Brace yourself for a corker!
I think everyone has played Beyond The Ice Palace at some time in their life? I got mine free with my first Atari ST computer. Until that day, I was a Spectrum user, so I'm sure you can imagine the look on my face when first loading the ST version with its colourful graphics, smooth scrolling and jazzy sound effects. It was something else I can tell you!
Much like Ghosts & Goblins, this is a scrolling-platformer that involves three monster-infested levels. But there is something special about this platformer because Elite has everything spot-on perfect with awesome joystick controls to the vast variety of enemies within its tricky levels. It's interesting and playable so why couldn't every platformer be this good?
Right then, let's break this pointless trip down memory lane with a couple of funky screenshots...
I knew this game was gonna be great from the start but choose your weapon carefully.
Hey, I think I've found a severed head!! Hmm, what could it possibly be?
Play the game
The first level is a trip through scary woods and is pretty much the typical platformer environment with lots of peculiar baddies to encounter with a freaky end-of-level boss. Actually, each level follows the same formula with interesting places and many monsters to shoot/avoid/run away from. The second and third levels are, more or less, the same: a vertically scrolling cavern filled with hideous creatures before eventually reaching the wicked witch.
You're not alone: a good spirit can be summoned which helps clear the screen of the baddies. There are only so many times you are allowed this feature - a funny face is displayed in the status bar when one is ready to use. So choose your moments wisely when you are most vulnerable - then watch it zig-zag down your screen-killing baddies.
Ice Palace isn't complex but can sometimes be tricky due to awkward mechanics. For example, the blue demon is quite irritating as he cunningly appears just as you begin to use the elevating platforms. My advice is to leap off just at the moment he appears as it's easier to kill. Otherwise, you are stranded on the platforms and very vulnerable.
Hey, I think that we need two more screenshots of our hero with his flowing blonde locks...
Argh, you've blown it by staying on that life. Now the battle is much harder!
Oh no, here is the end-of-level green worm guardian!
A 16-bit jaw dropper
I've always felt the graphics were extraordinary for the period as they perfectly demonstrated our superiority over the 8-bit computers. The 80s were an era of no-lame Amiga ports, so this game has been programmed well. The scrolling is smooth, but the backgrounds are basic. However, each level looks great with gorgeous sprites. Heck, even dying is a beautiful moment, and I'll never tire of the flicky death effect as my soul ascends into heaven. An amazing effect.
The sound effects are ravishing, with a sharp arcade-like quality throughout. David Whittaker's music plays alongside the sound effects using a technique we saw in Xenon. After all, there are only 3 channels. The music is awesome.
So it plays brilliantly while also looking and sounding superb. What a game, eh? Screenshot time...
Level two ramps up the difficulty with weird wolfmen roaming the labyrinth!
Let's leap for joy, for we have collected another severed head!!
The CryptO'pinion?
I've sometimes found that Beyond The Ice Palace is a much-underrated platformer. This is odd because it holds a special place in my retro-gaming heart. Why? Well, it was one of the first games I booted up on Christmas morning in 1988. Just imagine how I felt seeing its graphics and hearing that music - they blew me away. What a time that was!
After all these years, it's still great fun and completely addictive thanks to great joystick controls, smooth scrolling and variety in gameplay. The only downside is the size of each level - I wish they were bigger.
Okay, he might wear cute green boots but I guarantee you will love this platformer. A cracking game!!
Maps for the ZX Spectrum game, aren't needed but nice to have.
My Hi-Score. Can you beat me????? No, you cannot! ;p
