The Mobius Machine Review (PlayStation 5)

Rating: 7.6
Author: Jim Smale

by Jim Smale · July 8, 2024

The Mobius Machine Review, Discover a vast alien world. Fight the ferocious local fauna and killer machines. Reveal its secrets and find a way to escape. The Mobius Machine is a side-scroller action adventure, with an emphasis on free-form exploration and intense combat. Explore an open interconnected world filled with brutal alien lifeforms and malfunctioning machines. Find your way through abandoned facilities and perilous environments, on the surface and in the depths of this world.

The Mobius Machine Review Pros:

Decent graphics.
1.61GB download size.
Platinum trophy.
Own in-game trophies list although it is the same as the PSN trophy list.
Can remap controls.
Five save slots.
Two game modes – standard, and retro.
Standard mode saves progress at save points and when quitting the game, upon death you keep all items, exploration progress, and some scrap.
Retro mode saves progress at save points only and upon death, you lose everything since the last save.
Fast loading times.
In-game cutscenes.
Tutorial pop-ups as you play.
2D perspective with full 3D backdrops.
Excellent lighting adding atmosphere.
Decent soundtrack.
Tight controls with a good jump feel.
When shooting it uses twin-stick shooter rules, right stick to aim and left to move around.
Energy can be collected from jars and enemies, you have an energy bar, and is depleted when you heal yourself.
Excellent level design with good platforming sections.
Once you press shoot after aiming you can let go of aiming and as long as you shoot down, it locks that angle in place.
The map uncovers as you play.
Roguelike elements as described in the difficulty entry.
Play how you want.
Metroidvania elements like having to acquire certain items or abilities in order to progress.
Signposts around the world help with navigation.
The workbenches require you to find a complete blueprint and scrap to craft weapons and upgrades.
The lab will grow all the different types of forms in the world and this allows you to learn how to deal with them as habitats affect how they are.
Terminals can be interacted with for info.
Puzzle elements throughout.
Save pods can be found and used.
The proving ground lets you practice shooting and platforming safely.
Unlock shortcuts and discover alternative routes.
Enemies respawn so you can farm materials and currency.
The game nails the sense of adventure really well.

The Mobius Machine Review Cons:

No voice work and instead opting for just text.
Until you find the actual map data, the trail you leave on the map menu is a mess and no good.
No real game options.
A lot of backtracking.
The initial half an hour can be rough as you find your bearings.
You can easily get lost or feel turned around.
Healing can only be done on a flat surface.
Frustrating parts especially when needing to destroy certain platforms etc.
The general pacing of the game felt like too much work.

The Mobius Machine:

Official website.

Developer: Madruga Works

Publisher: Madruga Works

Store Links –

PlayStation

8/10

Graphics - 8/10
7/10

Sound - 7/10
7/10

Accessibility - 7/10
8/10

Length - 8/10
8/10

Fun Factor - 8/10

7.6/10

Summary

The Mobius Machine offers decent graphics and a manageable 1.61GB download size. Players can aim for the Platinum trophy, and the game features its own in-game trophies list, although it mirrors the PSN trophy list. Controls are customizable, and there are five save slots available.

The game offers two modes: standard and retro. In standard mode, progress is saved at designated points and when quitting the game. Upon death, players retain items, exploration progress, and some scrap. Retro mode, on the other hand, only saves progress at designated points, and death results in losing everything since the last save.

Fast loading times enhance the overall experience, and in-game cutscenes provide narrative context. Tutorial pop-ups guide players as they explore the 2D perspective with full 3D backdrops. The lighting adds atmosphere, and the soundtrack is decent. Controls are tight, especially the jump mechanics.

Shooting follows twin-stick shooter rules, with the right stick for aiming and the left stick for movement. Energy can be collected from jars and enemies, depleting the energy bar when healing. The game features excellent level design with engaging platforming sections.

Unique mechanics include the ability to lock shooting angles after aiming and the gradual uncovering of the map during gameplay. Roguelike elements affect difficulty, allowing players to choose their preferred playstyle. Metroidvania elements require acquiring specific items or abilities to progress.

Signposts aid navigation, workbenches allow crafting with blueprints and scrap, and the lab teaches players how to deal with different forms based on their habitats. Terminals provide additional information, and puzzles are scattered throughout the world. Save pods offer safety, and the proving ground lets players practice shooting and platforming.

Unlocking shortcuts and discovering alternative routes keeps exploration interesting. Enemies respawn, allowing material and currency farming. Overall,“The Mobius Machine successfully captures the sense of adventure.

However, the game has limitations. It lacks voice work, relying solely on text. The map trail before finding actual map data can be confusing. Game options are limited, and backtracking can become tedious. The initial half-hour can be challenging as players orient themselves, and healing requires a flat surface. Some frustrating moments arise, especially related to destroying platforms.

Overall, The Mobius Machine combines engaging gameplay, exploration, and unique mechanics and presents it in a cool way, I lost hours just wanting to explore, I really liked the lab part where you could interact and test weapons and tools on the fungus in a safe space, the atmosphere was creepy but also appealing in a weird way. It is a well crafted metroidvania and well worth checking out.