Moebius: Empire Rising

About

"Moebius: Empire Rising" is a thrilling contemporary adventure game that follows Malachi Rector, an antiquities expert with a photographic memory, as he begrudgingly works for a secretive government agency. The time-bending story, filled with puzzles and intrigue, leads Malachi worldwide to uncover the truth behind a murdered woman who resembles a historical figure. As Malachi's past and present collide, the player must navigate complex relationships and investigate every detail to reveal the truth.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

76%

Audience ScoreBased on 189 reviews

story102 positive mentions

stability21 negative mentions

The game features a compelling and intriguing story that draws players in, with well-researched historical references.
The unique puzzle mechanics, particularly the character analysis system, provide an interesting twist to traditional point-and-click gameplay.
The voice acting is generally well done, and the music composed by Robert Holmes adds to the nostalgic feel of the game.

The graphics and animations are often criticized for being outdated and poorly executed, detracting from the overall experience.
Many players found the main character, Malachi, to be unlikable and the dialogue to be flat and uninspired.
The game suffers from technical issues, including bugs and a lack of polish, which can lead to frustrating gameplay experiences.

story
194 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
42%
5%
The story of "Moebius: Empire Rising" is a mixed bag, praised for its intriguing premise and historical elements, yet criticized for its execution and character depth. While some players found the narrative compelling and engaging, others felt it suffered from bland characters and a lack of emotional resonance, leading to a less memorable experience. Overall, the game showcases Jane Jensen's signature storytelling style but leaves some players wanting more in terms of character development and plot integration.
- “Great fun - neat mechanics, good characters and a cool story!”
- “+ well written, compelling and intriguing story written by Jane Jensen that delves into historical facts and fiction.”
- “The story is intriguing and well-developed, keeping me engaged throughout.”
- “Where the plot is weakest is the fact that this is essentially the first part of a story that hasn't been completed.”
- “While the story itself, concerning historical patterns and family bloodlines, is a worthy device for a political thriller, the dialogue itself is dry and witless in the way that it portrays its characters as insular and anti-charismatic.”
- “The story is basically a bunch of weak characters that few gamers would care about.”
graphics
61 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
20%
67%
13%
The graphics in the game receive mixed reviews, with many users criticizing the overall quality as inconsistent and reminiscent of low-budget titles, particularly noting poor animations and character models. However, some praise the hand-drawn backgrounds and art style, describing them as colorful and detailed, while others find the graphics acceptable for a point-and-click adventure, emphasizing that they do not detract significantly from the gameplay experience. Overall, while there are notable flaws, the graphics are seen as serviceable by some players, especially in the context of the game's narrative and humor.
- “Well drawn, colorful, and detailed hand-drawn pre-rendered background graphics.”
- “Graphics are nice and crisp and fit very well with the game's nature.”
- “Definitely thought and care were invested in the graphics department.”
- “The graphics are what you'd expect for a low budget, but vary wildly in quality.”
- “The graphics are terrible and the game is pretty funny, but that's what made it fun.”
- “The graphics made my eyes bleed.”
gameplay
60 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
28%
62%
10%
The gameplay in "Moebius: Empire Rising" features innovative mechanics, such as character analysis and historical comparisons, which add a unique twist to the traditional point-and-click format. However, players have noted issues with confusing interface mechanics, slow animations, and restrictive puzzle interactions that can detract from the overall experience. While the story and character development are engaging, the gameplay can feel limited and occasionally tedious, impacting the enjoyment of the game.
- “Great fun - neat mechanics, good characters and a cool story!”
- “Very original and non-cliché story, colorful characters and interesting game mechanics.”
- “The game was fun, not too easy but not impossible, the plot was enjoyable, the characters were likable and played well, the look of the game was nice, and gameplay was easy to understand.”
- “The gameplay is irritating as well with lots of animations that go on too long.”
- “The only time I got stuck was when the game mechanics didn't work and certain items didn't show in certain positions until the third or fourth mouse click.”
- “The gameplay is a little bit disappointing because of the narrow amount of choices you can make.”
music
48 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
46%
48%
6%
The music in the game, composed by Robert Holmes, receives mixed reviews; many players appreciate its nostalgic and atmospheric qualities, likening it to the "Gabriel Knight" series, while others find it repetitive or forgettable. The soundtrack is noted for enhancing the game's ambiance and fitting well with various settings, although some users reported issues with voice acting and pronunciation. Overall, while the music is praised for its beauty and catchiness, opinions vary significantly on its impact and memorability.
- “Not just because it's a really great game with a cool storyline and gameplay, but what really stood out for me was the music!”
- “The music was very comfy and felt like it belonged in every place that it played, the main theme is catchy and felt like something out of a Bond film.”
- “There is variety in settings and puzzles, there are some really nice dialogues, beautiful ambience and gorgeous music throughout.”
- “The music is forgettable.”
- “Terrible, terrible music.”
- “I had to turn off the music (volume down) after 10 minutes, because it was giving me a headache.”
stability
23 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
9%
91%
The game's stability is a mixed bag, with some players reporting a bug-free experience while others encounter frequent freezes and crashes, particularly on the Mac version. Although many glitches have been addressed, issues like graphical glitches and minor bugs persist, which may detract from the overall experience for some players. Overall, while the game has potential, its stability issues can hinder progress and enjoyment.
- “The voice acting is excellent, and the game ran bug-free for me.”
- “The current version is extremely buggy and it is impossible to finish the game as it freezes at several points.”
- “The Mac version is bug-ridden and it's sad that I can't go on in chapter 3... it would have been a great game and story...”
- “The game also freezes quite often and crashes sometimes.”
atmosphere
10 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
80%
20%
The game's atmosphere is described as atmospheric and mysterious, enhanced by beautiful music, creating an engaging experience, particularly in the first half. However, some reviewers noted a lack of depth in character development that detracted from the overall atmosphere, and criticized the animations as poor, though the compelling story helps to mitigate these issues.
- “Different, atmospheric, and mysterious adventure game from Jane Jensen.”
- “The music is beautiful and atmospheric.”
- “Enjoyable game with an interesting historical mechanic, good story, and atmosphere (mainly the first half or so).”
- “The only negative point is the animations, which are really awful. However, thanks to the story and overall atmosphere, you can overlook this.”
humor
6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game is praised for its humor, with players noting that the writing is consistently enjoyable and the characters feel authentic. Despite the poor graphics, the comedic elements contribute significantly to the overall fun, complemented by well-crafted puzzles that strike a balance between challenge and logic.
- “The writing was wonderful from start to finish, with a nice sense of humor. All the characters felt human, and nobody acted out of character.”
- “Nice writing and interesting puzzles, which are not too hilariously difficult but always make sense.”
- “The graphics are terrible, but the game is pretty funny, and that's what made it fun.”
grinding
5 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Players find the grinding aspect of the game tedious due to slow character movements and animations, which can make gameplay feel sluggish. Additionally, some users note that glitches and lackluster environments contribute to a frustrating experience, particularly during backtracking.
- “Slow animations make the gameplay a little bit tedious.”
- “Tedious slow movement of the characters.”
- “Suffers from a few glitches; some environments lack substance; tedious backtracking.”
optimization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The optimization aspect has been criticized for lacking memorable and engaging performances, indicating a general dissatisfaction with the game's execution in this area.
emotional
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The game effectively combines thrilling gameplay with significant emotional stakes, creating a compelling experience that resonates with players.
- “A nice blend of excitement and emotional stakes.”
- “A nice blend of excitement and emotional stakes.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
50%
50%
Reviewers emphasize the importance of incorporating replayability into game design, suggesting that players should have the option to skip familiar content during subsequent playthroughs. This approach enhances the overall experience by acknowledging players' prior knowledge and allowing them to engage with the game in a more streamlined manner.
- “A game designer should always keep in mind that their game may have replay value for a player; if a player goes through a game for a second or third time, they already know what to do and should be given the option to do just that.”
- “A game designer should always keep in mind that their game may have replay value for a player; and if a player goes through a game for a second or third time, they already know what to do and they should be given the option to do just that.”