LOOM™ EGA vs VGA - DOS Nostalgia
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- Опубликовано: 30 сен 2024
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A long overdue video about differences between versions of LucasFilm Games' classic LOOM. I explain why I'm not really fond of the VGA CD-ROM update of the game. I also briefly touch on the FM Towns version. Long story short: play the EGA one. (P.S. You can still ask me about LOOM)
My original review of LOOM from 2009: • Loom - DOS Nostalgia #3
Buy LOOM on GOG (VGA only at the moment, unfortunately): www.gog.com/gam...
LOOM EGA Roland patch: dosnostalgia.co...
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Dang, didn't know there were this many differences in the VGA version.
* hugs his EGA copy *
I really like the fm towns version
@@Mibit911 Dito also have this one!
Haha! Nice seeing you here!
Yeah, just learned about this now - been playing VGA every time without knowing there was an "unabridged" version. Time for another playthrough.
Holy crap. I started watching this thinking "gee, those purists. Why would anyone prefer that crappy ega look?", but you totally convinced me. Good job!
Exactly. What a pity. The video author made clear the ega version was far 'better'. I'd never imagined this. Good work!
The EGA version was incredibly immersive, a true masterpiece of videogame design in pretty much every aspect. The people who created the 256 color version had absolutely no idea what made the original so great.
EGA is incredibly beautiful when properly done.
I played the VGA version in the mid 90's and never even knew there was this great EGA version. I have a daughter now and I'd like her to experience adventure gaming. I think this will be the first on our list. Thanks!
Did she play it?
I grew up with the VGA version and I always thought it was a beautiful game (my favorite for a long time next to Secret of Monkey Island), but had no idea what I was missing out on. Thanks for the video!
Dithered EGA here pioneered by Mike Ferrari looks beautiful here. 89-92 -- best years for Lucasfilm Games.
If you're using a recent daily build of ScummVM (it's not in version 2.5.1), it's now possible to completely replace almost all of the music with recorded tracks from your favorite Swan Lake recording. You can find a brief demonstration and some further information in ruclips.net/video/D2BSlNDHY2k/видео.html
It's still subject to the same limitations as the original music though, i.e. any sound effect will immediately stop it. And that's probably how it will remain. There's only so much you can do after the fact, after all. Besides, judging by the FM Towns version having the music playing continuously is a mixed blessing, since it makes it much harder to make out any drafts you may hear.
Oh my goodness, that's FANTASTIC
@@dosnostalgic Thank you. I hope the instructions in the Wiki are clear enough, if you want to try it out for yourself. (I just made some minor revisions to them.)
It's amazing how beautiful the EGA art looks in this game. Really talented work with colors and dithering, and the VGA version is just a dowdy mess of pixels as compared to that.
Thank you very much for this video. I've bought the steam version some years ago and never played it. I shall make my quest trying to find the EGA version somehow.
Additionally, I personally believe Atlantis is one of the best titles cross categories, from a time when designers used to do more with less. I miss that veru much.
I have played both EGA and VGA Graphic Adventure games in the 90s and later and in this case I stick with the EGA. The Loom in EGA has a charm that I don't find in VGA, added to the Adlib music unlike the later ones. It's like if you want to do it better, it turns out worse, and on the other hand, making it simple (EGA) turns out better.
Randomly decided to watch a Loom walkthrough - started watching a video, felt that something is weird and a bit "off" but couldn't figure what, tried looking for another WT vid - fortunately stumbled upon this one and it cleared my confusion.. The video i started watching was of the VGA/v and though both the sounds and visuals were technically more polished or higher quality - actually felt lacking severely from those i remembered.. Never knew that there was another version to the one i played.
That game was/is magic. 👌💙
Wow, thanks for this video I love the whole analysis, and I didn't even know about the differences between the two versions. I have only played or seen my brother playing the original EGA Loom at a very young age. While I have been playing many classic Lucasarts adventures from Zak McKragen to The Dig, Loom looked quite unique to me and at a young age I don't know if I understood much of what was this fantasy world about, so it's one game I really want to play now and I can appreciate more it's music, feeling and story, it's one of the Lucasarts adventures I want to revisit. And before your video, I was just thinking to get the VGA version because I naively thought it's an improvement. But improvement is not just better graphics and better music. I love such analyses, because they look beyond the superficial of better tech = better quality, and nitpicks some elements I wouldn't have noticed.
Maybe after I finish the EGA version I will have a look at the VGA CD version to compare too. I like VGA graphics but you are right, the EGA are majestic the way they used it, for example in the dark wood area you show there are black tree silouetes (a very atmospheric trick games like Limbo or Inside use) and the VGA version while more colorful there are lighter brown, losing that mysterious atmosphere they evoked.
Also, another interesting point, what you said (and I also didn't realize), less dialogue. And it makes sense, speech for dialogue and suddenly you get into technical problems. It's a good argument for classic and modern games, classic games with their much more thorough text and modern games that will have to simplify dialogues with speech audio to be able to fit the game on the media. Also, something one said that I quite liked, we use to think games are like movies because you have modern games trying to mimic movies. But if you think he said, some classic games without speech that could fit more text, even Japanise RPGs on the 8bit/16bit consoles for example, you could rather think of them as visual novels, comics or literature rather than movies. Of course the technology didn't gave storage for speech then, but in that sense the game designer was free to put more text then. Sometimes, some oldschool games for these and other reasons are like hidden diamonds, despite the dated graphics.
Playing the EGA version first and then the VGA version years later, I remembered the VGA playthrough as a strangely unfulfilling experience. Now I know why.
More color does not always equal better. EGA Loom is a masterful display in making art within (technical) limitations and transcending them.
The EGA version is so stylish and gorgeous, it lost a lot when remastered.
The FM towns version splits the version really well. Close to the EGA but with VGA graphics and overall is a great port.
I played both versions back when they came out. Apparently when I played the VGA version it had been long enough since playing the original that I didn't even notice the insane amount of stuff that was cut out! I just thought "well this is clearly the superior version", and likely used it for all future replays, never going back to the original again. What a shame! I am gonna go try and get an MT-32 emulator working so I can replay the EGA version RIGHT NOW.
Can the VGA/CD version be patched to support General MIDI/AdLib music and restore some of the missing music cues from the older versions?
No.
@@dosnostalgic Aww 🐰
On this issue of the dialouge your treatement is simplistic; the script in the VGA version isn't simply an abridged version of the EGA script but extensively re-written. Which version might be superior is a more complex question. Sometimes I think it's better like when the shepherds mock and jeer at Bobbin instead of simply refusing to let him pass; this creates more a sense of triumph when Bobbin defeats them. In other places it makes little sense such as when Fleece doesn't explicitly mistake Bobbin for the wizard she hired but just seems to expect a stranger to solve her problems. The biggest change is that Mandible no longer mentions having another way to raise the dead, making it seems as if Bobbin is indirectly to blame for the end of the world, turning the whole story in a big irony. Arguably a better hook for a sequel since Bobbin has a big mess to atone for, but it's an odd ending and seems to prove the weaver elders right about him.
the FM Town is the best version out of all
Awesome vid! I played the original EGA as a teen, only just found new version on steam and didn't realise it was any different right up until my favorite part when the dragon kills Rusty and thought I was tripping out, the whole cut scene was gone! Your review made it all clear!
I played the original EGA version to completion, the EGA version is definitely the true version of this game
By pure chance, there was a Monkey Island on the related videos column that showed a character close up... turns out it's almost the same exact drawing of the cleric at 6:43... how curious.
Great video, Loom is one of the greatest games I've played, it has a special spot amongst my favourite games (and might even have something to do with me getting into music).
Yeah, it's the same guy.
He's in the SCUMM bar as a cameo, literally serving as product placement for LOOM™.
I typically prefer VGA over EGA for most games since they normally don't alter anything else but visuals but definitely agree some games get screwed over like Loom that it's best just to stick to the EGA version.
I hate especially the missing close ups, they add soooo much to the experience, its unreal. sigh
a shame really, glad I do remember the old version
Hi. CGA or EGA and the techniques used have their own beauty, the beauty of creativity using limited resources (4 colors). God bless, Proverbs 31
I didn't even know there WAS a VGA version of Loom
Never seen this video before, it just popped up for me for some reason and boy am I glad this exists.
The EGA graphics AND art direction are far superior, this isn't nostalgia talking, I never even played this game as a kid, but as an artist myself I don't know what they were thinking with the VGA version, it's a drastic downgrage in every aspect.
Their VGA art, shading and choice of color aren't even that good.
Your voice is amazing.
Amazing! I loved this game and EGA is my favourite colour palette. Thanks for making this. If you're looking for a new-old nostalgia EGA game, I've got my playable demo for The Crimson Diamond, here's the game trailer: ruclips.net/video/VWEfmPgaqpE/видео.html
I watched OneShortEye's videos and then downloaded the demo straight away. And then I watch a video about Loom and here you are again, RUclips sometime is funny :)
@@Cellfix hehe hi again!
just saw ur name for the first time... and immediately i am thinkin: why not dostalgia??? what an opportunity - thrown away ^^ -------- oh and i think loom had a Turbografx release as well...
Hello DosNostalgia,
I returned to the video that bring me in my mind "I should play LOOM, damm it!", at least since i discover the existence of the game when i talk to Cobb in Monkey Island. It something i left in the bucket for a while i know (i didn't know you when you uploaded it, i saw it years after), but a few weeks ago i have fixed it and i don't regret the experience at all.
But, i don't know what to feel about this game. Somehow i'm half heart-broken because there isn't anything more and there are some threads (:wink:) left overs, some things i didn't expect to encounter when i playthrough it (good and bad), but for sure is made to stick in your heart and memory as some special.
Played the EGA with MT-32 sound with ScummVM, i discarded the VGA first because your video, i hate what they did with the close-ups and all those shaking hands (and also the characters wandering stupidly in the room when talking), those things cuts the game's mood a lot, i don't know what were they thinking when they did the versions, but also because i'm spaniard and i care a little about the added english voices (for sure they are good, and the audio prologue is very nice, although i think is more convenient to listen it after the game and not before), the respective cut in the music because the voices, and also because there isn't a official spanish version as opposed to the EGA one and the fan translations weirdly cut the words (somethings that doesn't happen in the FM-Towns fan translation).
However the EGA version also didn't impress me as i think it will do. I like a lot what did Sierra with the EGA/SCI0 games, putting The Colonel's Bequest as a top example (And not in a nostalgia way, i discover all of those games in my 30's), and there is an effort and an impressive work here, but it didn't stick as other works with the same technology.
But, the big one was the music. That bothers me to the point to write this, because maybe i'm wrong and i don't take it: I was thinking from the beginning this will be a heavy musical game, and it is, but playing it i found the Swan Lake's versions (that are pretty good renditions and fit the game perfectly) are very short and only specific tracks began to play when Bobby enters in specific rooms, and also every use of the distaff cut also the music! Because all of that, a lot of the game i played is in silence, something i didn't expected at all. In fact, i checked using DosBox because maybe is a ScummVM issue, but it works the same in there. I could expect some parts in silence (the woods) with maybe some sound effects, but pure silence... I know there are limitations, but that let me down. In the VGA version, as you showed in the video, it cuts music because the added voices, and checking the FM-Towns version, it plays continuosly a track depending where you are and adds some effects when in the EGA version plays some specific cuts of the soundtrack (i'm thinking the lighting striked tree), which takes away the silence from the game but doesn't make it better because that, as the music plays without any reference of whats happening in the game most of the time.
Saying all of this, in the end i think is more even between the EGA and the FM-Towns version, both of them with some details good and bad, so i can say there isn't a ""perfect"" version of Loom to play. That doesn't make anything worse, you still have other twist to the classic point and click experience, and an easy, short but pretty and enjoyable experience (Before this, i played Return of the Phantom, similar in those things). But maybe not having that perfect version make it too part of the charm, as there isn't more of the Loom universe, like they teared appart (:wink: :wink:) something we could love to play and loving it more for the lack of it, also shreded in parts what could be the best version to experience Loom, and talk it as something we could only dream of. At least it did for me.
Thanks Cob... Anatoly, thanks for spread your love for this game to make anyone who wants love it too.
PD.: Sorry for the long comment ('-_- )
Agreed, the EGA version is the better version. Normally, I can not stand EGA and think it was a terrible graphics mode, and sadly is responsibly for far too many terrible Amiga ports. But this game was one of the few EGA games that even bothered to change the default EGA color pallet. I think the case can also be made that Monkey Island is better in EGA, but, with this game, you have the added elements which were taken out which easily put the EGA version on top, where as Monkey Island is only graphical, and many people will think VGA looks better... Perhaps... But it does not look like it was intended, and how the game was intended to look should always be considered.
Shot97 I prefer EGA Monkey Island as well, but I'll say that VGA Monkey Island is the best Lucas update of an existing EGA game. Not the CD version with its graphical interface though.
I was learning programming at the time EGA was around, and I didn't realize that one could customize the palette until several years later, when I played a game called "Pushover" -- because litterally no programmer would bother changing that ugly default palette! What jerks.
Actually no. The developers were not "jerks". In the most used 320x200 EGA mode, colors were limited to the 16 color CGA text mode pallette. Only in 640x350 mode you could choose the 16 colors from a pallette of 64. This is because IBM wanted for the 320x200 EGA mode to work on old CGA monitors, as EGA monitors were incredibly costly at first.
You can see in the selection screen in the beginning he's playing the 256 VGA version. However, you're given a choice of either EGA 16 colors, or EGA 64. If you choose EGA 16, then the game runs in 320x200 with the default EGA palette you hate so much, if you choose EGA 64, then the game runs in the 640x350 mode the other person mentioned with colors that resemble VGA more closely.
DOS Nostalgia Well I used to have an EGA system back then and played that game with the modified colors. so the mystery remains. Are you saying that either my monitor had a 64 colors capability that I didn't know about, or that Pushover is actually faking 320x200 by scaling it up into 640x350?
EGA > FM-Towns >>> VGA
Love them all though. My favorite adventure game of all time. Expert-only gang!
EGA Monkey Island is superior too
Agree 100% 👍
Good video keep it up!
If anyone argue that video game isn't art (and well most aren't)... just run LOOM on EGA for them to change they're mind.
LOOM EGA is art! That's why the VGA upgrade is worse. Even with the limitations, the origial version was crafted as the monalisa painting.
anatoly, i love you for that video :)
The forest scene is a good example of how not to make a VGA conversion. Atmosphere was great in the EGA version. I like that kind of stuff. You cannot see the trees, in full, just shadow. However, in a true conversion, it should be like you are taking a high color image and removing its color quality, in reverse. Meaning, that shading and extra power should have only gone into color interpolation artifacts and further detail, which could have made it more grittier, a tad, if the right technique. Instead, they decide to brighten the trees, rather than keeping them mostly unseen and in the dark. That said, even the VGA version of that scene reminds me of something, and its atmospheric on its own right. Otherwise, in other cases, I can see where all is intact, and its more just a literal fidelity upgrade, for the most part.
I do also prefer the 16 colour version (i played it on my Atari ST) and i like the adlib (or ym2149 version on the ST) more than the orchestral soundtrack... IMHO of course :)
Thank you for calling a spade a spade (and not a loom); this has been my stance for a while but I think your the only one I've heard say it.
I've loved the disk version since it came out (I was 6) and for a long time thought it was the only way to play, then found out about the CD, got really excited, then really disapointed after a struggle to get it working. Rinse and repeat with the Japanese version. I did/do think the graphics were an improvement, but I have come to realize that there's nothing "broken" about the EGA - Art is Art no matter the template. And your right that this game is about sound and story.
I will say though that Orson Card did do a good job with condensing and rewriting the material, but that's not making it better, just making the best of bad limitations. And the voice work is mostly great - I _love_ Chaos, Bobbin, Hetchel, Mandible, Cob (less so the Dragon) - and has influenced how I hear the voices in my head when I play it properly. So, I think it's worth the experience as a Loom fan to play all three, but there's still only one true Loom IMO.
But all this raises the crucial point that it's been ages since I've played it in any form, and that audio patch sounds like a dream come true. No sense waiting for Forge's completion.
D-E-C-E
the original is so superior!!!. hehehe, I played it on CGA and pc speaker on my XT with 640kb ram and 20mb hard disk, it came in 6 5.25 360kb floppy disks. the game was amazing, but the ending is kinda dissapointing...
that's because it's just the ending of the beginning. Loom was game 1 of 3 but none of the official sequels ever happened.
THANK YOU! I have the CD VGA original still, and found in an OLD cd a folder with my old diskette version. So I wanted to know what the difference was (played the 2 maaaany years appart). Now I want to play the ega one again :)
Loved the ending XD
EDIT: had to change the musicdevice in the audio tab :) overture plays now and it really sounds nicer, now to get the dust out of the book of patterns and a pencil.
Got the game running on ScummVM (I have win7 64), replaced the files with the roland patch (still can't get the overture). I downloaded the soundfont and put that in the midi override soundfont (I have no options for the GM device). The game sounds the same with the soundfont than without. Did I misunderstand and apart from scumm I need bassmidi or virtualmidi? any advise on how to make it run at its best?
Thanks again
I use VirtualMidiSynth. You just have to make sure that either your Windows midi device is set to Cool Soft Virtual Midi Synth, OR that it's manually set to that is ScummVM. BUT it should have given you a GM option either way, just because you installed a patch. Not sure what's going on there.
Yes sorry, I edited it later, got it working, forgot to change an option in scumm :) first time using it without all default options. Played and finished it yesterday and I'm saving all the new patches and music in a new backup (with a txt with instructions for future me).
Thanks again
How the hell can they make the woods and cemetary are not in silhouette?!!! That was the whole charm and mystery of the games style! VGA SUCKS!
Never played this game, but the style is similar to Monkey Island 1 (played on Amiga) and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (EGA).
20 years after playing the ega version i replayed the vga one and was a little shocked. the experience is definitly not the same. the dark accent has gone missing because of all the points you mentioned and it felt occasionally pretty sleazy.
I always loved the EGA version. The VGA could have been better, but I assume it was rushed, from the look.
@ 4:00 that scream had me rolling. I remember when I first played this game in the early 90's, and approached that tornado on the sea, I didn't know what to do and tried to raft past it, and me and my dad laughed our asses off! Lol
I didn't realize there was cut content form the CD version. But I still prefer the improved landscape graphics. I guess I can try and track down that an emulation of the FM version?
EGA was my first love, really haven’t enjoyed playing the update, as much as I like the talkie version, it lost a lot of the charm
before watching to see what I can remember, I remember close ups in the EGA version when people talked
VGA loom is such garbage gotta play it with EGA
I wish someone would hack the VGA version to include the music.
LOL, nice ending :D
Is there a playlist of these songs on RUclips ? Just the game list.
Change the name of your channel to DOStalgia.
I never played Loom, but EGA has a very striking look to it which higher color fidelity VGA version seems to miss.
Another thing I'm curious is if you feel similarly about Secret of Monkey Island EGA/VGA versions.
Yes, I generally feel the same about Monkey Island, although in that case the VGA conversion is done with more care there. I'm not too fond of many backgrounds with very Deluxe Paint-like gradients, but Iain McCaig's paiting-like closeup portraits are pretty wonderful.
The FM towns version is a good compromise. It keeps the background music (which is now the new soundtrack) and the original dialogue, I'm pretty sure there were closeups (it's been a while playing and I could just be remembering EGA) it's got some UI improvements, the enhanced graphics are only slightly worse than Talkie's and you have to manually change the difficulty from a text file but there's less censorship than the Talkie version, some are still there though (mainly the scene you showed as an example). Going through all this is just reminds me that the best version and one you should first experience for this game is the original.
There's also the TurboGrafx-16 / PC Engine version, where some of the graphics look like they're based on the EGA version's, while others look more like the VGA version's except with fewer colours. It also makes some strange music changes compared to the EGA version. You can find a playthrough at ruclips.net/video/P-tUJVGprr0/видео.html
Great video! I absolutely love LOOM, it's one of my favourite games!
If you buy it on Steam, you get a code and you can download the FM Towns version legally and play it via ScummVM:
steamreview.org/external/loom/
And there's a fan project for creating the sequel FORGE: forgegame.com/
I think it's pretty cool, because they try to maintain the original atmosphere, gameplay and graphic.
Hulot That FM Towns download is anything but legal.
DOS Nostalgia Oh shit, sorry! I get the link from the Steam Forum, so I thought it's official (also because you had to buy the game to use it).
Hulot No big. Let's leave it here for anyone who wants to try out a different version. I'm still hoping for a day when all 3 versions will be readily available for a digital purchase.
Does BASSMIDI VirualMIDISynth and ¥Weeds¥ SoundFont add new music to the game?
No
I played the EGA version first and both VGA versions then as well, but the EGA one is the only true nostalgia. Also nothing compares to the vibrancy of the colors.
Bonus points for the correct aspect ratio ;-)
VGA looks much better
Downliked for adverts
Thank you for having saved me from wasting my time and getting sad by playing the VGA version of my favorite adventure game.
I had hoped to be able to play the EGA version on PC. But as I see this, I probably stick to my old ATARI ST 1040.
Bought Loom Collector's Edition from Limited Run games.
Nice. I think LRG's release of LOOM is VGA only. Let me know if that's the case when you get it.
I already heard that EGA is also on USB stick. Ill let u know. @@dosnostalgic
I grew up with the VGA version. It's a shame so much was cut out of it but to be honest, if it weren't for the voice acting I wouldn't have played it. I was too young to even read. I have since checked out the EGA version and the dialogue is longer, but not as well written. I would also play it muted as the soundtrack is an abomination of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake.
There are other examples on EGA versions being better than updated VGA versions. One of those that comes to mind is Quest for glory: So you want to be a hero. The VGA versions fails to capture the magic atmosphere of the original. Graphics and artstyle looks much better in the EGA versions. In my case I played the Amiga version which looked the same as the EGA PC version. And I agree about Loom also. Great video.
My version came on a CD and had the opening sound track on the CD As a Audio CD track that could be played on a CD Player and I remember liking the game because of the Music and it was EGA and I thought it had voice acting dialog instead of having to read text on the screen. It's been so long since I played it so I might be remembering it wrong, I used to have the CD but I think I donated it to a thrift shop or maybe it's packed somewhere.
That double scream lmfao, never gets old, they destroyed that scene
@Dark Mel
"That double scream lmfao, never gets old, they destroyed that scene"
How appropriate that it's a Lucasfilm production
I remember getting a lot of amusement from that scream by going into the waterspout over and over instead of using the correct draft to cross the water.
Надо быть явным неадекватом или извращенцем, чтобы предпочитать EGA-графику VGA-графике.
Ну а мы, ну а мы вот олдфаги
Неадекваты, извращенцы, шпана
Как один социально опасны
И по каждому плачет тюрьма
@@dosnostalgic хорошо стишки на русском сочиняете)
I came back to this years later and played the VGA version not knowing it was this different to the EGA version and now I find out the reason it seemed to suck is because there are so so many differences.
Waaait... 9:44 is that a spoof of Monkey Island 1? xD
It's not a spoof exactly. I just memorized the exchange.
You should do a review of the Turbo Duo version, I'd be curious how it compares to the EGA version. I loved it on Duo.
What about the Amiga version?
Amiga version is essentially the same as the EGA version, only Amiga's sound chip isn't exactly suited for orchestral music, so a few compromises had to be made.
For some reason, GOG and Steam only have the inferior VGA version.
I've discovered that the ultimate Loom version might actually be the Turbografx 16 version. Cd music and 32-colors graphics that do not betray the original style: you can see some pictures of it at the end of this french test
retroarchives.fr/?p=118
I don't like this version either. I think the added crappy gradients ruin a lot of art.
Well, I don't know. Looks to me more like what the Amiga version should have looked like : no dithering, a bit more colors, but very close in style.
Dithering is in part what makes LOOM so beautiful. Limited tech pushed to achieve an artistic effect. Just replacing dithering with solid colors doesn't work. A different approach needed to be found.
What About the NEC TG-16 version?
The FM-Towns version has all the text! Just without voice over.
As mentioned in the video
@@dosnostalgic Yeah. I wrote that comment before I fully watched it. 😁
Cuz I love the Towns versions. 😀
*notices the button on your shirt* so.. tell me about loom?
9:46
I honestly commented that like at the 2 minutes mark. I was not expecting it at the end. : ) you are awesome.
but is it tandy graphics compatible?
How about patching the EGA with the MT32 ?...ah you mentioned it, should have watched it till the end. sorry
Mentioned it. Patch download in the description.
sorry but NO. VGA version is different, yes. But EGA version also has its cons.
+Jotarun Lin Let's hear them. I'm interested.
Wait, what was that soundfont again? Weed?
I need to play this game again in EGA glory...
Weeds. www.simpilot.net/~richnagel/#midi
I had the EGA version that came with lucas arts classic adventures, still loved it. I'd like to play the VGA one some day.
+Cooper McKay EGA is the version to play in my opinion. VGA one is currently available on GOG and Steam.
Nice, some valid points!
Well, the EGA/VGA battle is less relevant now that everybody knows that the best version is the FM-Towns version. Best graphics, best music, not a single cut in dialogs or close-up and it's fully playable on ScummVM.
+Fabien Tarlet I share my thoughts on the FM Towns version in this video & have several issues with it. The new background graphics are pretty terrible at times, the sound effects are awful, there is a moment when wrong music plays, some censorship, etc. The color choices for some of the close-ups are also really weird.
I DO love the EGA graphics. It was the first time the SCUMM engine could accept dithering, and it gave some superb result (the starting island being one of the best). Still, the atmosphere being different doesn't necessarily make it wrong, and some screens I do prefer in the FM-Towns version. I'd really like to have the coding knowledge to make a truthfull remaster of the game, with orchestral music and hi-res graphics faithfull to the dark atmosphere of the game - that would be a thrill.
You can actually get a copy of the FM-Towns version via Steam. On one of the forums you can download a English version of the Japanese release as long as you can prove that you've actually purchased the game. The download site will ask you for a string of numbers which you can find the Steam folder containing the CD version of the game. After that you can play it in ScummVM, DOSbox, or whatever emulator you prefer.
That's not official. You can download any version you want illegally, that's not the point. Also it only works in ScummVM, not in DosBox. Currently the only legally available digital version is the VGA CD one.
DOS Nostalgia Sure it's not an official purchase, but at least it relies on you having actually purchased and downloaded the CD version from Steam. I might be wrong, but I doubt anyone would take legal actions against it. It unconventional, but at least it relies on an actual purchase. I did it anayway, I love being able to play the FM-Towns version and I even own Loom via both Steam and GOG so my conscience is clear.
FM Towns is best, then EGA, however I'd recommend playing the Amiga port on an emulator since its identical to DOS EGA except much better sound. Amiga sound chip was superior at this time.
Forgotten Gaming Regarding FM Towns being "best" Brian Moriarty had this to say:"The 256c art was rendered by at least 5 artists, each with a different approach. Result: More colors, less consistency. I believe there are several changes in the actual art (gradients, icons, etc). Never compared them screen by screen."
DOS Nostalgia Have you played the Amiga version though, emulated or truly? I'm curious what your take on it is and how it compares to you're nifty MT-32 patch.
Forgotten Gaming I was very excited about the FM towns version when I first heard about it, but - emulating it with ScummVM - I was disappointed, not so much by the graphics, but by the way the Tchaikovsky's music would loop repeatedly and overstay its welcome (which I didn't even think possible). The original has cues that it sticks to, followed by equally effective silence. Not only that, but I always got a horrible flat "bzzt" of a note whenever I spun a draft, which I didn't think represented the finesse of the Weavers at all. Now, I don't know if these problems show on a native FMTowns, or if my emulation was bad somehow, but that was two big audio sins in a game all about audio, so I could not love it like the original.
Magus Marquillin It appears that the Amiga version is near identical to the EGA one, but with a weird grey color here and there. Music could have been better, considering what Amiga was capable of. MT-32 certainly wins. And, of course, a modern day orchestral soundfont is even better.
Where is your pirate gear?
The best version was actually Amiga version...
Because of constant disk swapping, right?
I just prefer Amiga graphics and music especially which blows away SoundBlaster. But to each his own.
Normally that's very much the case for the 80s games, but In this particular case the graphics are identical to the EGA version, and music is sadly simplified. While it's "better" than Sound Blaster, it certainly isn't better than MT-32 or CD music.
Dostalgia
man the art is hard to choose from, I LOVE the old style with the dithering, and the color limitations make a lot of the shading much more dramatic than the newer version. but the newer version looks so much smoother and it helps with the immersion. I think I prefer the old style, ultimately
Thanks for the video. I played Loom years ago on Amiga and now I want to rediscover this on PC. Without you, I would've used the VGA version.
This game needs a kickstarter remake...combining the best aspects of the VGA and EGA versions.