Laika: Aged Through Blood

Laika: Aged Through Blood mixes motorbikes and gunplay to create an incredibly unique metroidvania experience. Bolstered by a beautiful soundtrack and brutal story, its unapologetic approach to mastering both bike and bullet rewards learning from frequents death with some seriously slick and satisfying combat.

Now that the Switch version Laika: Aged Through Blood has finally arrived, it can finally join Hollow Knight, Animal Well, and Blasphemous II as a true modern classic in the Metroidvania genre. The premise and gameplay are like no other, seamlessly combining motocross gameplay with badass bullet-time shootouts that constantly feels satisfying. Chuck in one of the best soundtracks we've heard in years and maybe iron out the remaining performance hiccups, and Laika could well be an early contender for Switch GOTY 2025.

Laika: Aged Through Blood is a unique "Motovania" that offers moments of zen-like gameplay punctuated by frustrations holding it back from greatness.

I've been following Laika: Aged Through Blood for two years now and eagerly awaiting its release on the Switch. As soon as I saw its premise and trailer, I fell in love with the idea, and once I got my hands on the bike's handlebars, I had an ethereal experience. I admit that the engine failing a few times was quite frustrating (having to wait a few minutes to continue the journey and then stopping again), but I don't regret all the landscapes I saw, the monsters I killed and seeing the daughter once again, after a long day of blood and death. It's a beautiful, unique adventure that will keep the persistent player engaged, even with slips and skids.

Laika: Aged Through Blood from developer Brainwash Gang is a wonderful and refreshing Nintendo Switch experience. It lends a brutal narrative that leads gameplay filled with strategy and challenges. While not everyone will take to the controls, which are an important part of the experience, the challenges and strategy will keep the frustration at bay.

A completely different sort of Metroidvania hook, but be ready for some challenges, and not all likely intended

Laika: Aged Through Blood is one of the coolest Metroidvanias I have ever played, with refreshing controls and a powerful story at its heart.

There's a lot to like about Laika – Aged Through Blood with its motorvania concept that absolutely delivers, offering a fresh and compelling take on the often staid metroidvania formula. Personally, the high difficulty was not for me, the grind becoming so choresome that getting the bathroom cleaned became deeply alluring. Still, if you like a serious challenge then you might enjoy Laika – Aged Through Blood. Just give it a miss if you're playing on a Nintendo Switch Lite or in handheld more.

A case of not knowing when to rein it in, as Laika: Aged Through Blood tries too much, committing only to the elements which serve to muddy up what fun can be extracted.

Laika: Aged Through Blood caters to a hardcore audience in more ways than one but those who love it will certainly love it a lot. 🐺