B.I.O.T.A. Review: A Solid Retro-Style Metroidvania
B.I.O.T.A. is a 2D Metroidvania developed by small bros and published by Retrovibe. A few overly long vehicle sections aside, B.I.O.T.A. is a fun, bite-sized Metroidvania experience, with a retro style that evokes the era of the Nintendo Game Boy games.
B.I.O.T.A. is set in the 22nd century, in an era where mankind has mastered interstellar travel following the discovery of a substance known as viridium. Corporations have set up mining colonies on asteroids and planets, in order to acquire more viridum for space travel. All communication is cut off from a viridium mining colony, and a science vessel is dispatched to uncover what happened at the colony, but the team vanishes during its investigation. The Gemini II Squad of mercenaries is then sent in, in order to find the scientists and deal with the threat aboard the mining colony.
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Players can switch between different members of the Gemini II Squad, each with different weapons and special abilities. There are eight playable characters, though some aren't unlocked until the game is completed. Outside of one specific section of the game, the player is free to use any squad member during their run in B.I.O.T.A. The squad has a base on the surface of the mining colony, where the player can heal, switch characters, buy items, and use the training facility. There is also an Arcade Mode outside of the Metroidvania-style main campaign, with shooting galleries and time trials.
The real game begins once the player descends the lift and enters the mining colony, as the stages are crawling with enemies and environmental puzzles. Levels are composed of individual rooms in a larger, slowly-uncovered map, and
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