Play Layla Online

Layla came out on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1986 from dB-SOFT. It was one of those many action games from that time that tried to build on the exploration and combat ideas popularized by titles like Metroid. You guide a character through a large, interconnected world, but it has its own specific goals and mechanics that set it apart.

You control Layla, moving her through a series of alien bases screen by screen. Your main goal is to find and rescue Iris, who is held captive somewhere in the complex. You use a sword for close combat and can also find a bow for attacking enemies from a distance. Progress involves unlocking doors by defeating certain enemies or finding keys, and the pacing is methodical, almost cautious, due to the somewhat stiff controls and the immediate threat of enemies. It feels like a slow, deliberate crawl through hostile territory where every new room demands your full attention.