Beyond the Ice Palace 2 Reviews
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 attempts to resurrect a forgotten action platformer from 1988, turning it into a Castlevania-like. The gameplay introduces chains used for both combat and platforming, but imprecise controls and questionable physics detract from the experience. Uninspired level design, repetitive bestiary, and badly distributed checkpoints make the game frustrating. While having a good atmosphere and an interesting combat system, this sequel ranks below the average of modern indie productions and will therefore be appealing only to hardcore fans of the genre.
Review in Italian | Read full review
A solid 2D action platformer sequel now on Switch
There are good times to be had in Beyond the Ice Palace 2 but those moments will be among much frustration and clunkiness. 🧊
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is not an easy game to love. Its stiff controls and punishing level design will turn away many players. But for those willing to push through its flaws, it offers a rewarding, nostalgia-driven challenge. In many ways, it captures the essence of old-school action platformers, tough, cryptic, and requiring patience to master. It’s not for everyone, but retro gaming fans may appreciate the icy gem buried beneath its rough exterior. I, for one, dug it.
Beyond The Ice Palace 2 isn't perfect, but it definitely has much to say about time and the gaming world as well as how things progress or regress while still staying a fun, nostalgic game with easy-to-grasp gameplay and great graphics alongside impressive world-building.
Beyond The Ice Palace 2 exceeds expectations as a follow-up to a forgotten gem from gaming's silver age. This might be one of the most unexpected indie game announcements in recent memory, as this sequel is vastly different from the original in almost every way.
It’s fine. A short description of a game set 30 plus years after its predecessor is really how I’m feeling. It’s not bad but it’s not … for me. In my opinion Beyond the Ice Palace II keeps its retro hardness alive in this installment (which I’m not knocking) but in 2025 I want smoothness to my platformers. This one really takes me back to SNES days where a game was hard because it meant you had to put the time in to master it and I’m just not into that in this day and age which I realize isn’t necessarily the opinion of all gamers. I know some metroidvania fans who would love this one so if that’s you, at least give Beyond the Ice Palace II a double take.
Beyond the Ice Castle 2 brings back a simple game from the 1980's in a new edition with much more substance. For better or worse, it goes back to the old elements of Castlevania with linear stages, a great dark fantasy atmosphere, slow and heavy movement, and high difficulty that's reinforced by the not so generous healing system and the long distances in between the save points. This makes death a stage repetition that can be frustrating and repel the public that isn't keen to facing this kind of retro punishing experience.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a good choice for fans of the metroidvania genre, especially those who want something closer to the platform and action side of the old games.
Review in Portuguese | Read full review
Although Beyond the Ice Palace 2 pays homage to the challenging and visually appealing spirit of the 1988 classic, it is a step up from the original game. It is distinguished by a stamp of its own, with a better setting and a much more ambitious narrative than the original.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is unashamedly retro and blatantly derivative, but it's also quite enjoyable to play if you like a stiff challenge.
Beyond The Ice Palace 2 is a fun-if-very-challenging linear-style 2D action platformer that may be plodding and methodical for some, but still enthralling for many of us who need their Castlevania jollies sated. For the rest of the world, it's going to make you break your controllers, especially in the latter half where checkpoints are very sparse.
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 has nearly all the makings of a great action-platformer. It’s got gorgeous pixel art, satisfying combat, and music that sets up a brooding dark-fantasy tone. Some frustrating platforming sections and somewhat unresponsive controls hinder the game from attaining greatness. A quick refinement of these will make a 50-year-old somewhere very, very happy.
Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a gritty and tough action platformer. If you can cope with the brutality, you will enjoy the gothic setting and the captivating lore. It is cruel and unfair, but the action is oddly rewarding.