game to its core mechanics from a storytelling standpoint and to
cut away all that was extraneous. Looking in the manual, one finds that the game’s
authors were keenly aware that they were creating something different, as the follow-
ing excerpt from the “AboutLoom” section indicates:
Loomis unlike traditional “adventure games” in many ways. Its goal is to let
you participate in the unfolding of a rich, thought-provoking fantasy. It is neither a
role-playing game (although it incorporates elements of role-playing), nor a collec-
tion of brainteasers. Its simple mysteries are designed to engage your imagination227