Combine the free-roaming spirit of the old 2D Metroid and Castlevania games with the visual stylings of more recent games like PixelJunk’s Shooter and Limbo (think Tim Burton’s Nightmare Before Christmas), and the result is Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet. As the name implies, the visuals have a heavy emphasis on black and white, silhouette-like graphics of the strange, tentacle variety. While the twisted landscape of the namesake is definitely creepy, most obstacles and enemies are basically spiky geometric shapes, worms, and occasional bug or squid/octopi-like creatures. 

There’s no blood, and the action—despite shooting things—is kept explosive, but not really violent. As with Nintendo’s Metroid series, your spaceship is stuck in a huge cavernous map that must be explored. Blocked passages must be overcome by finding new accessories for the player’s flying saucer, and the game is full of fun exploration and some ingenious puzzles. Upgrades include a drilling saw to cut through rock passages, a claw to pick up objects and move them, new weapons, a shield, and other items that grant the player new abilities. 

While the macabre graphics might be a turn-off, the focus on problem solving and exploration is excellent. The difficulty level isn’t overly high and the game is relatively short, but the gameplay stays engaging throughout. It’s a very good choice for playing together with your child, particularly since the developer has promised the addition of cooperative play in a forthcoming update.

- JASON D'APRILE