A classic example of an arcade shoot 'em up

I.C.E. begins by setting up a fairly elaborate and interesting storyline, especially for a shmup. Many classic games of the genre fail to give a compelling storyline; I.C.E. does not. Speaking of which, gameplay could probably most accurately be compared to the classic arcade game Gradius, though I'm not sure it accomplishes it quite as well as the original arcade game. Gameplay runs smoothly and the controls are fairly simple and easy to use. The main problem with the gameplay is how quickly you're thrown into serious battles, even on easy mode. Within seconds, you're screen will be filled with enemy bullets. However, this learning curve problem does not make the game unplayable. There's still joy to be found in getting used to the gameplay and making it a bit further every time you play. After all, that's really what arcade style games like this are all about, I just would have liked to get a little more "bang for my quarter".

Other than that, it's nice to see a few different modes available on the main screen. I've seen too many games with solid engines get boring fast because they don't allow for new and different experiences. At least with these basic difficulty settings it's possible to prolong the replay value of I.C.E. I do have to wonder though why this concept wasn't taken further, adding different twists to the gameplay. Perhaps that's just the time limitations of the contest.

Overall, I.C.E. is an enjoyable game, even if it does take getting used to. If you're a fan of arcade shoot 'em ups, then it's worth a play.