Beyond The Ice Palace II: A well-polished 8-bit throwback but leaves you feeling a little cold

The Irish Sun

6 days ago

AS
I mean, just ask Grand Theft Auto fans.
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This sequel has been 35 years in the making
Credit: PQube
But Beyond The Ice Palace 2 breaks all the records for sequels - this one is a massive 35 years in the making.
So have those years been kind? Well, yes and no.
Beyond The Ice Palace II is a polished version of the 1988 cult classic. A fantasy action platformer which reeks of Ghost 'N Goblins dipped in a little Castlevania.
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The retro side-scroller offers up plenty of hidden areas
Credit: PQube
Unfortunately the clunky controls can be somewhat sluggish which results in a slow-paced side-scroller.
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However, this has an unintentional knock-on effect of giving this game a lovely
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Sluggish controls can result in missed grapple hooks
Credit: PQube
For example, your jumps have to be well-timed otherwise you end up in a world of pain redoing a basic leap. And, if you're not careful, missed ledge-grabs will have you cursing the 8-bit gods.
But again, this all results in a plush throwback which is a good thing for retro fans.
Plot wise, the Cursed King has been chained up for a couple of decades but has managed to set himself free and is now keen on some bloody revenge.
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You play the Cursed King who has broken free from his chains
Credit: PQube
Weaponry is a little thin on the ground sadly, with the King's chains of captivity his main source of death and destruction.
There's also a grappling hook which, due to the slow-pace of the game, resulted in plenty of missed links when swinging from one poorly-positioned hook to the next.
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There are plenty of retro Commadore 64 vibes to this game
Credit: PQube
This game is tricky too. There were numerous occasions where I ended up miles back towards the start of a level after painfully succumbing to a random flame-tossing skeleton.
And this difficulty level only intensifies when you take on the wonderfully creative end-of-level bosses.
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End of level bosses are giant and epic
Credit: PQube
They are gigantic - think God of War but minus the detail - and some can try your patience as you are quickly wiped out.
However, it's easy to turn all this into a positive - Beyond The Ice Palace 2 makes you work hard for victory. And that's no bad thing.
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Strategy is key to this Beyond The Ice Palace II which can be tricky
Credit: PQube
The boss designs are bonkers and random and the game itself looks really clean. A plush 8-bit homage with a bit of polish to make it shine.
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There is a plush finish to the visuals
Credit: PQube
Despite the lack of weapons, you can upgrade your abilities using power crystals found along the way. There are plenty of secret locations to discover too and chests to open after solving fairly basic puzzles.
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There plenty to like, but also frustrate, in Beyond The Ice Palace II
Credit: PQube
Although it feels quite linear, there is an opportunity to go back to previous areas of the game and explore previously unreachable sections.
And there is a thrillingly oppressive nature to Beyond The Ice Palace 2 which has classic C64 game vibes to it.
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There's limited weaponry but you can upgrade your chains
Credit: PQube
There's a lot here to like, but also a lot to frustrate. Having said that, there's enough fun to justify the price so long as you can shake off the little niggles.
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The retro art sits well with the modern gameplay
Credit: PQube
It's retro pixel art with modern gameplay twist, but it is sadly lacking that consistency to crown it a worthy sequel.
It wouldn't be the end of the world if we had to wait another 35 years for the follow up.
Beyond The Ice Palace II
FORMATS:
PlayStation 5
(reviewed)
, Xbox One, PS4, Nintendo Switch, Xbox Series X/S, PC
PRICE:
£18.99
PUBLISHER:
PQube/PixelHeart
DEVELOPER:
Storybird Studio
AGE RATING:
12+
SCORE:
3.5/5