Loopz
System: NES
Release Date: October 1990
Developer: Audiogenic, Milestone srl
Publisher: Mindscape
Genre: Puzzle
Complete circuits with random pieces to score points in Loopz! Here’s a puzzle game similar, but different, to Pipe Dream. Try to rack up the most points as you can by creating large loops.
You begin by choosing one of three game types. Games A and B have you placing pieces of… pipe on a 7 by 18 grid. The pieces you get are random, but can be of many different shapes. You can rotate them with a press of the A Button. The longer the circuit, the more points you score. Do you want to try to set yourself up for big loops, or do you want more, smaller tracks?
Pieces start out with simple elbows and straight lines, but progress to Z pieces and U pieces. You have a limited amount of time to place your piece, with higher levels granting you less time. You have two extra chances that are lost if you don’t make your time limit. Occasionally you are given a piece that will complete any loop that you haven’t connected. You don’t get to see what piece you will get next, so planning ahead is pretty much impossible. Learning the possible pieces can help, but it’s a real crap shoot.
The Type C game shows you a completed loop and then removes random pieces. It’s up to you to recreate the loop with the pieces you are given. I hope you have a good memory. I sure don’t.
Graphics: 1.0
Very boring. Not much is going on, but it doesn’t hinder play.
Sound: 1.5
The music ranges from decent to not so great. Sound effects are pretty shrill.
Gameplay: 1.5
Take random pieces and complete loops. Not difficult in theory.
Difficulty: 1.5
In practice, not being able to see your next piece is pretty unforgivable.
Fun Factor: 0.5
I really didn’t enjoy myself. This isn’t my kind of puzzle game.
Overall Rating: 1.2
Loopz earns a D+. This isn’t something that I can recommend. It’s just not any fun.