If you’re a fan of tight and challenging Metroidvania platformers in the manner of the Hollow Knight games, then MIO: Memories in Orbit might just hit the launch button for you.
Gamers play as a small robot called MIO that activates only to find it has no memory of who or what it is. For that matter, MIO doesn’t really know what it should be doing on this vast and rapidly deteriorating vessel drifting through space. But MIO has one advantage: The derelict ship isn’t completely dead yet.
There are AI-driven caretakers, known as Pearls, that are still functioning in various locations around the ship. These constructs are malfunctioning and running out of power, too, but one of them sends MIO off to find a way to prevent the ship’s total failure.
Gameplay-wise, players control the nimble little robot protagonist. Initially, it can jump and lash out at enemies with its long wire-like hair. With time, MIO can upgrade its moves to include double jumps, wall-climbing and grapplehook-like abilities that make it possible to keep revealing layer after side-scrolling layer of the ship’s large multiplatform map.
MIO’s goals are to revive the malfunctioning Pearls, find fragmented “memories” of the massive ship’s forgotten past, solve environmental puzzles, battle rogue robotic foes and figure out what happened to the humans who were once a part of this ship’s terraforming mission.
MIO: Memories in Orbit is a side-scrolling, single-player action-adventure that does not offer any multiplayer options and can be played without an internet connection.
MIO’s heroic quest is to somehow save the ship and all of its seemingly sentient inhabitants.
The game is undeniably beautiful with its watercolor-like environments and a hauntingly lovely, vocal-laden musical score. The gameplay requires quick interactions and exploration and is a lot of fun once you get into the platforming rhythms.
Memories in Orbit also offers several menu-based assists that younger players can opt for: The Pacifist option keeps enemies from attacking unless MIO attacks first. The Eroded Bosses option makes enemy bosses more brittle and fragile with repeated encounters. And the Ground Healing option gives an extra layer of protection to MIO when it stays on the ground for a short period.
In this E10+ rated game, MIO doesn’t speak, but the word “h—” shows up in a robotic comment.
There are also quite a few melee-style boss battles in the mix. There’s nothing bloody or messy in those robot-focused combats. But enemies shoot missile-like projectiles, swoop down from the sky with blades or axes and attack with pincers and stingers. MIO can be beaten and die—but the robot hero is then sent back in for another attempt.
The boss battles—which can only be won through recognition of an enemy’s quick-moving attack patterns—can be very difficult and frustrating at times. And that, frankly, can be the strongest detractor for this game. That’s not a content concern, so to speak, but players should go in with the understanding that Memories in Orbit will feel punishing in its challenges at times. Every step forward must be earned. Every needed bonus must be discovered and will leave you in danger if you miss it. And the game delivers setbacks that some may find discouraging.
MIO: Memories in Orbit is a lovely but tough Metroidvania adventure. Those who love a challenging platforming quest should strap on their space boots straight away.
After spending more than two decades touring, directing, writing and producing for Christian theater and radio (most recently for Adventures in Odyssey, which he still contributes to), Bob joined the Plugged In staff to help us focus more heavily on video games. He is also one of our primary movie reviewers.
