QCF: Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet

Among my summer activities, one of my favorites happens to be exploring planets -- particularly ones that are insane, twisted, and shadowy. Luckily, in the past week I have been given the honor to prance through Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet to quench my midsummer’s gaming thirst, and I must say it is one of the most uniquely striking planets I have traversed in some time.

The gameplay of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet (or as I shall call it for brevity, ITSP) is a non-linear, side-scrolling blend of action-adventure and shooter with a sprinkle of puzzles. The protagonist is encompassed by a tiny spaceship that gains various abilities and tools throughout the game that are used to progress through five regions of a shadowy planet. Each area of the planet holds new power-ups, bizarre creatures to fight, small puzzles to solve, and a distinct “theme.”

The most awe-inspiring quality of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is its stunning art style. The backgrounds of ITSP are spectacularly abstract and simple, yet elegant. Bright colors cast upon black shadows create compelling environments that beg to be explored. The unique, strange, and (dare I say it) twisted surroundings draw you into the game world, pulling you into the next area, unsure of what lies ahead. One moment you are crossing a calm, empty corridor and then suddenly a large pincer-wielding foe surrounds you, or an impromptu avalanche chases you through a tight winding passageway. The atmosphere of suspenseful uncertainty is addictive. Every encounter with a new creature or element is odd and fascinating, resulting and many moments of “what the explicit is that thing?” that only beckon you to uncover more of the planet's shadowy secrets.

The gameplay, which builds in complexity, intensity, and difficulty, only becomes more delightful as the game progresses. Boss fights become more involved, and utilization of the space saucer's apparatuses becomes more fluid and intricate. By the ending and the final boss, the game has built to a fantastic climax that is merely satisfying. It is only about a six hour experience and the narrative isn't overwhelmingly deep, but it is a pleasant romp through a beautiful environment that feels well worth the time.

To build on replay value, there is a multiplayer mode called Lantern Run in which you can partner up with three of your closest friends and fight through a perpetually side-scrolling screen, guarding glowing lanterns from a wiggly, red eyeballed, scary creature that I nicknamed “the Cthulhu monster.” It's great, terrifying fun.

So if you are looking for a way to spend a few hours of your summer time indoors, join me in my quest to pull my lantern further into the caverns, safe from the wiggly Cthulhu thing. Explore Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet, a lovely experience with an oddly serene and terrifying atmosphere similar to Limbo, and progressive non-linear gameplay reminiscent of Metroid.