You work out where you need to go as you obtain items and weapons that open new paths.

In similar games, the exploration is on a bigger scale and more open-ended.

If you’ve played Metroid, Castlevania or any number or similar games then you’ve played Gato Roboto, a side-scrolling platformer and shooter with a touch of exploration. It’s obvious where it’s going, but it’s entertaining enough to get there I didn’t expect it, but there is a story throughout told through old computer logs or Gary talking to you, the cat who cannot talk. After some exploration through the seemingly abandoned research station, you’ll be firing missiles, spin jumping and dashing all over the place in no time. She starts off with a more basic mech, only able to jump and shoot the basic cannon. Kiki is a fragile cat, so it’s fortunate there’s a Mech suit that happens to fit in a cat, allowing Kiki to be a force to be reckoned with. After a cat-related crash landing, Gary is unable to leave the ship and it’s up to Kiki to explore the planet/facility to help/get help. Space patrolman Gary and his cat Kiki have gone to respond to a distress beacon. Instead of a bounty hunter named Samus stuffed into special armour, it’s a cat called Kiki. It’s rare that I could solely mention Metroid as being a direct inspiration for a game.

Metroidvania is such a frequently used term, I myself have been unashamedly guilty of this.

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