Few of the things that Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (ITSP for short) does as a game are original; the design embodies the Metroidvania stereotype. But when you play the game, even as you’re seeing all the tenants of that tried and true style – the squared map, the areas that are off limits until later, the inevitable upgrades to your arsenal – you are overwhelmed with novelty. While on one hand you can’t shake the feeling that this is an experience similar to that of games past, one absolute that takes hold early is that it’s an excellent game in its own right.

The main characteristic of ITSP that sets it apart is the art style and the game’s presentation. To put it simply, ITSP is a very, very beautiful game. I could likely spend the rest of the review just talking about the art and how wonderfully engaging and playful it is and I would still leave it underappreciated. The juxtaposition of the musical score with the art only enhances the experience. The game is broken up into clearly defined zones, each exhibiting its own style. The main elements are really the environments and the enemies and for each zone, with a unique approach taken to both for every area. In some cases they are one and the same, the environment being the enemy itself. Sometimes the relationship is covert, with polyps that emerge from what was just a desolate façade, but that are nevertheless bound to the walls of the planet. In other sections, the danger is mechanical: spinning saw blades and giant corkscrews looking to spear you. Over time, as you’ll realize, the whole planet is your enemy.

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