MIO: Memories In Orbit: Where to Get Flowing Steps

Of all the abilities in MIO: Memories in Orbit this one is arguably the most interesting from an exploration standpoint. Flowing Steps gives you the ability to walk on Gloomwater and will be a must-get if you're hoping to get the alternate ending.

This will be a Herculean task presented as some simple platforming. It is not simple and will make you want to put a hole in the screen after so many attempts, because it never gets easier.

You'll need to find two data sets in two different directions, and thankfully, you have all the time you need. There's no real rush on this one, since no matter what, you'll get Flowing Steps.

How to Get Flowing Steps

To snag Flowing Steps, you'll first need to make your way to the Crucible. Once you manage to get there after doing the laundry list of things, you can meet up with Tomo and Samsk.

They'll tell you they need those data sets to figure out what's wrong with the Crucible. You can drop between the cracks in the floor and get the Crucible spawn point to make the journey a little easier.

Crucible Report: Crystallisation Process

Heading to the right side of this nightmare-inducing location will see you platforming along spinning blades. They do offer you some help, as each blade has small arrows on it that will tell you which way it will spin once you hit its center.

Pay very close attention to these, as they'll be the only help you get. Each section gets a little longer than the last, meaning you'll need to make it through each section without taking damage or get relegated back to the last platform you were on.

There isn't much to say that'll help you get through these sections, and there are no shortcuts. It's just you and your platforming skill, which is hopefully up to the task; otherwise, you may just want to head back to Ati and call it a day.

The only worthwhile piece of advice anyone can give is that you can cheese it a little by going through the center parts of the blades. They don't do damage, and it will put you in a better position most of the time. You can Hairpin them and then down strike them to get some good air to help you overcome most of the blades.

Once you make your way to the data set you need, you'll open a door right back to Tomo. They'll give the rundown on it along with a little lore before sending you off to the next one.

Crucible Report: Purified Catalyst Status

The left side will see you doing a lot of what you did while looking for Mel, just in a much more annoying fashion. You'll need to make your way through the platforming sections to activate the different Gloomwater Pumps and make it through the sections they lower.

Each section won't really end until you're on a platform that isn't going to be covered by Gloomwater, so one mistake, and you're back to the beginning of that section.

More than that, you'll be timed, and if you don't move quickly enough, you'll end up drowning in the rising tide. You'll want to focus on trying to do it in parts instead of knocking out each full section.

Each section has a small space between a bunch of the platforming challenges, where you can take a moment to recalibrate. Don't take more than a moment, or you'll run out of time and drown.

Once you're past the Nacre Basin, you'll encounter the final and most annoying section of this platforming challenge. Once you enter this large tube, the Gloomwater will start to rise, and if you take any damage, you'll spawn back outside the large tube.

Once you reach your destination, you'll be all set, and you can finally relax. You can take the bottom route covered in Gloomwater to test out your new ability and explore some new sections of the area where you ran from Sawlong.

Just like in every metroidvania ever, when you get a new ability, it can be a good idea to head back to any previous sections you've been to just to see what there is to see and explore what new pathways you can.