Mio: Memories in Orbit preview: An atmospheric Metroidvania that completely pulled me into its mysterious world

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12Dice’s LinkedIn profile mentions their studio focuses on creating unique, original adventures with striking visuals. Their initial release, Shady Part of Me, was notable for its creative approach and skillful application of light and shadow to enhance the mood. Continuing this artistic flair, their second game, Mio: Memories in Orbit, showcases vibrant colors and textured settings.

In the rapidly expanding genre known as Metroidvania, it’s crucial for developers to offer something unique to make their game stand out. Fortunately, Mio manages to do exactly that. The game’s world is so captivating, I found myself instantly drawn in—not only because of its stunning and immersive visuals, but also due to the intriguing balance between exploration driven by curiosity and challenging gameplay mechanics.

An Immersive Vessel To Explore

The demo I experienced lasted approximately an hour and a half, offering me a substantial preview of the game’s layout and mechanics. Consistent with the genre, advancement involves navigating interconnected regions, acquiring new skills to revisit areas initially inaccessible, and combating various adversaries. Although the approach is commonplace, Mio distinguishes itself through its exceptional visuals.

From the very beginning, the game appears stunning. The initial scene smoothly flows into gameplay, making me forget I was controlling it until I finally made a move with my controller. The environment is set within a colossal technological ship known as the Vessel, whose artificial intelligence overseers have inexplicably stopped functioning. Despite its focus on science fiction, the game takes you by surprise with dense forests, frozen ruins, and watery expanses—some of which were beyond my reach during the demo preview.

As Mio, a swift robot, you awaken from rest to examine why the Vessel is malfunctioning and prevent its impending collapse. The narrative begins mysteriously, but eventually, you encounter a robotic caretaker who assigns you the job of gathering energy or “nacre” to reconnect it with the Vessel’s systems. It isn’t until later that you receive a map. During this initial phase, exploration feels natural and intuitive, which heightens the intrigue.

Risk, Reward, and Robots

In the initial stages of the game, it’s both exciting and precarious. I encountered a significant save point, or Network Gate, rather early on, which necessitated returning there to recover and store my progress. The potential for losing my advancements—alongside the valuable nacre—following a challenging run made each adventure nerve-wracking and consequential. Although you can utilize nacre at certain junctures to recuperate, only genuine progress is saved at these gates.

While delving deeper, I found various add-ons for Mio – passive enhancements that need space within her Allocation Matrix. Initially, I could only fit a basic health indicator. As time went by, I enlarged the matrix to accommodate additional beneficial modifiers such as a short-term shield or one revealing enemy health bars, an option unavailable until you choose to install it. This intricate system makes each upgrade feel like a small advancement into Mio‘s peculiar, robotic realm.

In a novel discovery, Mio’s initial new power transforms her “hair” into a grappling hook, enabling her to latch onto floating orbs and ascend to higher places. She exhibits remarkable agility, capable of double jumping, and if she strikes an enemy during mid-air combat, she gains an additional jump. This allows for the creation of prolonged aerial attack sequences with precise timing.

To my surprise, the enemies, primarily robots, each possess unique attack patterns. Even the early ones caught me off guard multiple times. The two boss battles I encountered required both patience and precision, with the second one being particularly memorable due to its intensified vocal-driven soundtrack that accentuated the final stages of its health depletion.

The allure of Mio lies largely in its enigma. Despite lacking a map for most of the demo, I found myself compulsively investigating every nook and cranny of the Vessel. Secret ledges concealed behind foreground elements uncovered bonus nacre, while inactive robots suggested potential interactions once you acquire the necessary skills – a promise that intrigued me greatly. The game’s levels exhibit a multi-layered design, encouraging exploration and experimentation.

Play Your Way

Mio is equally tough to handle – this is especially true when you’re not cautious with your choice of modifiers. For instance, one particular modifier triggers an explosion whenever Mio sustains damage, encouraging a more risky approach. Additionally, there are robots that allow you to store your mother-of-pearl (nacre), ensuring you won’t lose it when you perish – a valuable resource if you’ve had a successful run. Enemies reappear each time you cross a gate, giving you the option to either skirt around them or gather mother-of-pearl as you advance.

Mio offers considerate features that make gameplay more approachable without undermining enjoyment. For instance, it decreases boss health after repeated defeats and provides healing upon landing or safeguards against attacks. These options might not have been necessary for me, but they are a thoughtful addition for beginners or those less accustomed to Metroidvania-style games.

Final Thoughts

It’s evident that there’s a lot more to explore. The demo suggests a larger narrative with collectible lore pieces, an expansive city, and undiscovered abilities. I was completely captivated by it, finding myself deeply intrigued by its mechanisms and drawn to every enigmatic nook of the Vessel.

The game titled “Mio: Memories in Orbit” is set for launch later this year. If you have the slightest interest in Metroidvania games that offer an atmospheric experience with stylish aesthetics and intricate mechanics, it’s definitely worth adding it to your Steam wishlist.

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2025-06-04 18:32