History VideoGame / Layla

Surprisingly there's even an extensive fan-website in Japanese [[http://laylairis.web.fc2.com/ Layla no Asteria]] containing a walkthrough, trivia, tips and tricks.

''Layla'' is a platform game by dB-Soft released in 1986 exclusively for the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Nintendo Famicom]]. It was marketed as a "maze action game", since levels are mostly non-linear and it's easy to get lost. The eponymous trigger-happy and cake-fueled heroine has to traverse eight asteroids full of various perils in order to rescue her partner Iris and apprehend an evil scientist who's behind all the havoc. The game's character design and ExcusePlot are strongly reminiscent of ''Dirty Pair'' franchise. ''Layla'' is known to non-Japanese players mostly thanks to one ''[[Series/RetroGameMaster Game Center CX]]'' episode.

Layla is a platform game by dB-Soft released in 1986 exclusively for [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem Nintendo Famicom]]. It was marketed as a "maze action game", since levels are mostly non-linear and it's easy to get lost. The eponymous trigger-happy and cake-fueled heroine has to traverse eight asteroids full of various perils in order to rescue her partner Iris and apprehend an evil scientist who's behind all the havoc. The game's character design and ExcusePlot are strongly reminiscent of Dirty Pair franchise. Layla is known to non-Japanese players mostly thanks to one [[Series/RetroGameMaster Game Center CX]] episode.

In 2017 a FanSequel hack [[http://www.romhacking.net/hacks/3311/ "The Iris Missions"]] was released, which also tweaks game's mechanics and features a [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2U164uUAbc completely new soundtrack]].

Surprisingly there's even an extensive fan-website in Japanese [[http://laylairis.web.fc2.com/ Layla no Asteria]] containing a walktrhough, trivia, tips and tricks.

* AntiFrustrationFeatures - The Iris Missions features many improvements to the original game. You no longer go back to title screen upon dying and you don't have to collect password disks in order to obtain password for current level.
* {{Backtracking}} - you can do this if you missed something in previous levels (ie. forgot to rescue Iris), and The Iris Missions requires you to do so on few occasions.
* BonusStage - an utterly pointless one. Removed in The Iris Missions hack.
* BottomlessPits - a [[NonLethalBottomlessPits non-lethal variant]] which not only damages you, but also halves your current inventory.
* BottomlessMagazines - unlike other contemporary action platformers, you had limited ammo supply (up to 255 shots) for nearly every weapon, but still no individual magazines.
* ButThouMust - played with. You don't actually need to collect all the password disks and rescue Iris, but without them you won't be able to even scratch the final boss.
* CollisionDamage - anything that's not a pickup or plain ground damages you very quickly, almost as fast as in ''Turrican'' games.
* CoolBike - Layla rides a space bike between each asteroid.

* CoversAlwaysLie - Iris' hair is blue on the cartridge label, but green in-game and in the manual.
* {{Cyberspace}} - the [[spoiler:secret level]] of The Iris Missions takes place in a VR simulation.
* DamselInDistress - Iris.
* DemonicSpiders - space blobs appearing near the end of the game. They move around sinusoidal pattern, much like Castlevania's infamous medusa heads.
* EquipmentUpgrade - the handgun can be upgraded by collecting handgun pickups and character's speed can be increased by collecting roller skates.

* {{Expy}} - Layla and Iris are obviously inspired by main characters from Dirty Pair anime series, along with the space setting.
* GuideDangIt - don't even try this game without a walk/playthrough or you'll get lost very quickly.
* GimmickLevel - featured in The Iris Missions. One level involves going through elevators marked with letters in order to make words FAST and EXIT.

* KillItWithFire - the flamethrower will dispatch any living thing in one or two shots. Other enemies won't budge though.
* ScrappyMechanic - the aformentioned bottomless pits and switching between levels will reduce your inventory by half. The game also forces you to move on by spawning a nearly-invincible tornado if you didn't move the screen for about 30 seconds. Both mechanics were removed in The Iris Missions.
** The tornado might be destroyed with a hand grenade if you're lucky, which will net you full health, but this is very risky to pull off.
* SecretLevel - available after [[spoiler:credits roll]] in The Iris Missions.
* ShoutOut - The Iris Missions' secret level sub-stages are modelled after stages from Super Mario Bros, Contra and Mega Man II. Justified because [[spoiler: all of these take place in {{Cyberspace}}]].
* SweetTooth - Oh boy, and how!
* ImpossibleItemDrop - defeated enemies, regardless if they are mutants, aliens or robots, turn into ice cream cones and cakes. Yummy!
* MissionPackSequel - the fan-made The Iris Missions hack, which also adds all-new soundtrack, fixes most scrappy mechanics of the original game and adds a secret level.
* MoreDakka - machine gun. In general the rate of fire can be doubled when Iris follows Layla, but so will be ammo use.
* NintendoHard - with only one life and your life bar going down very fast, it is really hard to beat this game without continuing via passwords.
* RockBeatsLaser - apparently an axe can cut through robots with ease. Some bosses are invunerable to it though.
* SequelHook - Mantiokha escapes after defeating the final boss. [[spoiler:He does so again in The Iris Missions]].
* StalkedByTheBell - rather than having a traditional time counter, the game spawns a nigh-invunerable, lethal homing tornado offscreen should you not scroll the screen for about 30 seconds.
* StandardFPSGuns - among Layla's arsenal are: upgradeable handgun, machine gun, flamethrower, hand grenades, throwing sabers and a rocket launcher. The only exception is a throwing axe... IN SPACE!
* InterfaceScrew - near the end of [[spoiler:bonus stage]] in The Iris Missions everything, music included, becomes glitchy. Justified because [[spoiler:it happens in a VR simulator, while Layla's pulling the plug to switch it off]].
* InvincibilityPowerUp - Layla can use shields to protect herself from enemies, which prevents her from using weapons until shield is switched off or depleted.
* UnexpectedShmupLevel - bonus stages. The Iris Missions doesn't feature them.
* VideoGameLives - completely averted. Once your life bar is depleted you go back to the title screen.
* WingedSoulFliesOffAtDeath - this is what happens to Layla and Iris when life bar is depleted.

* YouGottaHaveBlueHair

Completely unrelated to a female wrestler going by the same name.