Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet is a shooter video game created by Shadow Planet Productions (Fuelcell Games/Gagne International) for Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade

Xbox Live Arcade is a type of video game download distribution available primarily in a section of the Xbox Live Marketplace, Microsoft's digital distribution network for the Xbox 360, that focuses on smaller downloadable games from both major publishers and independent game developers...

. Development of the game began in 2007 and was first demonstrated in March 2011 at Penny Arcade Expo

Penny Arcade Expo

The Penny Arcade Expo is a semi-annual gamer festival held in Seattle and Boston. PAX was created by Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, the authors of the Penny Arcade webcomic, because they wanted to attend a show that gave equal attention to console gamers, computer gamers, and tabletop...

 East. The game is set on an alien planet and includes exploration elements similar to Metroid

Metroid

is an action-adventure video game, and the first entry in the Metroid series. It was co-developed by Nintendo's Research and Development 1 division and Intelligent Systems, and was released in Japan in August 1986, in North America in August 1987, and in Europe in January 1988...

 and Castlevania

Castlevania

Castlevania, known as in Japan, is a video game series created and developed by Konami. The series debuted in Japan on September 26, 1986, with the release of for the Family Computer Disk System , followed by an alternate version for the MSX 2 platform on October 30...

. Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet was released August 3, 2011. The game features music by Dimmu Borgir

Dimmu Borgir

Dimmu Borgir is a Norwegian black metal band from Oslo, Norway, formed in 1993. Dimmu borgir means "dark cities" or "dark castles/fortresses" in Icelandic, Faroese and Old Norse. The name is derived from a volcanic formation in Iceland, Dimmuborgir...

 during cinematics; the songs Progenies of the Great Apocalypse

Progenies of the Great Apocalypse

"Progenies of the Great Apocalypse" is a song by the Norwegian symphonic black metal band Dimmu Borgir. It served as their debut single on the album Death Cult Armageddon...

 (orchestral version) and Eradication Instincts Defined play during the game, while the trailer featured Blood Hunger Doctrine.

Reception

Extra Guy gave the game a rating of "A - Must Play", calling the game "an exploratory shooter that combines the best elements of Solar Jetman and Ecco the Dolphin into an extraterrestrial adventure that forges an identity all its own."

Game Breakers gave the game a rating of 4.5 out of 5, claiming the game was "like a long forgotton Metroid game" and praising the game's art style, exploration elements, and diversified weapons.

IGN

IGN

IGN is an entertainment website that focuses on video games, films, music and other media. IGN's main website comprises several specialty sites or "channels", each occupying a subdomain and covering a specific area of entertainment...

praised its beautiful and well-conceived world but criticized it for being too short. They gave it an 8 out of 10 rating.

Piki Geek gave the game 5/5 stars, calling it "a beautifully crafted, well designed, visual masterpiece of a game."

ButtonMasher gave Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet 8.5/10, saying "Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet has an original, mesmerizing art style."