Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Video games |
| Headquarters | United States |
| Products | Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony |
Moebius: The Orb of Celestial Harmony is a video game from 1985 created by Origin Systems with Greg Malone as its designer. Originally launched on the Apple II, the title was subsequently adapted for platforms including Amiga, Atari ST, Commodore 64, Macintosh, and MS-DOS. The gameplay integrates top-down, tile-based role-playing components alongside side-view action combat sequences reminiscent of Karateka. Origin Systems followed up with a sequel titled Windwalker.
Gameplay
In this adventure, players take on the role of a disciple under the Headmaster’s guidance, assigned to retrieve the Orb of Celestial Harmony from the renegade disciple Kaimen. The quest unfolds across four Elemental realms: Earth, Water, Air, and Fire. The game merges classic RPG mechanics with distinctive elements such as a karma system that shifts dynamically based on player decisions. Combat is presented through 2D side-scrolling sequences, featuring a varied arsenal including shurikens and fireballs for characters who have advanced skills.
Reception
COMPUTE! commended Moebius as a fitting follow-up to Ultima IV, emphasizing its impressive visuals, demanding arcade-style combat, and thought-provoking puzzles. Computer Gaming World praised the detailed artwork and innovative animated fighting system, although later reviews mentioned a disconnect between the martial arts and role-playing aspects despite their individual strengths. The Commodore 64 edition garnered mixed opinions from Info, which acknowledged its ambitious gameplay but pointed out shortcomings in graphics and user interface. In 1989, Dragon rated the title 4½ stars out of 5. Steve Fuelleman of Space Gamer/Fantasy Gamer described it as an excellent game whose imperfections contributed to its unique charm rather than diminishing it.
Reviews
- Jeux & Stratégie issue #39
- Jeux & Stratégie HS #3