Ice Climber (NES)

Game Profile

Conquer treacherous mountain peaks, leap across icy chasms and swat snow-dwelling beasts – solo or with a friend – in this NES classic from 1984.

Use your hammer to bash blocks from below and to defend yourself from the wildlife as you jump from floor to floor towards the summit. Make it through all eight floors to reach the Bonus Stage and grab as many vegetables as you can before hitching a lift on a friendly condor.

In two player mode, either work together to reach the mountain-top or compete to see who can get the glory first!

Game Review

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Review

USA Tue, 13 Feb 2007 by Damien McFerran

Conquer treacherous mountain peaks, leap across icy chasms and swat snow-dwelling beasts.

Another classic NES title for the Virtual Console. Thankfully this is a big enough classic to be worth considering for download. Ice Climber is a fantastic little game, if a little basic. Graphically it's exactly what you'd expect an 8-bit game from 1985..

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User Comments

Echo

1. Echo United Kingdom 24 Feb 2007, 08:19 GMT

This is easily one of the best two-player/co-op games on NES. I still play it with friends from time to time. And the music is a classic.

Wolf

2. Wolf United States 06 Mar 2007, 05:17 GMT

I loved this game sooooo much as a kid. I hated the way they jumped such a short distance but I couldn't stop laughing in multiplayer! Oh man, and once you get the controls down it's a blast to scroll your friends off the screen! hahaha The only regret I have is the horrible free-play arcade setup. You can go to any level at any time so there's really nothing to expand on. The levels were so similar to one another there's just so little to keep one's interest. I'd have to say co-op only on this one.

Mario's bro

3. Mario's bro United States 11 Mar 2007, 14:15 GMT

This game is a all time favotite of mine I could play it for hours getting some fun out of it with my friends. I reccomend this game to everyone it is a classic.

tom

4. tom Switzerland 16 Mar 2007, 12:21 GMT

i have it on gba and now vc console! yeah!

Pocketim

5. Pocketim New Zealand 08 May 2007, 21:37 BST

I'm trying to get this on e-reader cards for the GBA coz nes games look better on the gba.

Tull

6. Tull Norway 01 Jun 2007, 18:51 BST

Pure 2 player fun

SKTTR

7. SKTTR Germany 11 Jun 2007, 10:41 BST

If you'd play all the 32 levels from the beginning I doubt anyone could beat this game. I think it was a good idea to have a level selection right from the start. So you can hop in where you left or drowned.

Again, the fun multiplies if you have comrades to play with.
But also one player will have a good challenge for beating all 32 stages.

Mii be you

8. Mii be you United States 31 Jul 2007, 20:20 BST

This game's good. The gameplay is simple.
You try to climb the mountain and recover veggies from a giant
condor! Sounds simple, but can you do it in 32 mountains?

Ross

9. Ross United Kingdom 04 Aug 2007, 17:03 BST

The person playing in the video isn't every good :S Good game though, theres not that much to do in it apart from jump around levels.

tuomas_t

10. tuomas_t Finland 04 Oct 2007, 16:05 BST

I just love the game. Its not that easy, so you can play it quite long before mastering it. Music is quite hypnotic. Characters are funny. We good game.

Link O' Fett

11. Link O' Fett United States 19 Nov 2007, 20:48 GMT

A fun and challenging game, two player is a must.

Beau Skunk

12. Beau Skunk United States 23 Nov 2007, 10:41 GMT

The first few minutes I started playing, I wasn't sure if it was that good, then after getting used to the way it plays, it's acctually a very good game, and in some ways quite advanced for it's day. Such as having 32 levels to chose from on the tittle screen, so you can always start off from the last level you were at. Simple, challenging, and engaging. I now understand why they included them in the Smash Bros. series. The Ice Climbers deserve more kudos.

StarSoldier1

13. StarSoldier1 Canada 20 Dec 2007, 04:28 GMT

I'm sorry but this game blows. The jumping is inconsistant, the game is censored so you can't club the seals, and there is no ending to the game either.

learn japanese ds

14. learn japanese ds Canada 09 Jan 2008, 20:55 GMT

The cover for this game is just hilarious! You could never release a game these days that had an Eskimo about to club a polar bear on the front.

Manicfatty

15. Manicfatty United States 14 Feb 2008, 18:47 GMT

I downloaded this for a friend who loves it but didn't have a Wii at the time. I'd play it when he came over, and it was moderately fun. Jumping blows. He has his own Wii now, and we play it at his place. Mine is on my SD card.

Jupiter Adept

16. Jupiter Adept Canada 01 Mar 2008, 23:51 GMT

I hope I can get this on Animal Crossing soon... anyone who can give me the password on Animal Crossing or send it to me on Animal Crossing will be thanked somehow (hopefully!). PM me on vcforums or Nsider2 if you're feeling nice.

calc_nerd

17. calc_nerd United States 02 Mar 2008, 16:07 GMT

Ice Climber was a fun game while it lasted...too bad we only saw Nana and Popo again in the Super Smash Bros. series

2097

18. 2097 Sweden 03 Mar 2008, 01:01 GMT

I accidentally downloaded this (don't absentmindedly browse the VC store while on the phone) but since I used to like it, it's OK.

The main problem is the stiff controls.

SBOY

19. SBOY Canada 05 Mar 2008, 14:00 GMT

I have it on E-Reader (yep I'm one of those freak that bought it since it was a good way before they came out on cartbridge to get retro NES game) and this game is great... 4* to me...

MasterMario

20. MasterMario United States 12 Apr 2008, 16:18 BST

After playing the trial version on Brawl, I would have to give this one a miss. Why? I really don't like the way the ice climbers jump. You woudn't know if you reached the platform or not.

Smileface

21. Smileface United States 01 May 2008, 01:36 BST

Hmm . . . .
Im having a hard time deciding
Im collecting all of the classics, but I didnt like it much when I pplayed it on SSBB.
I can never reach the platform. I always fall through the edge
What do you think?

megacody

22. megacody United States 13 May 2008, 02:44 BST

One of my favorite games. Better when played with a friend, but solo is still very fun. I didn't like how you jump, but I got used to it. One of the best NES games. A must have, if your a retro gamer.

Terranigma

23. Terranigma United Kingdom 20 May 2008, 20:56 BST

Downloaded this yesterday. Love it, brilliant stuff

Ricardo91

24. Ricardo91 United States 28 Jun 2008, 21:33 BST

This game is alright. I still have this game in e-card form, and it's pretty fun, but the problematic jumping makes it frustrating especially in the later levels. 3 stars for me.

Mipsymoodle

25. Mipsymoodle United States 08 Aug 2008, 01:15 BST

this game is surprisingly good. its not an easy buy but id reccomend it

Corbie

26. Corbie United States 19 Oct 2008, 05:50 BST

I bought this game the day it was released for the NES and I've loved it ever since. The control is tricky, but once you get it down, this game becomes surprisingly addictive. :)

Kurachi

27. Kurachi Netherlands 23 Oct 2008, 11:36 BST

me too played this on nes, i only have so many games i want atm, not sure if i buy this, but it was fun back then
they should make an rpg of ice climbers, lol, also multiplayer
if there is one, i dont know :P
this one was kinda hard until i got used to the controls, and i too like the multiplayer mode, its just that if you play it to go through the game, you have to wait for each other a lot :P

Ferret75

28. Ferret75 United States 31 Jan 2009, 19:59 GMT

Probulay the best multiplayer game ever. =D

StarFox

29. StarFox United States 10 Mar 2009, 19:36 GMT

I tried the demo on SSBB, but didn't understand it.

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