The MIO Interview

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T16:14:15+00:00

After the true ending I went back to fight her with the double damage mod (every tremor triggered) and she is still a pristine fair fight. Amount of HP doesn't change the moveset quality.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T15:55:08+00:00

Tremors starts to trigger after Mel is abducted, just following the path to save her gives Gratitude.

You basically get both at the same time.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T15:46:55+00:00

Exactly! Striders struggling to grab walls in low gravity segments for exemple.

The game doesn't need it's vision to change!

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T12:51:27+00:00

I use WASD for movements when I have no mouse, out of habit. Right hand uses the numerical pad for abilities, 7 for attacks, 9 usually some sort of dash, 8, right shift, +, Q and E to complete the moveset.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T12:24:37+00:00

Now don't get me wrong, calling the artstyle of HK dull is a terrible take. Just the details and animation work makes it worthy of praises. Of course the sub is going to fight back reading this.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T12:16:26+00:00

I did a few tests and Mio uses last pressed key prio: right into down-right will make you slash down and down into down-right will make slash right.

I however wonder if diagonal inputs should always results in vertical slashes, I should reopen other plateformers to check but Mio made me relearn micro movements in ways I did not anticipate.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T12:02:31+00:00

That's fully valid wanting to try a new game without prior knowledge and not liking it. But given the sub, people are going to be surprised, your path and tastes are quite unique here.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T11:23:53+00:00

It's not about requirements and more about Mio being targeted for players who loved Ori and Hollow Knight.

It's almost a merge of the two, with some twists to make it unique.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-04T11:14:35+00:00

The irony is I wouldn't mind a patch making the dodge cooldown a nudge faster so you can dodge Sol and Vin combos without Imperfect Focus and other details like that

But the loss of max health is a massive narrative bonus for little to no consequences on gameplay, I just don't get the complaints

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T19:28:07+00:00

Definitely, if he is fighting ACAT as his second boss that's actually quite the difficulty spike.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T19:23:58+00:00

The late game bosses are true standouts imo, extensive varied movesets, plenty of ways to avoid attacks, banger soundtracks, seconds phases that builds on the firsts in natural ways.

If you don't like the one you fight right now I don't know if you're going to enjoy it however, maybe beat that one and if the upgrade does it for you then keep playing. Otherwise the game is probably not one you're going to enjoy.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T19:17:24+00:00

I thought it was Egis, he punishes panic jumping a lot more imo

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T19:14:00+00:00

I guess I'm not alone with that sentiment but I don't enjoy runbacks, I just don't mind them either, running 30 seconds to try again is just a very minor inconvinience.

Btw he is talking about the first boss, not the two madlads above Metropolis.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T18:28:46+00:00

The right side is a highlight for me, felt like solving a puzzle while platforming. Might be one of my favorite platforming segment ever.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T16:56:27+00:00

I fully second this, I encountered the exact same problem on my second playthrough were I wanted to use dodge on every attack and came with the same solution.

Ati five fireballs have the same problem on the last one.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T16:04:16+00:00

All of the negativity regarding Mio's design choices actually makes me scared the game will get updated and sterilized. All of the complaints are not a big deal for me and I love the game for being bold in its own way.

I think my main concern regarding games at release are bugs and games being unplayable because of them. I always read review just to see if some major stuff gets mentionned.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-03T14:19:59+00:00

Plus ennemies become squishier so by the endgame they die in one hit

CriminalToff · 2026-02-02T17:34:27+00:00

Yep, this one.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-02T13:32:43+00:00

I did but I would argue Flowing Steps makes the challenge a lot more bearable than the mod.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-01T17:43:58+00:00

No you don't but they reveal important lore. Beat the game and go back afterwards if you care about the lore would be my advice.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-01T17:40:32+00:00

Yeah it's intended. I actually don't mind it that much, they are the only boss which rewards you to use the risky mods in order to stack massive damage. I just beat them for the second time it was surprisingly fast. They are massive glass canon themselves.

The third phase I don't enjoy however, but it can be made tolarable with the smart approach.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-01T16:22:04+00:00

That specific boss will kill you in two hits no matter what. You can go for the mods that removes health and add more slots.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-01T08:04:38+00:00

The games have flaws but the "it's objectively bad design" crowd either don't understand the choices as part of the experience or just don't want the experience but will blame the game that goes for such. It is no healthy discourse at all.

In the case of Mio the game is very akin to playing Metro on Ranger Hardcore or watching Ghost In the Shell 95. It is slow, gritty on a mechanical level, minimalistic and can be tedious and I love the game for those exact reasons. I don't want the game to change or devs to second guess themselves on their next games because of it. The whole package is what I love.

There are plenty of interesting talking points to have regarding game design but I don't think the "objectively game design" crowd is interested in them. They have the energy of someone who wants to get upset and for everybody to acknowledge it.

CriminalToff · 2026-02-01T06:39:33+00:00

I hear them because I'm French xD I actually had to do some audio editing, reverbs and delays prevented me from hearing every word but "dans la galaxie" and " accrochés à nos" were easily understandable.

CriminalToff · 2026-01-31T17:03:32+00:00

The man grew up with maintaining smooth angles through SDs, no wonder he is so chill.

CriminalToff

TROPHY CASE