Despite appearing in a number of other titles over the years like Super Smash Bros., Popo and Nana have only ever had the one game under the 'Ice Climber' name (well, two if you count the Vs version). So when should this IP be revisited? And why hasn't that happened already?
Sadly, as with other series like F-Zero, Ice Climber doesn't seem to be all that high on Nintendo's list of priorities at present. Still, the gaming giant hasn't been as controlling over its characters in recent years - Ubisoft has been given access to Mario and Star Fox for Mario + Rabbids and Starlink: Battle for Atlas, and Next Level Games has Luigi's Mansion covered - so what about giving the Ice Climber property to another trusted studio?
Well, developer of the much-loved SteamWorld series of games, Image & Form, has pondered the possibility on social media today. Before anyone gets too excited, we're sure this is simply an innocent tweet to spark conversation, but the replies are overwhelmingly in favour of the idea. A SteamWorld Dig-type game, but travelling up rather than down and with the Ice Climber brand in full force, sounds pretty perfect to us.
The SteamWorld series has almost always been a multiplatform affair, but Image & Form is a studio that would rank highly on any Nintendo fan's list of 'Nindie' favourites. We can't really think of anyone better to take on a name like Ice Climber, so here's hoping this wonderful theory becomes reality one day.
Let us know if you'd like to see this happen with a comment below; perhaps it could even take the shape of a Paper Ice Climbers game like the idea we saw a while ago.
Comments 26
Grab your phone folks!
Yeah, this would only work well.
Nintedo has a lot of neglected properties. This, F-Zero, Kid Icarus, Star Fox, Star Tropics, among others. If Nintendo isn't gonna do anything with them they should let indie studios make a pitch to revive them. As obscure as some of Nintendo's older properties are, I guarantee that even something like Ice Climbers would get people excited if Nintendo would just take a chance on it.
I actually like SteamWorld Dig, so I wouldn't be against this from happening.
Only if it's similar to the simplicity of the first Steamworld game. There so many other series that deserve an expanded universe before Ice Climbers.
And I played this shabby little game a TON as a child, since it was one of the few co-op games I could play with my siblings that didn't pit us against each other.
This would be intriguing, different than making your own mine like in the original steamworld dig. For anyone else picturing this, would it be like celeste, or maybe a multiplayer platformer
Oh my. Yes! YES! I can totally imagine it working.
Yessss, definitely! Make it so!
I wish Nintendo would hand some of these dormant IPs over to someone who'd give them some love. Image & Form seems like a good choice.
And then Arc System Works makes a new Urban Champion.
@Donald_M Or...you know...Mach Rider...darn it, Nintendo, I can't be the only one in the world still waiting for a new one
Interesting I&F would tweet this when they’ve said their next game is already in development. Is this more than just a thought exercise?
Random: A New Ice Climber Game F̶r̶o̶m̶ ̶S̶t̶e̶a̶m̶W̶o̶r̶l̶d̶ ̶D̶e̶v̶ ̶I̶m̶a̶g̶e̶ ̶&̶ ̶F̶o̶r̶m̶? We Wish
I once heard the idea for a Spelunky-like Ice Climber game.
Me and some people started to remake Ice Climber in 1990's for 4 players with online support, but it never got finished.
Anyway. If Image & Form makes a demo of it, perhaps Nintendo agrees on it. They have what i takes to make a new Ice Climber. After all, other third parties used Nintendo IP's.
@Mach_Rider Sure, that too. Give us all of them! I was just naming the ones I could remember.
Don't really want FZero, that game has zero appeal. Would love Ice Climbers though.
If they do this right, this could be wonderful.
Useless article about a tweet. Who wouldn't want to play as characters clubbing baby seals? Maybe they're baby penguins?
Image&Form working with nintendo IP?!
Sign me up!
@Desrever
Ice Climber got a lot of play time among my siblings and friends, too! But it definitely could be a competitive 2P game. Trying to out-climb my brother or sister could get ruthless!
I would support a revival game.
Nintendo and Image & Form working together on one game? BRING IT ON!!! That would be a dream come true!
@Savino I mean I agree that it's first entry does nothing to get me excited for more entries in the series. But same was true for Kid Icarus with both it's original NES and Game Boy games. Yet Uprising is a fantastic game. Seems to me that in the right hands, a modern take on Ice Climbers could prove to be a lot of fun.
Retro would have been a good fit too as would Good feel, knitted Ice climbers would be too cute. Nintendo need to leverage their IP so much more than Nes Remix and Nintendo land, however, it'd like to see a SNES/N64 remix game and an online Nintendo land. While I am at it 100 player F zero battle royal (each lap bottom 2 eliminated) death race is a complete no brainer for Switch online. Just release something New guys.
Go for it.
Nintendo should farm out all their neglected franchises.
There's several quality studios who would love to do new entries for ALL of Nintendo's classic titles.
Alright, this is very cool.
So please just let it happen and let me know when my dream has already been achieved by someone else.
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