Laika: Aged Through Blood

Laika: Aged Through Blood is a metroidvania action platformer crossed with an arcade motorcycle game. It was developed by an indie studio Brainwash Gang and published by Thunderful Publishing.

Plot

Laika: Aged Through Blood is set in a western-inspired post-apocalyptic world inhabited by anthropomorphic animals. The coyote protagonist's land is attacked by ruthless invaders, forcing her to face them. As we progress through the game, we learn more about her and the relationship she has with her daughter.

Mechanics

Laika: Aged Through Blood is a side-scroller. The game stands out from other metroidvanias, as its vast stages aren't traversed on foot, but rather on a motorcycle. Each stage is therefore filled with ramps and obstacles, which can only be overcome by driving at a correct speed. The motorcycle also affects the other mechanics, such as reloading our weapons, done by doing backflips.

Other than this, the rest of the game is a fairly standard metroidvania, featuring interconnected areas, many different objectives and fast-paced combat. We'll face many common enemies and powerful bosses. The player must be constantly on the move, avoid enemy attacks and counter. As we progress through the game, we acquire new skills and face greater challenges.

Technical aspects

Laika: Aged Through Blood makes heavy use of cel-shading. The artstyle is reminiscent of comic books, while the grim color palette (dominated by shades of gray, brown and red) and the atmospheric soundtrack help build the post-apocalyptic atmosphere.