Beyond the Ice Palace 2 – Forgotten Classic Revived

If you enjoy independent indie game coverage, consider supporting Indie-Games.eu on Patreon. It helps keep the site independent.

• DEVELOPER: Storybird Studio
• PUBLISHER: PQube, PixelHeart
• PLATFORMS: PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch
• GENRE: Metroidvania / Platformer
• RELEASE DATE: March 10, 2025
• INITIAL PRICE: 19.99€
• REVIEWED VERSION: PC

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 arrives 37 years after its predecessor, which never achieved the cult status of contemporaries like Castlevania. The original was a simple 2D fantasy-themed platformer, while the sequel completely redefines the concept. The game puts you in the role of the Cursed King, a former hero and ruler betrayed by his advisors, struck by a poisoned celestial arrow, and chained in a crypt. This sequel is presented as an action platformer with Metroidvania elements, clearly drawing inspiration from the Gothic aesthetic and the whip-based combat mechanics characteristic of Castlevania. With its pixel visual aesthetic and eerie soundtrack, the game targets retro enthusiasts and fans of challenging, atmospheric adventures.

A Gothic Tale of Revenge

The story is simple but striking. After saving his kingdom in the original game, the protagonist becomes the king, but he is soon betrayed by his advisors known as the Pages. A sacred arrow, which was supposed to confirm his divine favor, is intercepted and cursed, casting him into limbo while the kingdom sinks into chaos. Waking up in a dark crypt, the Cursed King embarks on a quest for vengeance, seeking fragments of celestial arrows to break his curse and defeat the colossal demons that now rule his lands.

Although the plot does not delve deeply into character development—the King is a silent and stoic hero—the game excels in environmental storytelling. The dark fantasy world is brought to life through eerie biomes, such as Gothic cemeteries, misty ruins, swamp areas, and insect-filled caves. Scattered NPCs occasionally offer fragments of the story, lamenting the kingdom’s downfall or giving you clues about the Pages’ betrayal.

The pixel visuals further enhance the atmosphere, with detailed sprites and dark color palettes reminiscent of the best 16-bit games. Visually, the game resembles Blasphemous, and character interactions occur in a similar manner, with one-sided conversations without the ability to respond. The soundtrack perfectly complements this atmosphere, with somber, symphonic melodies that amplify the feeling of anxiety and isolation. Sound effects, such as the rattling of chains or the sound of defeated enemies, are incredibly satisfying, although the music can become repetitive during longer gameplay sessions.

Chains, Challenges, and Retro Roots

At its core, Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a 2D side-scrolling platformer with light exploration elements. You take control of the Cursed King, whose primary weapon and tool are his chains. These chains serve multiple purposes: they can slash enemies, break objects, grapple onto hooks to traverse the world, and open locked passages. The combat is straightforward, featuring multi-directional attacks, a powerful blow that consumes stamina, and a dodge mechanic, while the platforming involves swinging, dashing, and precise jumps.

The game unfolds through linear levels connected by a world map, with occasional branching paths leading to hidden treasures or power-ups. As you progress, you’ll collect gold coins and power crystals, which you can use to upgrade stats like strength, vitality, and stamina at forges, while shops sell temporary bonuses. You later unlock new abilities, such as the double jump, although they rarely gate major pathways, making the game closer to a classic Castlevania than a true Metroidvania. Also, a teleportation system between checkpoints allows for backtracking to previous locations.

The enemy variety matches the environment you are in: skeletal archers in the crypt, bloated leeches in the swamp, and winged harpies in the citadel. Mini-boss battles, such as the chain warrior or the multi-headed snake, provide moderately challenging encounters. However, the basic combat system that relies on dodging, striking, and swinging remains consistent throughout the game, and the lack of significant new mechanics or puzzles, beyond basic switches and hidden paths, diminishes the sense of progression.

Not Excessively Frustrating

However, it is in the gameplay where Beyond the Ice Palace 2 shows both its charm and its shortcomings. The controls are deliberately heavy, and the King moves slower compared to modern protagonists. This sluggishness, combined with stiff jumping and ledge-grabbing animations, is reminiscent of the 1980s design, but it can frustrate players who expect fluidity. The chain movement mechanic, though innovative, feels imprecise; the grappling hooks require perfect timing, and swinging in the air often feels clumsy, which can result in frequent falls.

Enemies deal high damage, knockback is punishing, and checkpoints are sparse, sometimes forcing you to repeat longer sections or re-defeat mini-bosses after death. The boss fights are massive, demanding recognition of their attack patterns and a lot of patience. For example, the Swamp Sovereign alternates tongue strikes, poison, and powerful ground-shaking leaps, forcing you into precise dodging and use of the chains for movement.

The Crypt Warden combines long-chain attacks with teleporting dashes, requiring constant repositioning. Later bosses introduce multi-phase fights, such as the Celestial Harpy, which transitions from aerial attacks to ground-based claw strikes after taking a certain amount of damage, while its severed wings remain scattered across the arena.

Despite being punishing in certain aspects, the game is not particularly difficult overall. Once you learn the enemy attack patterns, it becomes quite simple and linear. I personally died only a few times during the final boss fights while trying to figure out their attacks. Nonetheless, the combination of clumsy controls, distant checkpoints, and loss of currency upon death can occasionally make the experience feel frustratingly unfair.

Imperfect, but Worthwhile Return

Although visual variety is one of the game’s strengths, the level design can become repetitive over time. Most levels follow the same structure: you traverse a linear path, fight enemies, swing across chasms, and finally face a boss. Branching paths and secret rooms (containing gold, crystals, or health upgrades) encourage exploration, but due to the map’s linear structure, backtracking is minimal unless you are actively hunting for collectibles. In the later stages of the game, this formula begins to lose its freshness, and the sparse checkpoints further amplify the sense of repetition.

The upgrade system allows for a certain degree of customization, letting you tailor the King to your own playstyle. The combat style can be focused on strength and endurance for aggressive chain attacks, while a defensive approach can focus on vitality to better survive enemy strikes. However, the system lacks depth and innovation compared to modern games: there are no skill trees, alternative weapons, or special perks that complement each other. On the other hand, if you are the type of player who likes to smash every vase and box you come across, Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is definitely the game for you.

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a love letter to retro games that ultimately fails to fully escape the shadow of its inspirations. It offers between 5 and 10 hours of gameplay (depending on skill and exploration level), with enough charm to satisfy fans of Gothic platformers and classic Castlevania. The pixel art style, atmosphere, and core mechanics are strong enough to maintain interest, but the awkward controls and design choices still hold it back. It is not a masterpiece, but it is a solid return for a forgotten title.

Review copy provided by the publisher