Unveiling the Legacy: Gap Knight: Silksong – A Retro Metroidvania Masterpiece 37 Years in the Making

“Did I overlook Beyond the Ice Palace 1 somewhere?” I pondered to myself upon discovering Beyond the Ice Palace 2 in Steam Next Fest. I couldn’t find it on Steam or any other new storefronts, and after some investigation, I realized why: I was around -5 years old when it was launched.

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 systems. Developer Storybird Studio has provided the IP a fresh direction in contemporary gaming with vibrant pixel visuals, a perfectly crafted soundscape, and a few light RPG elements, yet Beyond the Ice Palace 2 remains a proudly nostalgic experience, echoing the pacing and difficulty of the classic Castlevania titles. To top it all, the entire gameplay revolves around our undead hero’s whip-like chain.

The narrative kicks off with the demise and subsequent resurrection of a valorous king in a fantastical land depicted in a beautifully Gothic fashion. Understandably displeased about the betrayal and curse he endured, he embarks on a quest to regain his honor and kingdom wielding the very chains that once bound him.

The chains take center stage in the gameplay. Hooks scattered throughout levels are utilized for various whip-based platforming and puzzles. There’s a delightful sense of tactile interaction – pulling open chests and doors by latching on and swiftly moving the analog stick back, or striking aerial foes and treasures with a diagonal swing. The attacks carry weight, and your shield-shattering heavy strike is worth the stamina you expend on it.

Combat is very methodical, with most foes succumbing in just a few hits but taking a toll on your health bar if you allow them to survive. It has that ‘80s and ’90s flair where one careless mistake can reduce your health to ashes in moments, though it’s not quite as punishing in real-time. The demo bosses pack more punch than, well, the bony skeletons I’ve defeated so far, but demand similar levels of precision in positioning, timing, and the often overlooked deflection skills. This feels much more old-school than the recent Gal Guardians, which I also enjoyed during this Next Fest.

This is as close to the classic Castlevania games as you can get without licensing the IP, from the challenging enemy placements to the unforgiving health system fueled by poultry hidden in walls. Beyond the Ice Palace 2 feels quite linear up to this point, yet every level offers secrets and options to uncover, rewarding exploration on a micro level. The most exciting treasures include crystals and fragments used to enhance your health, stamina, damage, healing, and God of War-style rage mode – a touch of RPG zest to kickstart the king’s day. Ultimately, we’ll find celestial arrow fragments that unlock powers we once possessed, neatly integrating the Metroid aspect of the design.

So far, Beyond the Ice Palace 2 primarily achieves its aim as a game seemingly lifted from another era, though there are some quirks. Vertical inputs work well in combat but aren’t nearly as clean when grabbing ledges or climbing staircases in the environment, which can be finicky. There’s a satisfying dodge with genuine invincibility frames, yet successfully dodging enemy attacks triggers a delayed slow-motion pause that’s dramatically over-the-top, with zoomed-in cinematography that would have K-drama producers taking notes. It feels like someone physically yanks the camera away from you, and this occurs frequently. I initially thought the game was glitching. It’s quite disorienting, making it easy to collide with enemies and suffer minor damage while trying to return to a standard viewpoint.

The demo for Beyond the Ice Palace 2 is predictably a bit dated, yet I am genuinely enjoying it. Quicker Metroidvanias like Hollow Knight and Ultros (and, someday, perhaps, Hollow Knight: