ORBIT OF ALRIGHT

This graphically gorgeous and deceptively difficult metroidvania could be one of the most memorable games you'll play all year

- CHERYL MULLIN

THE old adage goes that looks can be deceiving, meaning what you see on the surface is not necessarily what's lurking underneath.

And this game, from French indie studio Douze Dixièmes, proves the point perfectly.

MIO: Memories In Orbit is one of a few metroidvanias getting a release this month, and from what I've seen of it so far, it’s going to take a lot to top it.

Initially scheduled to hit consoles in September last year, its release was delayed to get out of the way of Hollow Knight Silksong - and to be honest, that was a great call, as this game deserved a chance to truly shine.

You play as the eponymous android MIO, exploring a massive ship that’s unimaginatively been christened, the Vessel.

The starship is a technological ark, and it is now drifting through space. The problem is, it’s become overrun with vegetation and rogue machines as the ship’s AI caretakers, the Pearls, are offline.

MIO not only has to find out why, but stop the ship from shutting down, cutting off life support to everything inside.

The first surprise here is how difficult it is - that cosy, cute looking art style giving off the sense this will be a walk in the park.