Memories in Orbit is getting rave reviews

India metroidvania MIO: Memories in Orbit debuted to strong reviews from professional critics and gamers alike. While his Hollow Knight: Silksong-as the aesthetics are among the most appreciated features of the game, first impressions suggest it MIO is very much its own thing, clearly different from Team Cherry's metroidvania.

The newly debuted title is only the second game from Douze Dixiemes, a small French studio that previously released a surreal puzzle platformer. Shady Part of Me in December 2020. It launched on January 20 for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch 2, and PC, in addition to debuting as a one-day Xbox Game Pass title.

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MIO Interactive Map: Memories in Orbit

Our comprehensive map for MIO: Memories In Orbit.

MIO: Memories in Orbit debuts to strong reviews

Four days after MIO: Memories in OrbitThe release of the Focus Entertainment title generated a lot of positive buzz among reviewers. The game currently holds a “Strong” rating on OpenCritic with an average score of 83 and an 81% reviewer recommendation rate based on 69 reviews. This puts it in the top 9% of games rated on the platform. Player reviews are pretty much in line with MIOEarly critical reception, the metroidvania has earned nearly 75% positive user ratings on Steam based on over 500 reviews. On consoles, the game has a 4.39-star rating on the PlayStation Store, but only a 3.3-star rating on Xbox. Xbox's lower score may be affected by the inclusion of Game Pass, as titles that connect to Microsoft's subscription service tend to receive user ratings.

MIO: Overview of Memories in Orbit

OpenCritic: 83 average score, 81% referral rate
Steam: 74.80% positive reviews
PS store: 4.39 stars
Xbox Store: 3.3 stars

The hand-painted visuals, minimalistic user interface, and classic metroidvania gameplay loop have drawn many comparisons between MIO and Hollow Knight: Silksong among reviewers. Still, the critical consensus is that the latest Douze Dixiemes title stands on its own, delivering an overall simpler but still memorable experience. Critics particularly praised its exploration, noting that the game effectively rewards curiosity and detours off the path. MIOThe movement mechanics were also praised, being described as instantly fluid and confidence-inspiring, serving as a breath of fresh air in a genre that often holds back basic mobility options for hours at a time.

A second point of praise among reviewers centered on the game's engaging platforming and, to a lesser extent, the boss design. Many critics highlighted the challenging traversal sequences that are satisfying to learn and rewarding to master, complete with a soundtrack that effectively reinforces the tone of each area. The combat seems to be more of a mixed bag, especially with regards to the bosses. Several parts MIO allegedly approach SilksongAverage difficulty level, but some reviewers have criticized some bosses for relying on unusual mechanics that are complicated by imprecise controls. Without diving into specific spoilers, one multi-stage boss encountered around hour five drew criticism for requiring awkward updraft-based acrobatics to defeat.

Many complaints about the difficulty are toned down MIOoptional ease-of-access options, including a switch that makes bosses progressively easier with each failed attempt. Likewise, there is an option that provides a single health container after failing in a platforming section, which can basically be used to repeat platforming challenges indefinitely. Combined, these two settings can make the game trivial and minimize the chances of players getting stuck and eventually quitting out of frustration. Much like Hollow Knight: Silksong, MIO: Memories in Orbit it has multiple endings that need to be unlocked gradually. Crowdsourced data from HowLongToBeat suggests that its regular end can be reached in around 15 hours, though the real one will require a more significant time commitment.