Man’s Best Friend is Out of This World in Looking for Laika

If the name ‘Laika’ sounds at all familiar to you, then you probably know a few things about aerospace history. Laika was the name of a Russian dog who became the first animal to orbit the earth. Hers is not a happy story, unfortunately, but Looking for Laika will let you find a better ending.

Looking for Laika is a forthcoming mobile game from Studio Moanbej in the Netherlands. Players will take on the role of an astronaut whose best friend, a dog named Laika, is abducted by aliens. The astronaut must visit several different colorful worlds, each with its own unique puzzles, enemies, and gameplay style. Each of these must be explored in the quest to rescue Laika.

The game is a new take on the side-scrolling platformer, as it utilizes a one-tap control mechanic. This allows players to easily control the astronaut using their mobile device’s touchscreen. “We invented a new way of controlling the side-scrolling platformer to address problems players experience with controls on touchscreen devices, such as the absence of button feedback,” says Oskar Maan, creative director at Moanbej. “The combination of the one-tap control mechanics and the gameplay of a platformer revolutionizes mobile gameplay.”

The appearance of the game is also said to be unique. “The graphics break the current trend of retro pixel graphics,” Maan notes, “and instead refer to a contemporary take on constructivism from the Russian masters.” Looking for Laika offers a distinctive art style to frame out the storyline.

Looking for Laika is currently in the Beta stage, and the developers expect to launch in April 2015. Whether you play on iOS devices or Android, Moanbej invites mobile gamers to participate in the Beta testing; just sign up on the list at the developer’s website, and meanwhile you can watch for news on the game’s official Facebook page.