Nobody saw this coming. Seriously. If you told a Commodore 64 fan in 1988 that they’d be playing a sequel to a cult-classic Amstrad CPC platformer in the mid-2020s, they’d probably ask you what kind of futuristic drugs you were on. But here we are. Beyond the Ice Palace 2 isn't just a nostalgia trip; it’s a weird, clunky, beautiful resurrection of a franchise that was basically a skeleton in the gaming closet for over three decades.
The original game was developed by Elite Systems. It was hard. It was punishing. It had that specific 8-bit European aesthetic that felt a bit grittier than what Nintendo was doing at the time. When PQube and Pixel Pajama Studios announced they were bringing it back, the collective "huh?" from the gaming community was audible. But after spending some real time with the Cursed King, it's clear that this isn't just a quick cash-in on a forgotten IP. It’s a deliberate, heavy-metal inspired side-scroller that understands exactly what it wants to be.
The Cursed King and the Mechanics of Momentum
You play as the "Cursed King." He’s a skeleton. He’s grumpy. And he’s got chains. This is where Beyond the Ice Palace 2 distinguishes itself from the endless sea of modern "Metroidvanias." While it has some of those DNA strands, it feels much more like an old-school action platformer where the weight of your character actually matters. You aren't a floaty sprite. You’re a literal pile of bones and heavy metal.
The central mechanic revolves around the Cursed King’s chains. You use them to swing, to whip enemies, and to traverse the crumbling ruins of your former kingdom. It feels... crunchy. That’s the best word for it. When you land a hit, there’s a tactile feedback that reminds me of the better Castlevania titles, but with a physics-based momentum that’s honestly pretty tricky to master at first.
You’ll fail. A lot.
The game doesn't hold your hand. It expects you to understand the arc of your jump and the reach of your chains within the first twenty minutes. If you miss-time a swing over a pit of spikes, you’re dead. There’s no "safety net" mechanic here, which might frustrate younger players used to more modern hand-holding, but for those who grew up on the original or games like Ghosts 'n Goblins, it feels like coming home.
Level Design That Actually Makes Sense
Most modern indie games try to be too big. They give you a map that’s miles long with nothing in it. Beyond the Ice Palace 2 keeps things tight. The level design is vertical, forcing you to use those chains to scale massive towers and descend into frozen crypts. It’s claustrophobic in a good way.
The environments are dripping with atmosphere. You’ve got these icy peaks that feel genuinely cold, contrasted with the glowing embers of ruined throne rooms. It’s a visual feast if you’re into that specific pixel-art style that looks like a 1980s heavy metal album cover. The artists at Pixel Pajama Studios clearly did their homework. They didn't just copy the original game's look; they evolved it into something that looks high-res but feels low-tech.
Why the Combat System Divides Players
Let’s talk about the combat. It’s polarizing. Some people think it’s too stiff; I think it’s intentional. The Cursed King doesn't have a dash (at least not initially). He moves with a deliberate pace. Every attack has a wind-up and a recovery period. This means you can’t just mash the attack button and hope for the best.
You have to learn enemy patterns.
The boss fights are the highlight here. They are huge, screen-filling monstrosities that require genuine strategy. You’ll spend the first few lives just watching how they move. One boss in particular—without spoiling too much—requires you to use the environment against them while managing your chain swings. It’s high-stakes gaming. It reminds me of the era when beating a boss actually meant something, and you'd brag about it at school the next day.
Wait, do people still brag about games at school? Anyway, you get the point.
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The Soundtrack: A Love Letter to Chiptune
If you play this game on mute, you’re doing it wrong. The soundtrack is phenomenal. It’s a driving, melodic synth-metal score that keeps the energy high even when you’ve died at the same jump twelve times in a row. It captures that specific feeling of 80s arcade cabinets—loud, aggressive, and incredibly catchy. I found myself humming the main theme long after I’d turned off my PC.
Dealing With the "Old School" Jank
Look, I’m not going to sit here and tell you the game is perfect. It’s not. There is some "jank" involved. Occasionally, the physics of the chain swing will behave in a way you didn't expect, sending you flying into an enemy you thought you’d avoided. The hitbox on certain projectiles can feel a bit unforgiving.
But is that a flaw or a feature?
In the context of Beyond the Ice Palace 2, I’d argue it’s part of the charm. This is a sequel to a game from 1988. It should feel a bit rough around the edges. It shouldn't feel like a polished, sanitized AAA experience. It should feel like something you found in a dusty corner of a seaside arcade.
The difficulty spikes are real. There’s a section about midway through the game where the platforming becomes incredibly demanding. You’re swinging between moving platforms while dodging fireballs and flying gargoyles. It’s stressful. It made me want to throw my controller. But when I finally cleared it? That rush was better than anything I’ve felt in a "modern" game in months.
Comparing the Sequel to the 1988 Original
For the three people reading this who actually played the original on a Commodore 64 or ZX Spectrum: yes, the DNA is there. The original was known for its "Ice Palace" (obviously) and its brutal difficulty. The sequel pays homage to this by keeping the icy aesthetic as a core theme but expanding the lore significantly.
We actually get a bit of a story this time. The Cursed King isn't just a random sprite; he’s a fallen monarch seeking redemption (and his throne). It’s not Shakespeare, but it provides enough context to keep you moving forward. The connection to the original is subtle—it’s more about the feeling of the game than a direct narrative continuation. It’s a "reimagining-sequel" if that makes any sense.
Technical Performance and Port Quality
I played this on both PC and a handheld console (the Steam Deck, specifically). It runs like a dream. Because it’s pixel-based, you don't need a 4090 to get a stable frame rate. On the Steam Deck, it’s basically the perfect "pick up and play" title. The colors pop on an OLED screen, and the input lag is non-existent, which is crucial for a game that demands this much precision.
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One thing to note: use a controller. Please. Trying to play Beyond the Ice Palace 2 on a keyboard is a recipe for carpal tunnel and a broken spacebar. The game was designed for d-pads and analog sticks. The swinging mechanics feel much more natural when you have 360-degree control over your aim.
Is It Worth the Price of Entry?
Usually, these retro-revivals are overpriced. This one feels fair. You’re getting a solid 8-10 hours of gameplay, depending on how much you struggle with the bosses and how many hidden secrets you try to find. And there are secrets. Lots of them. Crumbled walls that lead to power-ups, hidden chambers with lore snippets—it rewards exploration.
If you’re a fan of Blasphemous, The Messenger, or the classic Castlevania titles, this is a no-brainer. If you prefer games where you can't die and the story is told through twenty-minute cutscenes, you’re going to hate it. And that’s okay. This game isn't trying to please everyone. It’s a niche title for a niche audience that remembers when games were "Nintendo Hard."
Practical Tips for Surviving the Ice Palace
If you're going to dive in, you need to change your mindset. This isn't a race.
- Master the "Neutral Swing": Don't always hold a direction when you grapple. Sometimes letting gravity do the work before you jump off the chain is the only way to reach higher ledges.
- Watch the Telegraphed Attacks: Every enemy has a "tell." Even the smallest grunt will flash or shift their weight before they strike. Learning these is more important than having fast reflexes.
- Don't Ignore Upgrades: It’s easy to try and rush through, but those health and damage upgrades hidden in the side paths are the difference between a boss being "hard" and a boss being "impossible."
- Backtrack When Necessary: Some areas are locked behind abilities you won't get until later. If a jump looks impossible, it probably is. Come back later.
Final Insights on the Cursed King's Return
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a weird anomaly in the 2026 gaming landscape. It’s a sequel to a game most people have never heard of, developed by a small team that clearly loves the source material. It rejects modern trends in favor of a rigid, challenging, and ultimately rewarding experience.
It proves that there is still room for "heavy" platformers. Not every game needs to be a lightning-fast rogue-like where you're dashing across the screen at Mach 5. Sometimes, it's fun to just be a skeleton with a heavy chain, smashing your way through a frozen castle. It’s a specific kind of digital masochism that feels incredibly satisfying once you finally overcome the obstacles the game throws at you.
If you want to experience this for yourself, start by looking into the "Boss Rush" mode after your first playthrough. It’s where the mechanics truly shine once you’ve mastered the movement. Also, keep an eye on the community speedruns; the way people are already using the chain momentum to skip entire sections of the map is genuinely impressive.
Go grab a controller, turn up the volume, and prepare to die a few hundred times. The Ice Palace is waiting, and honestly, it's never looked—or sounded—better.
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To get the most out of your run, focus on upgrading your chain's reach first. It changes the traversal dynamic entirely and makes the mid-game platforming significantly less frustrating. Once you've cleared the first three zones, go back to the starting area; there are hidden rooms accessible only with the double-jump mechanic that hold the best lore items in the game. It’s a small detail, but for anyone who appreciates the world-building of the 1988 original, it’s a necessary trip down memory lane.