LOOM™

Once more, a reminder that it takes a simple press of Alt+S to remove that ugly "modern" filter.
Loom may have been the first title to make young me realize that, yes, video games can be art. A highly experimental "anomaly" in the Lucasfilm/LucasArts catalogue, it is concentrated on story and atmosphere rather than puzzles, and it also features a very original approach to the latter, based on musical magic spells made up of four notes. Experimentation is key, as these spells are obtained from interactions with other objects and also work when played in reverse. It's short, but it takes the player through some of the most "magical" locations drawn at the time, especially the glass city.
Unfortunately, the version offered here is the relatively worst of the existing ones. It's not about the VGA graphics, even if the higher quantity of detail doesn't necessarily equal a better art direction, losing the sharpness and the amazing use of the limited EGA palette, on top of all the close-up portraits. Rather, it's about technical limitations of the time that forced content cuts: as this version originally made use of CD audio tracks, many dialogues ended up cut or simplified to fit everything, and locations that originally had music now have silence or just sound effects. This version is also voiced, but the voice acting is less than stellar, which is a further strike against the game's atmosphere.
Besides the simple beauty of the original EGA version, there's also a Japanese FM Towns version that mixes the best aspects of it and the VGA version (close-ups in 256 colors!). Alas, unlike the release of Zak McKracken, which includes its FM Towns version, nothing of the sort has been done here.
Another classic, but not in its "optimal" form, so don't feel ashamed of looking up those other versions online.

I actually got my name printed in the LucasArts newsletter when I made a comment about the cinematic quality of this game.

A magical and enchanting game, unlike anything I’ve experienced before in the genre. Loom focuses on learning different drafts—short musical sequences—to solve its puzzles. This creates a fresh, memorable twist on the point-and-click formula, and it’s the kind of game where you’ll want a pen and paper nearby; remembering all the tunes on your own is nearly impossible.
The story draws inspiration from "The Ugly Duckling" and "Swan Lake", with music from the ballet beautifully woven into key scenes. At the start, you can choose from three game modes: Standard, Extreme, and Practice. I played on Standard, but I’m curious to see how Extreme changes the experience.
For a game released in 1990, Loom has aged remarkably well, and its innovative mechanics remain worth playing today. With this, I’ve added another classic point-and-click from Lucasfilm Games to my collection. I recommend everyone try this gem—it’s relaxing and challenging at the same time.

Do I recommend Loom? Absolutely! It's a lighthearted adventure that wants nothing more than to give you a unique fairy tale with relatively easy puzzles and chill vibes.
Do I recommend this Steam VGA version of Loom? Meh, it's good enough but pales in comparison to the EGA version.
I played them both back-to-back before writing this.
What's different? A lot. Most notably the EGA version has the most gorgeous art ever to grace EGA. The VGA has more pixels and colors but looks bland in comparison.
The scripts between the two are slightly different with the VGA being adapted for voice. I think that, while the voice work is generally good, it sometimes mars the overall vibe of some scenes (the shepherds in particular). I liked what my brain invented better.
The VGA has better quality sound and music, but again, I liked the primitive bleeps and bloops of the EGA version. They just fit, especially the note sounds of the distaff, your main gameplay element.
There's also complete absence of music in a couple parts and the absence of close-ups of some characters in the VGA version.
So, should you want to enjoy a unique classic poink, consider getting the EGA version (legally available on archive dot org) and playing that. It's a very short game so playing both is certainly a viable option!
Pro-Tip: Keep a notepad handy to write down spells as soon as you learn them. They are kinda randomized and aren't noted in-game.

Loom was an unexpected treat. While the VGA PC CD-ROM version does not quite match the handcrafted beauty of the original EGA DOS release with its stunning 16-bit color, dithered backgrounds, and painterly aesthetic, it still preserves the game's most remarkable feature: its music-based interface. At a time when most adventure games relied on cumbersome text commands, Loom stood out as a seamless and elegant experience. It helped define the point-and-click adventure genre and set a new standard for Lucasfilm Games by removing the possibility of losing, encouraging players instead to explore freely and experiment without fear.

The story unfolds in a dark yet humorous fantasy world, told through beautifully composed MIDI adaptations of Swan Lake and presented with the charm of an interactive tapestry. Despite its age, Loom manages to surprise with clever humor; there is even a mid-story twist that genuinely caught me off guard and made me laugh out loud. Overall, it is a deeply enjoyable and unique experience that deserved the sequels it never received, even though it sold well and remains a timeless example of creative storytelling in games.

Loom is a truly magical experience.
The puzzles of Loom are the star of the show! Unlike most point & click adventures, the player doesn't collect items to influence the environment. Instead, it is the creative use of music that holds the key to progress. As you learn more 'drafts', you become more powerful. Since this is a game from 1990, you have to jot down your own notes. A wise spellweaver always writes in pencil.
My other favourite thing about Loom is the worldbuilding. If you skip over the audio drama and the Book of Patterns, you will be doing yourself a disservice. The lore is far richer if you give them your time. The game itself and these extras all contribute to giving Loom a strong setting and sense of history. It's a fantasy game, so the world of Loom is far removed from our reality, but it feels logical and plausible.
In the game, human history is revered despite being coloured by human weakness. The guilds are known as The Great Guilds, yet they were created to dominate nature and they quickly led to the segregation of the population. Each guild has their own qualities, including flaws. For example, the Weavers are gentle and have no interest in becoming a dominant force but they are insular, dying out and have an unhealthy society. All humans are troubled in their own way.
My love of the writing extends to the dialogue as well. Loom certainly has its own voice and it is glorious! Lines like "This reckless defiance is intolerable!" are just superb. Alas, the talkie version, which we have here on Steam, has a condensed script compared with the original Loom. This can make some conversations disjointed and hard to follow, and it's just sad knowing you're missing out on some of the story!
On that note, Loom feels short. There are some short games that you might wish were longer because you enjoyed them so much, but really they are perfect as they are. In the case of Loom, I think it would genuinely benefit from further developing the plot, puzzles and character interactions. Perhaps the original was just right, but the talkie version is a little lacking.
Despite its limitations, Loom is a masterpiece that encourages curiosity, imagination and the joy of play.
Faye Strawberry Curator

It's definitely a good game, love the magic system, my only complaint is that the plot felt too short and ends on a cliffhanger. I understand that like Inherit the Earth, there was talk of sequels for this that never came, but this feels like it ends on a more "Give me more! How can you end the plot here?!" kind of point. Anyways thanks for listening to my rant, good game, definitely recommend.