About this game
Released in 1985, Ice Climber is one of Nintendo's earliest Famicom platform games, starring Popo and Nana — a pair of mountaineers who climb increasingly tall icy mountains by hammering through ice floors and avoiding polar bears, seals, and aggressive birds. Originally an arcade game in 1984, the Famicom port featured a two-player simultaneous mode that made it one of the platform's earliest cooperative experiences.
Key Features
Vertical climbing platformer — the objective is to reach the top of each icy mountain; hammer mechanic to break ice blocks above and stun enemies; two-player simultaneous cooperative mode; bonus cloud-surfing stage at the top of each mountain; enemy types including polar bears, seals, and the Nitpicker bird enemies that swoop in from above.
The Story Behind
Ice Climber was part of Nintendo's formative Famicom lineup, appearing within the console's first year alongside Donkey Kong Jr., Popeye, and Balloon Fight. The game helped define the cooperative two-player platformer format at a time when the concept was novel. Popo and Nana would gain renewed worldwide recognition almost two decades later when they appeared as playable characters in Super Smash Bros. Melee (2001).
Tricks & Tales
In the two-player mode of Ice Climber, cooperation can quickly turn to rivalry — players can accidentally knock each other off ledges, and the camera only follows the lead climber, potentially stranding a lower player off-screen. This accidental competitive element became a feature rather than a bug, making it as much a race as a co-op game. The Nitpicker bird enemies move in specific patterns that can be predicted and used to time safe passages.
Collector's Guide
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
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