Laika: Aged Through Blood

Laika: Aged Through Blood is a rather unique metroidvania experience that scores with very satisfying motorbike traversal, and a melancholic atmosphere that's supported by one of the best soundtracks of the year.

94%Game Brain Score

story, music

grinding, stability

94% User Score Based on 2,333 reviews

Critic Score 81%Based on 7 reviews

Platforms

Buy Nowfrom $9.76

Buy NowGet on Steam€11.99

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About

"Laika: Aged Through Blood" is a western-inspired motorvania game set in a post-apocalyptic world, where you play as a coyote warrior seeking vengeance against occupying forces. The game features vehicular combat on a motorbike, hand-painted graphics, and a deep story about a mother-daughter relationship. Explore the varied world, engage in epic boss battles, and complete numerous missions in this unique motorvania experience.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

94%

Audience ScoreBased on 2,333 reviews

story728 positive mentions

grinding94 negative mentions

Unique mix of Metroidvania and motorcycle gameplay with satisfying mechanics.
Emotional and impactful story that resonates with players, exploring themes of motherhood and loss.
Gorgeous art style and an incredible soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.

Frustrating difficulty spikes, particularly in boss fights that can feel tedious and drawn out.
Lack of enemy variety and repetitive side quests that can detract from the overall experience.
Some gameplay mechanics, like the backflip to reload, can feel cumbersome and lead to unnecessary deaths.

story
1,908 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
38%
59%
2%
The story of "Laika: Aged Through Blood" is a deeply emotional and often brutal narrative that explores themes of motherhood, loss, and survival in a post-apocalyptic world. Players are drawn into a gripping tale filled with rich character development and poignant moments, enhanced by a stunning soundtrack and beautiful art style. While the main storyline is compelling, some side quests can feel tedious and less impactful, but overall, the game delivers a powerful storytelling experience that resonates long after playing.
- “A deep story with a harsh tone of an apocalypse going on, great art style, and I love the mechanic that respawning is not just some game mechanic; it actually has a purpose and explanation that I feel was well implemented and explained for the story.”
- “The story was an experience I doubt I'll forget, and the art style is very pleasing to look at and does the story justice.”
- “The story is gripping, emotional, and beautifully tragic, with a soundtrack that enhances the overall experience.”
- “There's too much backtracking, you're constantly fighting the camera, the plot is more style over substance and the many conflicts set up over the course of the game are ultimately unresolved.”
- “The story, despite being filled with anthropomorphic animals, is rather dark and violent.”
- “The pacing of the story feels a bit weird, but that doesn't detract from it in any serious way.”
music
1,429 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
57%
41%
1%
The music in "Laika: Aged Through Blood" has been widely praised for its emotional depth and atmospheric quality, with many reviewers highlighting the exceptional work of the artist Beícoli. Players appreciate the integration of a collectible cassette system that allows them to discover and listen to a diverse range of songs throughout the game, enhancing the overall experience. While some noted the potential for repetitiveness in the early stages due to a limited selection, the soundtrack's haunting melodies and poignant lyrics have left a lasting impact, making it a standout feature of the game.
- “The soundtrack is amazing and it does a great job blending into the actual story of the game.”
- “The music is beautiful, the art style is magnificent, and the gameplay is simultaneously incredibly new and intuitive.”
- “The music, art, and writing in this game are off the charts, and if you jive with the gameplay, I think you'll have a great time--definitely try the demo.”
- “The music doesn't help much either; I think I get what the game is going for, but I personally don't like it, so muting the music and having YouTube on in the background makes the game more fun to play.”
- “The only complaint I have with the soundtrack is that the boss music is rather tame and very forgettable compared to the rest of the game's music.”
- “The soundtrack is very small, and you can't find new tapes fast enough to keep the songs from getting old.”
gameplay
1,289 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
43%
53%
4%
The gameplay of "Laika: Aged Through Blood" is a unique blend of motorcycle mechanics and metroidvania elements, offering a challenging yet satisfying experience that requires mastery of its controls. Players appreciate the innovative mechanics, such as backflipping to reload weapons and the combination of shooting and acrobatics, although some find the one-hit death mechanic and certain gameplay elements frustrating. Overall, while the gameplay can feel repetitive and punishing at times, it is often described as engaging and rewarding, complemented by a compelling story and stunning visuals.
- “Great gameplay, new mechanics introduced throughout keep gameplay challenging and fun the whole runtime.”
- “The gameplay is fast and fluid, the game is challenging but rewarding.”
- “The gameplay offers a unique spin on traditional platformers and metroidvanias that never feels like it overstays its welcome.”
- “Brutal difficulty and overly long tedious gameplay are the general trends, and it's definitely what kills the game.”
- “Unfortunately, the mechanics and length of the game killed any motivation to continue to the end.”
- “The gameplay itself unfortunately doesn't live up to the rest of the game, as it can get repetitive extremely quickly, while not much is done to change things up massively.”
graphics
439 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
30%
1%
The graphics of "Laika: Aged Through Blood" have received widespread acclaim for their stunning hand-drawn art style, which beautifully complements the game's dark narrative and post-apocalyptic setting. Players appreciate the vibrant visuals, intricate character designs, and atmospheric backgrounds, often highlighting the seamless integration of the art with the compelling soundtrack. However, some users noted occasional performance issues, such as stuttering, which can detract from the overall experience despite the game's impressive aesthetic.
- “The visuals are drop-dead gorgeous, in an art style that blends beauty and bleakness better than any game I've played.”
- “The art style is beautiful, too, and the designs play in some of the same cute-creatures-in-horrific-circumstances juxtaposition that drew me to the board game root.”
- “The visuals and soundtrack are both wonderful, and the story has plenty of great moments.”
- “Not only that there are foreground obstacles and other visuals to make it difficult to even see your bike, causing needless frustration.”
- “The graphics are cartoony but the plot is dark.”
- “It leaves a very good first impression, but once the novelty of the art style wears off and you get past the initial difficulty hurdle, the game feels very mediocre.”
emotional
351 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The emotional aspect of "Laika: Aged Through Blood" is widely praised for its deeply impactful storytelling, which resonates with players on a personal level, often leading to tears and profound reflection. The game combines beautiful art and a haunting soundtrack with a narrative that explores themes of loss, motherhood, and resilience, creating an emotional rollercoaster that leaves a lasting impression. Many players describe it as a heart-wrenching experience that balances moments of joy and sorrow, making it a standout title for those seeking a meaningful emotional journey in gaming.
- “The art and music are extremely beautiful, but be prepared; the game is heartbreaking. It made me cry, and I thank it for that.”
- “Laika is as heartfelt as it is gut-wrenching, and that’s precisely what makes it so beautiful.”
- “The story is powerful in its expression, the music is heartfelt in its presence, and the main character is just exceptional in her development as a whole.”
- “Fun and unique gimmick, but it doesn't really use its unlockable mechanics all that well and focuses on a generic, predictable, and boring story.”
atmosphere
126 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
69%
29%
2%
The atmosphere of the game is widely praised for its immersive quality, combining stunning hand-drawn visuals, a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack, and rich world-building that captivates players from the outset. Reviewers highlight the effective pairing of music and art to enhance the emotional depth and storytelling, creating a unique and engaging experience. However, some note instances of tonal dissonance and pacing issues that can detract from the overall atmosphere.
- “The overworld gives me an old-time flash game kind of vibe, while still being beautifully detailed, and all the while is accompanied by perfectly atmospheric music.”
- “The atmosphere of the game is absolutely stunning, with the music, art style, and story all coming together to create something amazing.”
- “From the desolate ruins of civilization to the eerie landscapes of a world reclaimed by nature, every environment feels rich with history and atmosphere, immersing players in its haunting beauty.”
- “For the most part, the main plot tries to impose a sad and oppressive atmosphere; however, most of the side characters you meet around town and throughout your travels are zany, one-dimensional characters that create a tonal dissonance that pulls the player out of the experience.”
- “But the overall atmosphere of the game is melancholic to the point of being whiny.”
- “It is made with such thought and care while being absolutely brutal in both its atmosphere and gameplay.”
grinding
96 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
2%
98%
The grinding aspect of the game has received mixed reviews, with many players finding it tedious and frustrating due to long backtracking, repetitive combat, and challenging boss fights that often feel more like chores than engaging encounters. While some players adapted to the grind and enjoyed the overall experience, others criticized the limited fast travel options and the necessity of farming for upgrades, which detracted from the enjoyment of exploration and story. Overall, the game presents a challenging experience that can become tedious, particularly for those unaccustomed to the metroidvania genre.
- “It can be a bit grindy sometimes, but I still enjoyed the experience.”
- “I had a lot of fun with it, but I'm not grinding out 500 more deaths just for an achievement.”
- “Brutal difficulty and overly long tedious gameplay are the general trends, and it's definitely what kills the game.”
- “The level of work this game puts into trying to make the player like it less is honestly astounding - there's something beautiful and unique here, but between its mechanical design being as inconsistent as it is despite how confident the art design is, it starts to become intensely frustrating.”
- “After the initial excitement wears off, everything becomes so tedious; backtracking and collecting resources feels unnecessarily time-consuming.”
character development
36 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
58%
33%
8%
Character development in the game receives mixed reviews, with many praising the distinct and visually appealing character designs that enhance the storytelling and emotional impact. However, several players criticize the lack of depth in character interactions, noting that many characters feel like disposable NPCs with minimal dialogue and development, leading to a sense of detachment from their fates. Overall, while the artistic elements and character aesthetics are celebrated, the narrative depth and character arcs leave much to be desired.
- “Incredible soundtrack, and excelling character design, nearly every character is distinct and bursting with personality.”
- “Laika’s character development is also particularly remarkable.”
- “The character designs are amazing and I fell in love with everything in this game so quickly.”
- “I don't care for the furry character designs; they could have been human and it wouldn't have changed the story.”
- “The character designs are very neat, but most of them aren't really used for much, and most characters have around three lines of dialogue a piece.”
- “The character development of the game is extremely lackluster where you will often meet a character and in the next 15 minutes they die. I am not even kidding, it became an expected thing I kept noticing after the second area. Whether this was intentional or not, it makes it feel like the people you meet are just bullets in a firing range; they are shot and introduced, but after that, you don't worry about them.”
humor
27 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
96%
11%
The humor in the game is a blend of dark, edgy comedy and quirky character interactions, often providing a stark contrast to the otherwise somber atmosphere. Players appreciate the memorable, zany side characters and witty writing, which evoke both laughter and reflection amidst the game's bleak narrative. While some find the tonal dissonance jarring, many agree that the humor enhances the overall experience, making it both entertaining and thought-provoking.
- “The writing is wonderful, funny, and heartbreaking.”
- “Most of the characters are very unique and dialogues with them are usually quite funny, which is oddly uplifting considering the grim scenario everyone is living through.”
- “The game uses a souls-like currency drop system (the currency is the entrails of your enemies, which is quite funny when you consider how many of the merchants like the birds... but accept their body parts as payment) so when you die, you drop half.”
- “Not funny.”
- “The jokes fell flat and lacked originality.”
- “I expected more clever humor, but it was mostly cringeworthy.”
stability
21 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
10%
76%
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with many players reporting significant bugs and glitches that disrupt gameplay, such as character control issues, cutscene failures, and music playback problems. While some users experienced only minor bugs or none at all, others found the frequency and severity of the issues frustrating. Overall, while the game runs well on certain platforms like the Steam Deck, the presence of persistent bugs detracts from the overall experience.
- “It runs great on the Steam Deck.”
- “No glitches, only occasional lag, and wonderful graphics!”
- “Game runs great.”
- “The game is also unbelievably buggy; when your bike isn’t spinning wildly out of control or your character isn’t falling through the ropes she should be able to drop through, a cutscene breaks, or music stops playing until you manually reset it, or a stray gatling gun bullet miraculously breaches your bike’s defenses, which should render you impervious, per the game’s rules.”
- “But as the walkie-talkie call starts, the game freezes. The only thing I can do after that is hear the bike and the walkie-talkie chatter, open the menu, and drift my bike, but the animation of that gets stuck after doing so.”
- “Buggy beyond belief.”
optimization
14 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
21%
57%
21%
Overall, the game's optimization has received mixed reviews, with some players experiencing significant frame rate drops and performance issues, particularly on the Steam Deck. While some users reported stable performance at higher frame rates on PC, others noted lag during particle effects and animated cutscenes, indicating that optimization could be improved. The game's ability to maintain a steady frame rate seems inconsistent, leading to frustration among players.
- “The performance was also stable at 144fps constantly.”
- “I played through the latter half of the game on Steam Deck (with mouse and keyboard plugged in) and had no major performance issues after some minor tweaks.”
- “Steam Deck performance, where I played a majority of the game, is mostly fine save for a 'water area'.”
- “The optimization is a bit lacking, as well as settings for it. I would lag with too many (and sometimes just one) particles, and animated cutscenes will lag behind as well, which was frustrating (they are few and are awesome).”
- “I cannot currently play the game on my Steam Deck, as the frame rate can drop drastically at times and make the game a stuttering mess. As the game is listed as 'Deck Verified', I think this is especially egregious when it plainly doesn't play very well.”
- “4 hours in on my Steam Deck and decided to finish it on my PC due to performance problems.”
replayability
11 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
27%
45%
27%
Overall, the game's replayability is viewed as limited, with many players noting that once the story is completed, there is little incentive to return. While some appreciate the potential for speedrunning and the enjoyment of the gameplay, the linear narrative and lack of multiple endings diminish long-term appeal for most. Despite these drawbacks, the game's quality and engaging story are often seen as compensating factors.
- “And for a $20 indie game, you're honestly getting quite a lot of game, and quite a lot of replay value, too - speedruns of this game are gonna be sick, even though the game seems to resist speedrunning with some of its long scenes and boss fights. Whatever, the skill ceiling is so high I can't wait to see what people do with it.”
- “Gameplay 9.5/10 (enjoyable, original, and replayable)”
- “Replayability: decent”
- “Now, with being only a 20 hour game for doing most of the game's content, the big question is replayability.”
- “- Limited replay value: once players have experienced Laika's story to its conclusion, there is little incentive to revisit the game.”
- “While multiple endings and branching paths could have added replayability, the linear nature of the narrative limits its long-term appeal for some players.”
monetization
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The monetization aspect of "Death Stranding" has been criticized for its dystopian portrayal of society, where the game's advertising contrasts sharply with the impoverished conditions of its characters, leading to a perception of design flaws and a disconnect between the game's themes and its marketing.
- “Dystopian advertisements litter the streets where people are impoverished and broken.”