Games worth discovering

Beyond the Ice Palace 2

3K View2025-03-18

Hey Tap Tap family!

Most Platformering games these days focus on flashy visuals and fast paced action, they lost there classic nostalgic feel that we all want, from this genre I always want something with a challenge a game that takes me back to the golden age of 2D side-scrollers I want to feel the time of Nes, SNES, Sega Game Gear and Sega Genesis where every jump and attack matters for us. And if you're like me and love classic action-platformers and want to feel the same experience that we feel in 1900s then this game is for you, this game will remind you your real gaming skills, that you forget. This game revives the retro feel of old-school platformers while adding modern improvements, giving us an experience that’s both challenging and awsome.

Overview

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is a 2D action platformer developed by Raster Games, serving as a sequel to the 1988 Amiga and Atari classic. The original Beyond the Ice Palace was known for its challenging difficulty, dark fantasy setting, and punishing combat. Now, years later, Beyond the Ice Palace 2 brings the series back to life with updated mechanics, improved visuals, and deeper gameplay while still retaining its retro charm that we want from today's games.

in game You play as The Cursed King, a fallen warrior brought back to life by an ancient power. And Your mission is Purge the land of the demonic forces that have corrupted it and reclaim your lost throne. But beware of evil creatures, deadly traps, and brutal bosses that stand in your way.

Gameplay Mechanics

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 takes the best elements of old school platformers and refines them for modern players for us. Mastering the Combat is not easy but worthy you will enjoy every part of this. In game you Wield a deadly chain whip (like ghost rider), using this weapon you can strike enemies in multiple directions. And hitting on time is you need to learn every hit needs to be well-timed, and you can also Use magic and special abilities to unleash devastating attacks on enemies. The Enemies are relentless so you need dodge on time and countering at the right moment if you want to live.

The Explorations is fun part exploring A Dark, Gothic World filled with monsters and enemies where you need to Travel through cursed castles, ruined villages, and eerie forests where you Discover hidden secrets, shortcuts, and powerful upgrades, Each area is filled with traps, platforming challenges, and terrifying enemies so always ready for war.

Game have Brutal Difficulty this game seriously challenges you Enemies will hit hard, and resources are limited so you can't get back your health you must be smart about every decision. Boss fights are intense you need to memorizing attack patterns so you can survive in the game. And Platforming is brutal one wrong move, and it’s game over.

How It Feels to Play

Every battle feels brutal and awsome and when you finally defeat a tough enemy you feel so happy and joyful like a kid that feeling always play with my mind. The dark fantasy landscape keeps you engaged with its horrifying atmosphere.

And the game controls feel so fast and fluid everything is so precise you will love it the Precise controls make every jump and attack feel so much satisfying. I am not saying game is to hard but The difficulty is brutal 😅 but perfect for players who love mastering tough games.

Graphics & Sound

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 uses stunning pixel art to create a haunting and impressive world very similar looking to classic platformer games. This game have Gorgeous, hand drawn pixel environments that bring the dark fantasy setting to life, Each level of this game feels unique, the burning villages, demon infested crypts and other places.

Game have A haunting soundtrack that blends eerie melodies with intense battle themes that will give you full vibes of horror and Sound effects add impact to every attack, making combat feel satisfying.

Story & Characters

In this game you immersed in a dark fantasy kingdom. You take the role of the Cursed King, a once revered ruler betrayed and slain by demonic forces conspiring with treacherous courtiers. Resurrected from the abyss, and your mission is to reclaim your stolen throne and restore order to your shattered realm.

You Armed with the very chains that once bound you, now transformed into formidable weapons, you embark on a adventures journey of vengeance. Your path leads through cursed forests, haunted ruins, and frozen mountains, each fraught with nightmarish creatures and hidden dangers. Along the way, you must hunt for scattered fragments of celestial arrows, combining them to purge your curse and unlock your true power.

Game story delves into themes of betrayal, redemption, and the relentless pursuit of justice. Environmental storytelling and interactions with various NPCs enrich the story, offering insights into the kingdom's tragic past and the dark forces at play.

I think this enough about the story 😅.

Replayability & Game Modes

Like every platformer game relayability is high Even after completing the main story, there’s plenty more to do, because this game have Multiple difficulty levels so you can enjoy the game and test your skills even further. And this type of games also have Hidden secrets and collectibles scattered throughout the game so find all of them and get your achievement.

And after all this you can set a Speedrunning record and make a record by beating the game in record time, you going to do it.

Pros & Cons

✅ Classic platforming action with precise, rewarding combat.

✅ A dark, immersive world filled with secrets and danger.

✅ Challenging but fair difficulty that keeps you coming back.

✅ Gorgeous pixel art and a hauntingly beautiful soundtrack.

✅ Deep lore that adds more meaning to your adventure.

❎ The game is brutally hard—not for casual players.

❎ Some areas require near-perfect platforming skills.

❎ No multiplayer or co-op—this is purely a solo adventure.

Rating: 9/10 ⭐

This a brutal, rewarding action platformer that brings the best elements of classic retro games into the modern era. If you like this type of game's that have challenging combat, exploration, and stunning pixel art graphics, this game is for you.

Should you play it? YES!

Now tell me what’s the hardest platformer you’ve ever played? Drop your answer in the comments section! Bye.