DaRmaZat Long, long ago, there was a king protected by the gods, as he was the only one capable of defeating the wicked ice witch who threatened the kingdom’s survival. At least, that’s how the fairy tale ended if you managed to complete the action platformer Beyond the Ice Palace on the Commodore 64 about 37 years ago.
STORYBIRD Studio deemed the original worthy of a sequel, and so it happened with the 2025 release of Beyond the Ice Palace 2. Once again, it is a Metroidvania side-scroller that directly continues the story. The game launches digitally on March 10 for PC, PlayStation 4 and 5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X|S, and Nintendo Switch, with physical editions for PlayStation 5 and Switch following on March 13. In this review, we discuss the PC edition, tested on the ASUS ROG Ally, where the game runs smoothly.
Surprisingly Extensive and Modern Gameplay Mechanics
In Beyond the Ice Palace 2, you step into the shoes of the same king, now described as the Cursed King. After his resurrection—made possible by a ritual performed by the Sages—he must reclaim his throne. His former advisors, the Pages, betrayed him, chaining him in a dungeon and plunging the land into chaos. The ultimate goal is to defeat these wicked Pages, retrieve the Sacred Arrow Shards they stole, and lift the curse on the Deadly Lands.
While our Cursed King in the original primarily hurled daggers and morning stars at his enemies from a distance, in this sequel, he exclusively wields the chains that once imprisoned him. These chains allow him to unleash a powerful attack, not only shattering obstacles but also breaking enemy shields. However, this move consumes stamina, requiring careful management. Another notable attack is the flying karate kick he can perform mid-air—reminiscent of the Turtles in classic beat ‘em ups. This move is particularly useful for hitting enemies quickly while avoiding their attacks at eye level, proving especially valuable in faster platforming sections. Additionally, the king must frequently slide under obstacles and can unleash his pent-up fury through a Rage system, temporarily buffing his chain for extra forceful strikes.
The Cursed King’s move-set can best be described as surprisingly modern and extensive.
Yes, the Cursed King’s moveset can best be described as surprisingly modern and extensive, and even that’s not the full extent of his abilities. His chain also serves to open chests and doors, drag objects, and even counter falling obstacles. Furthermore, it functions as a grapple hook, allowing him to climb and swing across deadly chasms. The dodge mechanic, which lets him teleport short distances in the blink of an eye, is another crucial feature—often even life-saving. Dodging plays a significant role in the various boss fights. In many of these battles, executing a perfectly timed Perfect Dodge is essential to getting behind an enemy’s shield and landing a few solid hits on their back. Every attribute of the Cursed King can be upgraded by collecting Power Crystal fragments and exchanging them at a Guardian’s Throne.
A Tough Challenge, with Platforming That Sometimes Feels Like an Obstacle Itself
While the numerous upgrade options may give the impression that combat is made significantly easier, in practice, this is no easy game. The first enemies may serve as mere warm-ups, but by the first boss fight, you’ll quickly realize just how challenging—and perhaps even unforgiving—Beyond the Ice Palace 2 can be. There is no way to heal yourself, meaning survival depends not only on mastering the controls but also on collecting the right items along the way.
Moreover, smoothly swinging from hook to hook with the grapple hook is no simple feat. When a merciless boss is breathing down your neck, you must execute these maneuvers at lightning speed—all while alternating between attacks, Perfect Dodges, and countering falling obstacles and flames. Indeed, this game has extreme difficulty spikes, and unfortunately, there is no option to adjust the difficulty level. Dying means losing all your gold and replaying a section of the game, as there is no manual save option. The game is also not entirely bug-free, as enemy AI occasionally behaves strangely, and some defeated enemies may remain visible in the background.
Sometimes unforgivingly difficult gameplay.
Despite these issues, the gothic, ominous church organ melodies and the game world—with its many dungeons, graveyards, toxic swamps, and other post-apocalyptic landscapes—deserve praise, as they feel like they were lifted straight from a Castlevania title. Additionally, most levels feature multiple vertical layers, making full use of the grapple hook mechanic to access hidden passages and treasures such as cups of blood or pure gold. These can be used to purchase materials from merchants, which an alchemist can then use to forge upgrades via Power Crystals or trade for Pearls. Through magical portals called Spectral Circles, players can also use Fast Travel to return to previously visited locations—though enemies will respawn upon return. Along the way, you’ll encounter NPCs who share their stories and thoughts on the kingdom’s dire state, though these conversations rarely offer more than atmospheric flavor.
Final Thoughts
As a Metroidvania, Beyond the Ice Palace 2 does not necessarily stand out visually, but it does impress with its modern mechanics, extensive moveset, and authentic soundtrack. Unfortunately, the already dark experience is unnecessarily overshadowed by the erratic difficulty level and, crucially, platforming that does not always feel fluid. However, for those unafraid of a tough challenge in a Castlevania-like game world, there is certainly fun to be had here.
Additional Information
Release Date: March 10, 2025
Reviewed On: PC. Download code provided by the publisher and PR agency via BeyondGaming.
Developer: Storybird Studio
Publisher: PQube Limited, Pixelheart
Official Website: https://pqube.co.uk/games/beyond-the-ice-palace-2
Relevant links: Beyond the Ice Palace 2 on STEAM
