LAIKA: AGED THROUGH BLOOD

This apocalypse is not for the birds

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Having bested a giant mechanical worm during a chase through an enemy-infested cavern, protagonist Laika confronts the cowardly miner who, moments earlier, had assured us that an army of eager allies was waiting inside. With the survival of Laika’s settlement riding on the recruitment of new reinforcements, suspense is high as the interrogation begins. “Then why you lured me into this?” she asks. The tension slackens.

Laika: Aged Through Blood’s grand narrative ambitions stumble in an early script littered with similarly jarring grammatical errors, but the foundations of an absorbing tale are here. At heart, this is a sombre story of a diligent mother trying to protect her young daughter from the dangers of life in a post-apocalyptic society on the brink of total collapse. In this bleak world, childhood is short and innocence is fleeting – and while there are hints of a conspiracy playing out in the background as an invading army of territorial birds wrestles for control of the region, it’s the familial relationships that take centre stage. For a universe populated by anthropomorphic animals, everything we’ve seen from the story so far seems refreshingly human – if in need of spit and polish. The frequent detours back to your starting homestead are emblematic of this wider focus, offering both a moment of respite between longer excursions to shop for materials, cook meals, and craft weapons, but also the chance to check on family members.