Beyond the Ice Palace 2: PQube defrosts ancient classic with sequel

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 marks the return of a classic game from the very early days of video games. Only now has the sequel to the 8-bit original from 1988 been released.

The first Beyond the Ice Palace, a sidescroller that has often been compared to Ghosts ‘n Goblins, offered challenging gameplay with a mix of platforming and combat in a dark fantasy world. With its varied weapons and spiritual attack system, it became a cult nugget of the 80s despite its terrifying difficulty level.

In this sequel, Beyond the Ice Palace 2, you take on the role of the Cursed King, who has been resurrected to collect the fragments of celestial arrows and liberate his kingdom, which has descended into chaos. The game remains true to its roots and retains its retro pixel art aesthetic, while the gameplay has of course been adapted to modern requirements. The king now uses the chains with which he was previously imprisoned in the dungeon as his main weapon. This in turn elicits versatile mechanics from Beyond the Ice Palace 2: Half-distance combat, grappling hooks to cross chasms, and destroying obstacles. These additions enrich the experience with Metroidvania elements and dynamic battles against bosses with complex patterns.

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is more than just a nostalgic homage. It frees itself from some of the limitations of the original with a more immersive narrative, interconnected areas and a revamped progression system. It's a way to write a love letter to a classic of the genre while offering a modern and engaging adventure.

Beyond the Ice Palace II is available during the introductory phase on Gamesplanet for £14.44 / $16.99 (-15%) until March 24th.