Beyond the Ice Palace
Author
ST Graveyard has written 62 additional reviews
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AL Mobile
Did you know Atari Legend is fully responsive and mobile ready? You want this site to behave like an app on your phone or tablet? Simply open the site in your favorite browser and look for the 'Add to homescreen' button. In Safari on IOS, first press the 'share' icon, then the "Add to home screen" pop-up appears. In Chrome on Android, you press the button at the top right, and select 'add to homescreen'. Once you have done this, the famous Atari bee fits nicely on your homescreen and you can enjoy AL with the tap of a finger.
Written by ST Graveyard
March 31, 2002
The story is a bit bory :-)
The first screen of the game! Pick your weapon and begin your quest!
When the blue demon appears, the sound effect will give you a heart attack! Guaranteed...
And you thought it was already over, he. You have to destroy the end of level baddie first!
Finally made it to level 2...But with only one live left!
Comments
I think "Beyond the Ice Palace" can be considered as the mother of the jump 'n' run genre. This very old classic was some sort of follow up to the legendary "Ghosts 'n' Goblins". It's the first decent platformer released for the ST. This game was in the first batch of games I played on the ST when I was a kid. And it was one of the few I was scared to play. Now, when playing it again after so long, I understand why. It's nerve wreckin! The story is the usual. The balance between good and evil has been disturbed and it's your job to get rid of the evil demons and save the people of the forest! Stupid story? Who cares?
Graphics
A very slick presentation, especially for its time. Remember we're talking 1988 here. The character animation is very good and smooth. Just look at the waving of the hero's hair! The visuals do look a bit "blocky" sometimes...
Sound
An eerie soundtrack by David Whitaker accompanies the game. It's nerve wreckin'. But that's what makes it so effective. Sound effects are decent...
Gameplay
You start the game at the top of a chasm. Here you'll have to choose your type of weapon. Either a throwing knife, a sword or a mace. Every weapon type has its ups and downs. Throwing knifes shoot straight ahead, maces are thrown in the air...It's your choice. There is also a special bonus. You're able to summon a spirit for a certain amount of times. A large head moves over the screen destroying everything in its path.
Of course, there are lots of things to make your life miserable. Chasms to avoid, pallets to jump on...And let's not forget the baddies. There are gargoyles, crawling giant trolls...But the most annoying ones are the blue demons, who re-occur now and then. These guys keep on following you and have to be hit more then once. But beware, they shoot back! At the end of each level there are some bosses, as in good platform tradition.
At the start of the game, you get 9 lives. Sounds like much, but trust me, you're gonna need them. This game is very difficult and frustrating, even if there are only 3 levels to finish! Programmer Dave Perry is known for creating a high difficulty factor and this game is no exception! To make it a bit easier there are extra lives, spirits, and other goodies to collect. Further on in the game you even get a magic sword!
Controls are a bit lacking. The character sometimes reacts slow in the middle of action. Firing your weapon can only be done in a limited amount at a time, which can get very frustrating! Also, it is impossible to move the hero in the air. But then again, that might be considered more realistic.
Conclusion
This is a pre "Turrican" platformer! A really good game for its time. But I can't stress it enough...It's one of the most frustrating, nerve wrecking experiences I ever had on my ST. So keep your stress ball at hand! :-)
Score
- Graphics: 7
- Sound: 7
- Gameplay: 8
- Overall: 7
Last Duel
August 31, 2026 by NeepieLantern
Overall, this is a mediocre conversion of a mediocre arcade machine. Despite all that, though, I actually come back to play it from time to time, just to try and get a bit further. So, it must have some appeal after all, warts and all.
Zone Warrior
February 12, 2023 by AtariCrypt
Once again, pesky aliens are giving us Earthlings lots of grief. We previously fought them off but they managed to pinch a time machine so are using that to alter history and wreak havoc by taking crucial hostages from each period in an attempt to halt their influence. From the invention of the wheel in prehistoric times to England's King Arthur uniting Britain! And where would any of us be today without Japan and its technical wizardry? Yep, we cannot allow this - the fight is on!
Son Shu Shi
March 21, 2021 by ST Graveyard
What an accomplishment this game is. Created with such a small team, the result is really amazing. The game oozes creative passion. While the gameplay is really well balanced, it is a tough cookie, very hard from time to time with its moments of sheer frustration. As of level 3, timing becomes key. You will need to practice and learn the levels to complete this game, there are so many bad guys on screen it sometimes gets a bit hard to take.