Gather enough electricity to blow the fuses in this extremely hard to navigate dark zone of Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet.

If there’s one thing Insanely Twisted Shadow Planet proves, it’s that even the brightest stars can be corrupted. This 2D adventure casts you as an intrepid alien sent to weed out a sickness that has infected an ailing heavenly body and, subsequently, save all life in the galaxy.

Otherworldly environments engender strong feelings of loneliness, and a modicum of instructions reinforces the idea that you’re all alone. There are few clear directions as you attempt to navigate this hostile world, and that lack of hand-holding is one of Shadow Planet’s biggest strengths.

Figuring out how to use your various tools to overcome obstacles provides the most satisfying hook to pull you along, and it is well worth putting up with the requisite trial-and-error activities to get past the most daunting puzzles. Unfortunately, that rush is often stymied by poor visual feedback and touchy controls. Because of these problems, Shadow Planet offers an uneven adventure that alternates between amazement and frustration, though there are more than enough exciting moments to make it a trip worth taking.