A question for the old school Monkey Island players..

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  • edited July 2009
    Loom is interesting in its gameplay. Puzzles are solved by playing music that casts spells, rather than through inventory puzzles. It's actually not too hard by classic adventure standards.

    Yeah I found Loom was probably the easiest of the LA stuff. But I think that game was all about being immersed in the enchanting game world. It really had a unique atmosphere to it. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it to a first timer though. It's pretty 'out there' in terms of traditional adventures wouldn't you say?
  • edited July 2009
    zaradan wrote: »
    Yeah I found Loom was probably the easiest of the LA stuff. But I think that game was all about being immersed in the enchanting game world. It really had a unique atmosphere to it. I'm not sure if I'd recommend it to a first timer though. It's pretty 'out there' in terms of traditional adventures wouldn't you say?
    So? Personally I'd like for more people in the fanbase to go into unconventional adventures. If the puzzles aren't too demanding overall and they're interesting to boot, then why shy away?
  • edited July 2009
    So? Personally I'd like for more people in the fanbase to go into unconventional adventures. If the puzzles aren't too demanding overall and they're interesting to boot, then why shy away?

    Quantic Dream games are rather unconventional. Games like Omikron, Fahrenheit (a.k.a. Indigo Prophecy) and the upcoming Heavy Rain, pushes the envelope much further than Loom ever did. And yes, these are adventure games.
  • edited July 2009
    So? Personally I'd like for more people in the fanbase to go into unconventional adventures. If the puzzles aren't too demanding overall and they're interesting to boot, then why shy away?

    Loom's a great game. I'm just not sure it would be the first I'd recommend from LA's back catalogue as it's probably the least representative of their work.
  • edited July 2009
    zaradan wrote: »
    Loom's a great game. I'm just not sure it would be the first I'd recommend from LA's back catalogue as it's probably the least representative of their work.
    Which is also why it's incredible. Variety is the spice of life and whatnot. Must we fit something into that mold first before we introduce unconventional methods? I think it's one of LucasArts' best, and it is one of their most accessible titles despite that. It's a great introductory adventure. Just like Brian Moriarty's Infocom text adventure classic, Wishbringer, this is a great adventure with a great mechanic that isn't too hard for someone new to the genre.

    I don't want to give somebody new to the whole thing the common, generic stuff. They can get to that. The innovative adventures are far more exciting to me, and I'd prefer to give somebody one of those before they become mired in the genre's traditions.
    smashing wrote: »
    Quantic Dream games are rather unconventional. Games like Omikron, Fahrenheit (a.k.a. Indigo Prophecy) and the upcoming Heavy Rain, pushes the envelope much further than Loom ever did. And yes, these are adventure games.
    I *love* their stuff, though I wouldn't always call it pushing the envelope. In storytelling they always have a good mindbender, but they don't really *invent* much gameplay-wise, if that makes sense. Heavy Rain nicely integrates the story more into the gameplay from what I've seen, which is very interesting. But it's also not exactly an innovative or new idea.
  • edited July 2009
    cole wrote: »
    First of all, thanks for being so cool. When you have a series that has been beloved for along time it's usually hard to break into that community. You guys have been great and I think that's definetly going to help this series to succeed. It's always more fun to get into a game if that community makes you want to be a part of it.

    I've always been into console games, this is my first real PC experience( I've played stuff like card games). I loved this episode. Should I go after the older stuff? Will it seem dated? Would I be better off just trying something like Sam and Max? Another issue is that I found this really hard. I loved it, but I got really frustrated at times. Judging from other post, the old ones are harder.
    This also scares me.
    http://www.amazon.com/Curse-Monkey-Island-Pc/dp/B00004WGVX

    Are all of them that high? Anywhere else to get them?

    Thanks alot.
    Well worth playing. It's REALLY easy to get CMI running from the HDD (no CD) all you do is:

    1. Install.
    2. Copy the disks to your installation directory (by default "C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Curse"). You can just copy all the files it doesn't matter, but all you *need* to copy is COMI.LA0, COMI.LA1, COMI.LA2 and the "RESOURCE" directory (making it "C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Curse\RESOURCE").
    3. Open the Registry editor (click start > run and type "REGEDIT"), navigate to:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\LucasArts Entertainment Company\Curse of Monkey Island\v1.0

    There's a String item called "Source Path" that usually points to your CD drive, change that to the installation folder (for instance "C:\Program Files\LucasArts\Curse\").

    And you're done.

    ScummVM also plays the game very well - if you want to go this rout simply complete steps ONE and TWO and then add the game in ScummVM and start playing! You will definitely like CMI if you like TOMI - no doubt about it.
  • edited July 2009
    Definitely try the games, but rather than a walkthrough, why not try the Universal Hints System?

    I have always found walkthroughs give you far more info than you need - ruining other puzzles. Sometimes all you need is a nudge in the right direction.
  • edited July 2009
    No, I have to say while I like LOOM, it's not a great introduction one. It's just like my favourite Radiohead album is Kid A because it's so different yet internally consistent, but I wouldn't introduce someone to Radiohead with it. Does that make sense?
  • edited July 2009
    inso wrote: »
    No, I have to say while I like LOOM, it's not a great introduction one. It's just like my favourite Radiohead album is Kid A because it's so different yet internally consistent, but I wouldn't introduce someone to Radiohead with it. Does that make sense?

    As a Radiohead fan, I definitly get that. Hmm, even though I've loved Radiohead since OK Computer, I'm going with In Rainbows as my favorite. I love that album.
  • edited July 2009
    creep
  • edited July 2009
    I wouldn't really class Loom along with the other adventure games by Lucasarts, it's just... too different. It's more serious (well, less laugh out loud funny) more epic fantasy and the game play mechanic is pretty unique. I love that game because of these things, but yeah, I know a lot of people would be put off, especially if you haven't got a good ear for tones. Half the challenge is working out the notes in hard mode.

    Let me think, Lucasarts games that are a good intro? The really old ones like Zak, though great fun, I think are too dated for a brand new player to really appreciate... so.. Sam and Max hit the road? DOTT? Which is totally insane (I loved the puzzles, I really liked having to think about what each character might need rather than just the here and now, it was such a great use of time travel), Grim Fandango is a lot more epic, slightly noir and pretty damned good. It also uses a control system that's a lot more similar to modern games with the keyboard control. It takes a bit of getting used to, but it works ok. Just be warned, it can run oddly on a modern pc and might need to be slowed down to solve one of the puzzles.

    I think the Dig and Full Throttle are a little different. I dunno. Dig is sci fi and a bit less mad/silly... and full throttle never did really capture my interest as a kid. I suppose leather clad bikers just don't make for charming protagonists lol. Sure it's a good game, but the premise on the back of the box wouldn't have made me buy it.

    I'd personally go with DOTT and Sam and Max, maybe MI3.

    I want to play Farenheight (random change of topic whoo) but the timed button mashing segments put me off. Is it worth struggling through and are those segments particularly difficult for us lazy ass point and click adventure gamers?
  • edited July 2009
    cole wrote: »
    As a Radiohead fan, I definitly get that. Hmm, even though I've loved Radiohead since OK Computer, I'm going with In Rainbows as my favorite. I love that album.
    As a HUGE Radiohead fan who also likes In Rainbows the best. Respect! :cool:
  • edited July 2009
    I want to play Farenheight (random change of topic whoo) but the timed button mashing segments put me off. Is it worth struggling through and are those segments particularly difficult for us lazy ass point and click adventure gamers?
    Yeah, that bugged me too about Fahrenheit/Indigo Prophecy: a lot of the puzzles are actually tedious minigames (at one point you take an exciting job as a librarian, and are tasked with putting books back on the shelves. In another puzzle you have to manually breathe while you walk across a room. These puzzles are exactly exciting as they sound).

    The game starts out strong both plotwise and cinematographically, but that goes down the drain in the end when the story gets painfully ridiculous (gratuitous zombie sex scenes *cringe*). It's not all bad though; the game does have some original gameplay going on with multiple viewpoints, semi-real-time events, and even multiple endings. I'd say the good parts are good enough to warrant playing the game if you can find it in a discount bin somewhere, although I wouldn't recommend going out of your way to get it.

    So I guess the question is whether you just don't like these minigame-style-puzzles (but can do them if you have to) or are really unable to do them; in the latter case you're going to get stuck a lot.
  • edited July 2009
    smashing wrote: »
    creep

    weirdo. what the hell am I doing here?
  • edited July 2009
    speaking of Loom while we're at it.
    I've played (and finished) games like:
    The Dig
    DotT
    Monkey Island 1-4
    Sam & Max
    Legend of Kyrandia
    etc etc
    great adventures!

    but I never played Loom.. ever
    is it worth it? will I like it if I like the aformentioned games? :)

    *edit* oh and Fahrenheit was great, gave an extra dimension to the adventure game. but it alot of sequences it was indeed very challenging and frustrating
  • edited July 2009
    cole wrote: »
    As a Radiohead fan, I definitly get that.
    Alright, cole. Here's my advice:

    Try Loom. It's not too hard, it's fun, it's accessible. It's a great *game*. Don't expect it to be very much like other LucasArts adventures, but it's still a great adventure to play. Just go into it with that mindset and you won't comce out disappointed.
    Raven266 wrote: »
    but I never played Loom.. ever
    is it worth it? will I like it if I like the aformentioned games? :)
    Not necessarily. It's nothing like other LucasArts adventures in terms of tone, story, or humor(there isn't much). It is somewhat analogous to The Dig, and I think if you like both the cheerier adventures and The Dig, you'll enjoy Loom's atmosphere.
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