Housemarque, developer of Super Stardust HD, has teamed up with Ubisoft to create a 2D platformer that pulls inspiration from an unlikely source: a shmup. A shmup named Ikaruga.

What we know so far about Outland is that it’s a platformer in the vein of Prince of Persia – and it operates on Ikaruga’s infamous light/dark mechanics. The currently unnamed main character can switch between light and dark suits and bullets, offing light enemies with dark bullets and vice versa. Just like Ikaruga.  His mission? To bridge the divide between Balance and Chaos.

The environment responds to your character’s light and dark state, too, with certain elements activating only when you’re light or dark.  The environment itself is vast and sprawling, and beautifully detailed.

Although surrounded by quite a bit of mystery, Outland looks to continue the trend of high-quality PSN and XBLA downloadable titles exemplified by Limbo and Shank.  Kudos, Ubisoft.