Another classic game that has perhaps escaped the notice of many of the gamers of today is Loom. Written by Brian Moriarty, who previously had created games like Wishbringer, Trinity, and Beyond Zork, Loom was an adventure game that combined text and graphics. But what made the game most interesting was its integration of music into its puzzles. Loom became a bestseller and still has many fans today.

The Music Of Loom

As one might imagine from its title, one of Loom’s themes involved the idea that the characters’ fates were controlled by magical threads. The player assumes the role of a young boy – Bobbin Threadbare – who travels from his home village in search of a solution to a catastrophe. The player guides the character’s movements and can make him walk from place to place, manipulate objects, and also play notes on a distaff. Many puzzles in the game are solved by playing the appropriate series of notes, and having an ear for music can help. This innovative way of solving puzzles was what made the game memorable for many. When the notes are played, an effect is created similar to casting a spell. For example, one of the tunes, when played, can color fabric. When this tune is played backwards, it bleaches fabric.

Loom’s Plot

In the beginning of the game, Bobbin’s entire village is transformed into swans, and he ventures forth in search of a way to turn his people back. Along the way, he encounters several puzzles, and meets a variety of characters with whom he must interact to gain knowledge. Eventually, he learns that an evil character has unleashed a chaotic force into the world. In the end, Bobbin is able to defeat the cleric responsible for the chaos, though the game has somewhat of a cliffhanger ending, which was designed to leave the door open for sequels.