Get all your news in one place.
100's of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
GamesRadar
GamesRadar
Technology
Austin Wood

And you thought Hollow Knight: Silksong is late – 37 years in the making, this retro Metroidvania has a whip-smart Steam Next Fest demo that's as Castlevania as it gets

Beyond the Ice Palace 2 screenshots showing whip attacks.

"Did I miss Beyond the Ice Palace 1 somewhere?" I wondered to myself after discovering Beyond the Ice Palace 2 in Steam Next Fest. I couldn't find it on Steam or any other modern storefronts, and after a bit of research, I understand why: I was approximately -5 years old when it came out.

This is a direct sequel to 1988's Beyond the Ice Palace, a 2D platformer available for the Commodore 64, Atari ST, and similarly formative gaming hardware. Developer Storybird Studio has given the IP a crash-course in modern gaming with gorgeous pixel art, a pitch-perfect soundscape, and some light RPG features, but Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is still a proudly retro experience emulating the pacing and intensity of the original Castlevania games. To top it off, the whole thing is built around our undead hero's whip-like chain.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100's of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.