Ice Climber (1985-)

• Developer: Nintendo

• Publisher: Nintendo

• Genre: Platform

• Composer: Akito Nakatsuka

Ice Climber for the NES was developed and published by Nintendo, releasing in Japan in 1985 and later in North America and Europe. Originally appearing as an arcade title on the Nintendo Vs. System, it was quickly brought to the Famicom and NES due to its popularity. The game became one of Nintendo’s early first-party titles for the system and helped establish their reputation for creating unique cooperative and competitive multiplayer experiences. Over the years, it has been re-released on platforms such as the Game Boy Advance under the NES Classics series, and through various Virtual Console services on Nintendo’s later hardware.

The game follows the characters Popo and Nana, known as the Ice Climbers, who must ascend a series of icy mountains to reclaim stolen vegetables from a giant condor. Each mountain is broken into layers that must be chipped away with the player’s hammer to create platforms to jump through. The inspiration for the game likely came from classic arcade climbing and platforming challenges, but Nintendo added its own twist by focusing on vertical movement rather than the side-scrolling action that was dominant at the time. This made Ice Climber stand out as a distinct and memorable experience in the NES launch lineup.

Gameplay consists of breaking through layers of ice, avoiding falling icicles, and battling enemies such as polar bears, seals, and yetis that threaten to knock the climbers down the mountain. Precision jumping is essential, as the player must make carefully timed leaps to avoid slipping or missing platforms. One of the most distinctive features was its cooperative two-player mode, where both players had to climb together, but could also interfere with each other’s progress, leading to both teamwork and playful competition. This mixture of platforming, combat, and vertical progression gave the game lasting appeal.

The soundtrack is minimal, with short looping tunes that play during mountain ascents, and sound effects that reinforce the climbing and hammering mechanics. Despite its limited audio design, the music became strongly associated with the game and was later referenced in crossover titles. While Ice Climber never received a direct sequel, Popo and Nana returned decades later as playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Melee, where their inclusion renewed interest in the original NES title. Promotion of the game in its era was modest compared to Nintendo’s flagship franchises, but it was well-received as a unique multiplayer platformer. Over time, it has earned a reputation as a classic example of Nintendo’s early innovation, remembered fondly even though its difficulty and stiff controls remain a challenge to modern players.

Images from MobyGames