Moebius: Empire Rising

Moebius: Empire Rising bears a resemblance to an expensive item, like the ones its protagonist values. While initially it seems extremely valuable, even though it comes in a not so beautiful package, in the end it appears to be of not so high value. It's not fake by any means, it's just that it does not correspond to the promises its fame and figure had created.

Despite awkward graphics, it uses classic adventure themes to craft a mystery and a world worth exploring. [July 2014, p.72]

While it is plagued with bad animation, lackluster puzzles and other issues, Moebius: Empire Rising can still offer a nice experience thanks to Jensen’s high writing level.

Not without its flaws, but very few of those flaws matter too much: Moebius is, on the whole, a well-written and interesting investigation.

After that trick that was Gray Matter, Jane Jensen returns with her first crowdfunding game, Moebius: Empire Rising, that takes us in a very Dan Brown-esque journey through the world in a story very well conceived that falls down towards its climax. Its biggest sin is trying to be as adult and complex as Gabriel Knight, but it ultimately chooses the Nicolas Cage National Treasure's path. Investigation is preferred over puzzles, which are very casual. And it's a shame that the Deduction an Analize mechanic, well designed, ended being tedious instead for some designing elections. Moebius is an entertaining journey, but it seems we'll have to wait for the new chapters to see the whole big potential of Jensen's creature explode with the force it should be exerting in this game.

If you like a straightforward plot and don't mind Lovecraftian-like animations.

Moebius is not bad, but it’s the weakest entry in Jane Jensen’s portfolio and we have every right to demand more from her than just a decent game. [06/2014, p.70]

And it wasn’t until later, when I settled down and reflected on the game, that I realized a potential purpose of such mundane tasks in Moebius: Empire Rising: Jane Jensen wants you to feel––not just see––the psychology of Malachi Rector, a man scarred by a family tragedy, and tormented with a genetic gift. If that is indeed the primary purpose, then I applaud Jensen.

Flawed in so many ways, but it still manages to engage and entertain. Jane Jensen-fans will find much to enjoy here.

A refreshing experience and well worth the time. If only there were more adventure games of this ilk.

While you certainly won’t hate your experience, Moebius offers nothing remarkable. You can have better adventures elsewhere.

Moebius is missing a spark — something that makes you want to keep playing. It has a few shining moments with some standout humorous lines, but they're buried in bad dialogue, empty characters, and a dry mystery. Sadly, I don't think people will be talking about Malachi Rector with the esteem they do Gabriel Knight.

On this new Jane Jansen adventure game, we are taking the role of an Antique dealer Malachi Rector, a man with terrible 3D graphics.

Suffers from being too faithful to its old-school roots. [Issue#148, p.116]

I had high hopes for Moebius: Empire Rising, but while it shows early promise it ultimately falls far short of living up to it. I suspect that Jane Jensen has a good story to tell, but this is definitely not the way to go about it.

The story is cleverly constructed, similarities between protagonist Malachi and Gabriel Knight abound. But herein lies the problem: In comparing itself to the classic, the difference in quality becomes all the more apparent.

The premise nicely informs the sturdy-if-unspectacular gameplay framework, Malachi Rector is a well realised and fascinating character and the story is smart, but those sound fundamentals are in constant battle against jittery Sims-esque character models, wildly inconsistent art and a slew of mild technical issues.

Again, it didn't work out – again, Jane Jensen is serving only a neat story that is, however, wrapped in both unnecessary graphics and gaming features that appear functionless at best, and that lead the game down a blind alley.

While mildly entertaining at times, Moebius is disappointingly light on the charm, intrigue, and ingenuity that marked Jane Jensen’s earlier work.