Layla

Layla is a sci-fi action-maze game for the Famicom that was unique for its time and heavily inspired by 1980s anime aesthetics. The game stands out by putting female protagonists at the forefront: you control Layla, a 17-year-old special agent on a mission to rescue her kidnapped partner, Iris, from the clutches of a mad scientist.

The gameplay combines fast-paced shooting with exploration across interconnected bases hidden inside eight asteroids. Each level is divided into two distinct parts: a linear, action-packed run across the asteroid's surface, followed by a complex, multi-floor labyrinth with elevators. The core mechanic revolves around careful arsenal management. Layla's base pistol is weak, and more powerful weapons—like machine guns, grenades, and flamethrowers—have strictly limited ammunition that must be scavenged from crates. Furthermore, players must locate hidden password diskettes within the bases, without which the final boss remains completely invulnerable.

Despite its stiff jump physics and punishing old-school difficulty, the game remains compelling thanks to its distinct atmosphere, resource management mechanics, and bonus cosmic scroll-shooter segments. It stands as a solid and distinctive retro action title that was ahead of its time in many of its design choices.