Ice Climber

{{short description|1985 video game}} {{About|the video game series|the activity in general|Ice climbing}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2025}} {{Infobox video game | title = Ice Climber | image = IceClimberboxartnes.jpg | caption = North American NES box art, featuring one of the protagonists, Popo, in a red parka | developer = Nintendo R&D1 | publisher = Nintendo<br>Hudson Soft (PC-8801) | director = Kenji Miki | producer = Masayuki Uemura <br> Shigeru Miyamoto | composer = Akito Nakatsuka<ref>{{cite AV media notes |url=http://vgmdb.net/album/404 |title=Famicom 20th Anniversary Original Sound Tracks Vol. 1 |year=2004 |publisher=Scitron Digital Contents Inc. |access-date=April 18, 2011}}</ref> | programmer = Kazuaki Morita <br> Toshihiko Nakago<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RUsmC2nP85o |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/RUsmC2nP85o |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Ice Climber retrospective: A slippery slope for platforming|publisher=Jeremy Parish|website=YouTube|date=May 24, 2016|accessdate=May 5, 2021}}{{cbignore}}</ref> | artist = Tadashi Sugiyama | platforms = NES, arcade, PC-8801, X1, Famicom Disk System, Nintendo e-Reader, Game Boy Advance | released = {{Collapsible list | title = {{nobold|January 30, 1985}} | '''NES''' {{vgrelease|JP|January 30, 1985<ref>{{cite magazine |title=アイスクライマー |trans-title=Ice Climber |url=https://www.famitsu.com/cominy/?m=pc&a=page_h_title&title_id=476&redirect=no |magazine=Famitsu |language=ja |access-date=June 19, 2021}}</ref>|NA|October 18, 1985<ref name="NES Copyright">{{cite web |title=Ice Climber: instruction booklet. (Registration Number TX0002515321) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date= June 6, 2021}}</ref>|EU|September 1, 1986{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}}} | '''Arcade {{Small|(''VS. Ice Climber'')}}''' {{vgrelease|JP|February 4, 1985<ref name="FC Copyright">{{cite web |title=Ice climber. (Registration Number PA0000254907) |url=https://cocatalog.loc.gov |website=United States Copyright Office |access-date= June 6, 2021}}</ref>|NA|March 1985<ref name="vschallenge">{{cite web|url=https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-challenge-screenshots/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210622234255/https://www.flyerfever.com/vs-challenge-screenshots/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 22, 2021|title=Flyer Fever - The Vs. Challenge (U.S.)|date=February 20, 2021}}</ref>}} |'''PC-8801''' {{vgrelease|JP|October 1985{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}}} |'''X1''' {{vgrelease|JP|November 1985{{Citation needed|date=October 2025}}}} |'''Famicom Disk System {{small|(''VS. Ice Climber'')}}''' {{vgrelease|JP|November 18, 1988<ref>{{cite web |title=FAMILY COMPUTER Software List 1988 |url=http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1988.html |website=GAME Data Room |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180827211535/http://tk-nz.game.coocan.jp/gamedatabase/software/DB_NTC1_FC1988.html |archive-date=August 27, 2018 |language=ja}}</ref>}} |'''e-Reader''' {{vgrelease|NA|November 11, 2002<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |title=Ice Climber-e |url=http://pocket.ign.com/articles/377/377502p1.html |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20021120141504/http://pocket.ign.com/articles/377/377502p1.html |archive-date=November 20, 2002 |date=November 15, 2002}}</ref>}} |'''Game Boy Advance''' {{vgrelease|JP|February 14, 2004<ref>{{cite web |last1=Harris |first1=Craig |title=GBA SP Goes Back in Time |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/14/gba-sp-goes-back-in-time |website=IGN |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251015024713/https://www.ign.com/articles/2004/01/14/gba-sp-goes-back-in-time |archive-date=October 15, 2025 |date=January 14, 2004}}</ref>|NA|June 2, 2004<ref>{{cite web |title=Nintendo Announces NES GBA SP, Plus Retro Games |url=https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/pr/9456/nintendo-announces-nes-gba-sp-plus-retro-games |website=Nintendo World Report |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230903055031/https://www.nintendoworldreport.com/pr/9456/nintendo-announces-nes-gba-sp-plus-retro-games |archive-date=September 3, 2023 |date=March 29, 2004}}</ref>|EU|July 9, 2004<ref>{{cite web |last1=Reed |first1=Kristan |title=Which NES classic do you want released on GBA? |url=https://www.eurogamer.net/news-180604-nesclassics |website=Eurogamer |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250216032154/https://www.eurogamer.net/news-180604-nesclassics |archive-date=February 16, 2025 |date=June 18, 2004}}</ref>}} }} | genre = Platform | modes = Single-player, multiplayer | arcade system = Nintendo VS. System }} {{nihongo foot|'''''Ice Climber'''''|アイスクライマー|Aisu Kuraimā|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1985 platform video game developed and published by Nintendo. It was released for both the arcade VS. System and the Famicom/Nintendo Entertainment System console.{{efn|One book says the North American arcade release was October 1984, although contemporary flyers are all from 1985.<ref name="NA">{{cite book |last1=Akagi |first1=Masumi |title=アーケードTVゲームリスト国内•海外編(1971-2005) |trans-title=Arcade TV Game List: Domestic • Overseas Edition (1971-2005) |date=October 13, 2006 |publisher=Amusement News Agency |language=ja |location=Japan |isbn=978-4990251215 |page=128 |url=https://archive.org/details/ArcadeGameList1971-2005/page/n129}}</ref>}} The main protagonists, Popo and Nana, collectively known as the Ice Climbers, scale 32 vertically scrolling, ice-covered mountains to recover stolen vegetables from a giant condor. In some European countries, ''Ice Climber'' was bundled with the Nintendo Entertainment System.

The arcade expansion, {{nihongo foot|'''''VS. Ice Climber''''',|VSアイスクライマー|VS Aisu Kuraimā|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} features exclusive content from the traditional NES release; including an animated title screen, a stage select menu at the start of the game and between levels, 16 more mountains, occasional blizzard and wind effects, more enemies and vegetables, and bonus multiplier items.

Popo and Nana are playable characters in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series, starting with the 2001 game, ''Super Smash Bros. Melee'' for the GameCube. Nintendo released the NES variation for the Game Boy Advance through the Nintendo e-Reader in 2002.

==Gameplay== left|thumb|Popo scales Mountain 1 surrounded by Topis and a Nitpicker. The first player controls Popo, a boy wearing a blue parka, while the second player controls Nana, a girl wearing a pink one. The only tool they carry is a wooden mallet to carve openings in the ice above and to club enemies. Each mountain level consists of eight layers of colorful ice and a bonus stage. Standard, dull ice blocks pose no threat other than an easily disposed-of barrier and platform. Square ice blocks with higher detail are indestructible, forcing the player to take another path. Hatched ice acts as a conveyor belt sliding Popo or Nana either left or right. Finally, many mountains include unbreakable moving platforms resembling clouds. The bonus stage takes place at the peak. Within a 40-second time limit and no enemies, the Ice Climbers often face trickier jumps and multiple moving platforms. The peak is also the only place to recover stolen vegetables, most especially eggplants. Collecting just one piece of corn from the fifth bonus stage is the only way to gain an extra life.<ref>{{Cite book|year=1985|title=Ice Climber|url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/clv/manuals/en/pdf/CLV-P-NAAUE.pdf|publisher=Nintendo|type=Instruction manual}}</ref> At the top of the peak, the Condor flies overhead.

Enemies encountered on the way up the mountains include the Topi, Nitpicker, and White Bear. Topis come in two varieties: the blue seal featured in the Japanese Famicom ''Ice Climber'' release and the short Yeti-like creatures seen in Western versions and ''VS. Ice Climber''. Topis have the ability to fill in holes in the floor with ice. To do this, a Topi scouts out an opening in the floor, runs back to its cave, and reemerges pushing an icicle to fill in two blocks. This process repeats until no more openings on their layer of ice exist. The Nitpicker is a small, mountain-dwelling bird that swoops down from icy caves on the levels' edges. Unlike the Topi, which is confined to one floor of the mountain, Nitpickers can cross over multiple ice layers. Taking them into account along with moving platforms and sliding ice, timing jumps can be more difficult. The final enemy is the White Bear. This enemy, wearing sunglasses and pink speedo, appears on screen only when Popo and Nana take too long to advance. Pounding the ice, the Polar Bear forces the screen to move up. If Nana or Popo are forced off the screen, the player loses a life.

Other obstacles include deadly falling icicles. These can form on the bottom of any type of platform. After a few successful mountains climbed, all enemies' speeds increase.

The arcade edition, ''VS. Ice Climber'', has a few more gameplay differences. The player must pick from an initial set of 24 mountains to conquer. After eight are cleared, a Super Bonus Stage occurs in which the player must reach a high platform. Afterwards, the player must choose from the second set of 24 mountains (which feature different coloration schemes), in which the Condor is replaced by a giant butterfly. After the next eight stages are cleared and the Super Bonus is over, the player resumes the cycle from the original mountain set. The game keeps track of whether the mountain was claimed by an Ice Climber or if it remains Topi-territory—once all the stages are completed, the counter resets. Approximately 30 of the 48 level designs are borrowed from the NES game. Stage setups are generally trickier in ''VS. Ice Climber'', with some new mechanics such as cloud platforms that move diagonally or strong gusts of wind. A purple bee with a spear flying in a horizontal pattern is included as a somewhat rare fourth enemy.

After the bonus stage, the players' scores are tallied. Points are rewarded for every brick of ice destroyed, every Topi-pushed icicle smashed, every Nitpicker knocked out and every vegetable collected. Finally, a bonus score is rewarded if a player manages to climb to the top of the bonus stage and jump up and grab the Condor. The game keeps track of the high score, although there is no way to save it on the NES version.

The game can be played in one- or two-player mode. The latter places Popo and Nana against each other in a race to the summit. Players may prefer to play cooperatively on the way up, but during the bonus round, they must compete for the top.

==Development== {{Expand section|date=September 2008}} ''Ice Climber'' and ''NES Open Tournament Golf'' were directed by longtime Nintendo producer Kenji Miki.<ref name="IMDB Kenji">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1308638/|title=Kenji Miki|publisher=IMDB|page=1|access-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=June 2022}} ''Ice Climber'' is the first video game programmed by Kazuaki Morita. He considered this a "warm-up" before becoming a main programmer on ''Super Mario Bros.''.<ref name="Inside Zelda 9">{{cite web|url=http://www.zelda.com/universe/game/twilightprincess/inside09.jsp|title=Inside Zelda Part 9|publisher=Zelda Universe|page=1|access-date=May 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090331053648/http://www.zelda.com/universe/game/twilightprincess/inside09.jsp|archive-date=March 31, 2009}}</ref> Morita was later credited with central programming roles in numerous games within the ''Super Mario'' series, ''The Legend of Zelda'' series, and in ''Star Fox 64''.<ref name="Kazuaki Morita IMDB">{{cite web|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0605715/|title=Kazuaki Morita|publisher=IMDB|page=1|access-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref>{{Better source needed|date=June 2022}}

==Releases== ''Ice Climber'', a launch game for the NES in North America, has been re-released for several of Nintendo's consoles. The PC-8801 version has a more limited color palette and a reworked HUD.<ref name="Strange and Wonderful Images">{{cite web|url=http://andre.facadecomputer.com/saw/pc88.html#ice|title=NEC PC-8801 Games|publisher=Strange and Wonderful|page=1|access-date=May 2, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081224165924/http://andre.facadecomputer.com/saw/pc88.html#ice|archive-date=December 24, 2008}}</ref> ''VS. Ice Climber'' has been re-released for the Famicom Disk System, removing the difficulty settings and changing a few graphics to be closer to ''Ice Climber'' (such as the bee and butterfly replaced by a Nitpicker and blue Condor, respectively). It has also been released in the ''Arcade Archives'' series on Nintendo Switch, although the bee enemy has been removed.

In addition to the releases listed below, the NES game could be unlocked for play in different versions of the original ''Animal Crossing''. It could be played in the Japanese-exclusive Nintendo 64 version in its Nintendo Space World 2000 demo,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://pc.watch.impress.co.jp/docs/article/20000825/nintendo.htm|title=NINTENDO SPACEWORLD 2000開幕|publisher=PC Watch|date=2000-08-25|accessdate=2024-07-16}}</ref> or by using a special Controller Pak given away as a sweepstakes prize through the June 2001 issues of magazines such as ''Famitsu'' and ''Nintendo Dream''.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=アイスクライマービッグプレゼント|magazine=Nintendo Dream|volume=58|publisher=Ambit|date=2001-05-21|page=87}}</ref> It is also unlockable in the GameCube releases;<ref name="NES AnimalCrossing">{{cite web | last=Schneider | first=Peer | title=Inside Animal Forest Part VII (GameCube, N64) | website=IGN | date=September 11, 2001 | url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2001/09/11/inside-animal-forest-part-vii-gamecube-n64 | access-date=March 24, 2025}}</ref> it can only be officially unlocked via a North America-exclusive e-Reader card, or as a gift to players requesting their save data be transferred from the Nintendo 64 version to the GameCube release.<ref>{{cite web|title=『どうぶつの森』データお引越しサービス |url=https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gafj/moving/ |website=Nintendo.com |publisher=Nintendo|access-date=January 6, 2025 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030206212144/https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ngc/gafj/moving/ |archive-date=February 6, 2003 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable" |- ! Name ! Date ! Platform ! Notes |- | ''VS. Ice Climber'' | 1985 | Arcade | Nintendo VS. System |- | ''Ice Climber'' | 1985 | Famicom/NES | <ref name="Nintendo Database">{{cite web|title='Ice Climber'|url=http://www.nindb.net/game/ice-climber.html|access-date=May 2, 2009|work=NinDB|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100619064232/http://nindb.net/game/ice-climber.html|archive-date=June 19, 2010}}</ref> |- | ''Ice Climber'' | 1985 | NEC PC-8801 | Published by Hudson Soft |- | ''Ice Climber'' | 1988 | Famicom Disk System | Port of ''VS. Ice Climber'' |- | ''Ice Climber-e'' | 2002 | e-Reader | Barcoded cards, readable with e-Reader and Game Boy Advance. |- | ''Classic NES Series: Ice Climber'' | 2004 | Game Boy Advance | Classic NES Series |- | ''Ice Climber'' | 2007 | Wii | Virtual Console |- | ''Ice Climber'' | 2011 | 3DS | Virtual Console |- | ''Ice Climber'' | 2013 | Wii U | Virtual Console |- | ''Ice Climber'' | 2018 | Nintendo Switch | Nintendo Classics |- | ''Arcade Archives Ice Climber'' | 2019 | Nintendo Switch | Arcade Archives |}

==Reception== The ''Ice Climber'' franchise has received generally positive reviews from critics. In Japan, ''Game Machine'' listed ''VS. Ice Climber'' in its April 1, 1985, issue as the eighth most-successful table arcade unit of the month.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Game Machine's Best Hit Games 25 - テーブル型TVゲーム機 (Table Videos)|magazine=Game Machine|issue=257|publisher=Amusement Press, Inc.|date=April 1, 1985|page=25|lang=ja}}{{Circular reference|date=September 2021}}</ref> Former President of Finland Mauno Koivisto was reportedly keen on Nintendo games and his son-in-law has reported that ''Ice Climber'' was his favorite game.<ref>"Uutuuskirja: Mauno Koivisto hullaantui 30 vuotta sitten videopeleihin ja kyykytti kavereitaan Nintendolla: 'Etkö sä oikein hallitse tätä?'", on September 26, 2019, Ilta-Sanomat, https://www.is.fi/tv-ja-elokuvat/art-2000006251088.html</ref>

Reviewing the American release, ''Computer Entertainer'' magazine called it "addictive" for fans of climbing games. The reviewer awarded 3.5 out of 4 stars, for both categories of graphics and gameplay, adding that it provide "hours of challenging play."<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The Video Game Update|magazine=Computer Entertainer|volume=5|issue=1|page=11|date=April 1986|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/5/5e/ComputerEntertainer_US_Vol.5_01.pdf#page=11}}</ref>

Additionally, several fans and critics vote and suggest for a new and modern launch title for the ''Ice Climber'' series, further highlighting the popularity of the series as a whole.

==Legacy== [[File:Ice Climbers SSBU.png|alt=|thumb|The Ice Climbers in ''Super Smash Bros. Ultimate''.]] Popo and Nana appear in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series of fighting games as a two-in-one playable fighter under the name, Ice Climbers, voiced by Sanae Kobayashi. Appearing in 2001's ''Melee'' and 2008's ''Brawl'', their return was planned for ''Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS'' and ''Wii U'' but technical issues with the 3DS version required game director Masahiro Sakurai to scrap development on them to maintain parity between the two versions. He said that their inclusion in said game was low-priority because the ''Ice Climber'' series was "unlikely to have another installment" at the time.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://nintendoeverything.com/sakurai-addresses-ice-climbers-absence-in-smash-bros-wii-u3ds-and-more-in-new-famitsu-column/|title=Sakurai addresses Ice Climbers' absence in Smash Bros. Wii U/3DS and more in new Famitsu column|publisher=Nintendo Everything|date=September 16, 2014|access-date=September 16, 2014|author=Brian}}.</ref> The Ice Climbers returned in 2018's ''Ultimate''.<ref>{{cite web|title=Back in the battle after a ten-year absence! There are two of them, so does that make them twice as strong as other fighters?|url=https://www.smashbros.com/en_US/blog/index.html?category=cat02_fighter_15|website=Super Smash Blog|access-date=January 14, 2019}}</ref>

Themes from ''Ice Climber'' regularly appear in the ''WarioWare'' series' classic Nintendo microgames. In ''Kirby: Nightmare in Dream Land'' and ''Kirby Air Ride'', when Kirby gets the Freeze ability, he dons Popo's parka in the same manner it is worn in the ''Super Smash Bros.'' series.<ref name="Nintendo Database" /> In ''Tetris DS'', an ''Ice Climber'' backdrop appears among other classic Nintendo games.<ref name="Nintendo TDS">{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/SHMfI4-pd_DDhbjpYkb631-LunYD1UhC|title=Tetris DS|publisher=Nintendo|page=1|access-date=May 2, 2009|archive-date=April 22, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090422034903/http://www.nintendo.com/games/detail/SHMfI4-pd_DDhbjpYkb631-LunYD1UhC|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Daigasso! Band Brothers'' includes the bonus stage music theme.<ref name="Daigasso">{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/ds/puzzle/jamwiththeband/preview_6114895.html|title=Daigasso! Band Brothers Import Hands-On|last=Gerstmann|first=Jeff|date=December 10, 2004|website=GameSpot|page=1|access-date=May 2, 2009}}</ref> The Ice Climbers appear in ''Super Mario Maker'' as an unlockable Mystery Mushroom costume.<ref>{{cite web|last=Benson|first=Julian|url=http://www.kotaku.co.uk/2016/05/12/the-ice-climbers-are-coming-to-super-mario-maker/|title=The Ice Climbers are coming to Super Mario Maker|publisher=Kotaku.com.co.uk|access-date=May 12, 2016}}</ref>

==Notes== {{notelist}} {{clear}} ==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://web.archive.org/web/20100403094656/http://www.nintendo.com/wii/virtualconsole/games/detail/P32v6Gw7R3ONW25Fy0Xv9zqlWFJwIZ0d Virtual Console: ''Ice Climber''] at [https://www.nintendo.com/ Nintendo.com] * [http://www.arcade-museum.com/game_detail.php?game_id=8176 ''Ice Climber''] at Killer List of Videogames * ''[https://web.archive.org/web/20100619064232/http://nindb.net/game/ice-climber.html Ice Climber]'' at [http://www.nindb.net/ NinDB] * [https://www.nintendo.com/jp/famicom/software/hvc-ic/index.html ''Ice Climber''] on the Famicom 40th Anniversary page {{in lang|ja}}

Category:1985 video games Category:Arcade Archives games Category:Arcade video games Category:Climbing and mountaineering video games Category:Cooperative video games Category:Nintendo games Category:Nintendo arcade games Category:Nintendo e-Reader games Category:Famicom Disk System games Category:Game Boy Advance games Category:Hamster Corporation games Category:Multiplayer and single-player video games Category:NEC PC-8801 games Category:Nintendo Research & Development 1 games Category:Nintendo Entertainment System games Category:Nintendo Classics games Category:Nintendo VS. System games Category:Platformers Category:Sharp X1 games Category:Vertically scrolling video games Category:Video games developed in Japan Category:Video games featuring female protagonists Category:Video games scored by Akito Nakatsuka Category:Video games about children Category:Video games set in mountains Category:Virtual Console games Category:Virtual Console games for Nintendo 3DS Category:Virtual Console games for Wii Category:Virtual Console games for Wii U