Forge: Chapter One

Forge: Chapter One is a wonderfully crafted unofficial sequel to Loom, the LucasArts title that has delighted minds more than two decades ago. The original has a complex and excellently written story to which you should get acquainted before you play this fan-made sequel.

Recently there have been a handful of games that have managed to deliver near flawless dialogue. Forge: Chapter One is blessed with when it comes to this aspect, not only in terms of how it’s written, but also in how voice acting came out. It’s almost perfect in a lot of ways, the only thing that you might find unpleasant are the sometimes long pauses between replies, which make it a bit robotic at times.

Since it’s imperative to a point and click to have a captivating story, Forge: Chapter One is right as it should be. Each member of the guilds has his or her distinct manner of speaking which denotes certain personality features and connects you to them in a more personal way. Undoubtedly, Forge: Chapter One’s writing is excellent.

Forge: Chapter One is built using the same visual style as its predecessor. However, it is recommended that you play the game in a relatively small window. Doing so in a large one kind of steals some of the charm of the artwork as some details might slip by.

From a gameplay point of view, Forge: Chapter One uses classic point and click mechanics but it will also put you face to face with some of its own designs. Since Rusty belongs to the Blacksmith Guild, expect him to have the power to manipulate some of the world around him and in an interesting way too.

Like in Loom, the world around you will be fascinatingly strange and beautiful at the same time, it will be dangerous and inviting as well. It’s an appealing blend of visual elements.

If you’re a fan of retro games, of the original title, of point and click adventures, or just want to play something that’s purely good, try Forge: Chapter One. And if you love a good story, it will not disappoint.