The Mobius Machine

Good graphics and map

fun fun fun

Update2: Just finished the game after approx 45 hours. 10/10 Every bit as impressed as when I wrote the earlier reviews. I see a few people have mentioned the game can seem grindy at times. Here are a few tips to prevent mindless wandering: -> Check the map - look for areas that aren't fully explored. -> On the map, do you have diamonds anywhere? Those are the blue upgrade orbs. -> It can help to take a screenshot of a section of the map and note what parts are blocked - there's always another way in. -> At some point you unlock the ability to swim underwater, and also to use a parachute when falling - it felt like half the game was beyond these two unlocks, so if you haven't gotten those, don't give up! -> You can use the mobius machine to quickly jump around the map. -> A lesser known trick - workshops all point to the same place, and there's a mobius machine near the workshop, so you can use workshops as a secondary way of getting around the map. -> Some of the bosses are tough, and some are multi-phase - these were challenging - I probably had to play through the first phase a dozen times to get enough cracks at the second phase to win that - the good news is after the fi…

I played the game 15h to the final boss. The bosses wore me out, and I don't think I will beat that guy. Reaching the end was only possible using Demajen's Map, the game is huge and a very dense labyrinth. I would recommend the game for metroidvania fans, but be warned, this game is extremely difficult and lacks any accessibility features. Bosses are very hard and uneven, especially the early ones are too difficult and frustrating. There is a lot of backtracking that takes ages, crafting weapons is tedious due to having to find multiple blueprints before being able to upgrade. (This also somehow kills the feeling of a reward when exploring, unfortunately) Why do I recommend it? The graphics are gorgeous, exploration was fun (when I wasn't stalled at one of the annoying bosses) and the atmosphere and soundtrack really convey a surreal but relaxed walk in a spacesuit. To the devs: I would have found it fairer if you offered some difficulty adjustments for older gamers like me who do not have the reflexes anymore to survive your challenges. Don't give me the achievement but let me see the ending. There's no shame in creating a very difficult game but offering some help for your pla…

I really want to like this game, the design (characters and level design) is nice, nice ideas. But the main issue I have with it are the level design (the repetitive parts) causing navigation issues for me. Backtracking is horrible, the map areas are too big for their own good, the respawning enemies and how much of a tank they can be at times even with upgraded weapons feel more annoying than challenging. Not allowed to take shortcuts too or your booster except for puzzles at best since everywhere you go a projectile or spikes hit you. This makes it slow and sluggish, combined with the backtracking it can take just for a simple chest is bad. I can not recommend it if there are not some Quality of Life changes with the map like teleport, better checkpoints and better shortcuts to open. I hate to say it, but I hate this game sadly. It started to frustrate me, not knowing where to go next after certain upgrades and even felt like no progression at all anymore after a while. It was no fun anymore to explore, and I just wanted to get through an area, only to notice I need another upgrade in this area, so back to backtracking of course. Overall the movement and shooting is nice bu…

I really wanted to like this game, it is so well-polished. It is pretty graphically, character movement is smooth, soundtrack is moody. Controls are competent and precise. Holding the trigger and letting go of the right stick keeps your aim in place, which is nice and helps during platforming. The game lacks variety, however. Variety of enemies, of backgrounds, places and secrets. Every breakable wall will have an explosive keg beside it. I couldn't find any secrets (unless you count specific power ups), but maybe that's on me. There were very few new enemies in new sectors. Finally, the exploration was pretty lackluster. In concept, it was fine. In true Metroidvania fashion, you go back and forth collecting power-ups to reach areas previously ability-gatekept. As the scenario rarely changes, backtracking quickly becomes a slog. Sectors are pretty large, but many paths are locked at first, which forces you to take long detours while dodging enemies who are true bullet-sponges. You unlock fast travel pretty early, but it's kind of clunky and doesn't help much, at least in my experience. In the end, it's a game that checks all the right boxes for me, except the flawed executio…