Rumor: Factor 5 Developing New Kid Icarus Game for Wii.

[블라스]

Sources tell Kombo that the ex-Nintendo developer is developing a ground-up Kid Icarus sequel for Wii.
January 20, 2008

Nintendo and ex-Nintendo developer Factor 5 might have temporarily broken up, giving the developer just enough time to develop and release its dragon-themed shooter exclusively on Sony's PlayStation 3, but last week, news hit the Internet that the two companies are once again working together. According to reports last week, Factor 5 is developing an exclusive game for Nintendo's latest home console, Wii.

Kombo has learned from a credible source that said Wii game is in fact a new installment in Nintendo's cherished Kid Icarus franchise. According to sources, Factor 5's Kid Icarus title is being developed ground-up for Wii. It will not use one of the developer's previous GameCube graphics engines. Unfortunately, at this time, no other details have been provided to us for publish.

It has been over twenty years since the gaming world was first introduced to Kid Icarus, with the original releasing in 1986 for NES. The 2D sidescroller is uniquely its own, but its design enjoys recognizable influences from three of Nintendo's biggest franchises: Mario, Metroid and Zelda.

Kombo has fired off e-mails to Nintendo and Factor 5 for comment on this rumor. Until we have more to report, please consider this story just that: a rumor.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

I played and hated Kid Icarus.

"Hey kids, it's an upward scrolling videogame... Wow! Only the scrolling doesn't stop when you stop moving... it's just like an extra long version of those annoying levels in Ninja Gaiden 2 on the NES! Don't you love it?!?"

I hated it. Forced scrolling had apparent suckage since Super Mario 3.

 

[XtromaniaK]

As long as it's not another Lair, what could possibly be worse?

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Not even another Killzone.

 

[hippie_hunter]

I'd like to see Factor 5 live up to their words on saying that most Wii developers are lazy when it comes to graphics.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

I'd rather they do another Rogue Squadron game. Best Star Wars game ever.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

I'd rather they do another Rogue Squadron game. Best Star Wars game ever.

KotOR and/or StarWars: Dark Forces 3: Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast/the original Jedi Knight were the best.

Although Rogue Squadron was in truth, pretty damn awesome. I loved that freaking game.

 

[Electro UK]

You hate Star Wars.

 

[XtromaniaK]

He hates Star Wars, but likes Star Wars games.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Well it depends. Raven used to be an insanely talented developer and let's be honest, Bioware can write funny dialogue.

Rogue Squadron came out at a time when I was obsessed with aerial battles thanks to the movie Independece Day, so it was just there at the right time.

But yeah, StarWars is horrible and I wish it was never created.

 

[Electro UK]

Hmmmm...

 

[cookiva]

I f'ing called this. Not Factor 5, but a new Kid Icarus game. No reason to put him in Brawl outside of testing the waters for fan love of Pit. Nintendo has a new franchise on its hands, which in 10 years, if handled properly, will be a Metroid sized franchise.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Nintendo has no new franchises. Attempts at upstarts like Animal Crossing and Pikmin are quickly abandoned in favor of more Mario games.

I hate the way Nintendo runs their franchises into the ground.

 

[cookiva]

Animal Crossing and Pikmin are not games that rival the potential in Kid Icarus. This could be an epic story, ala any Zelda games.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Zelda is probably the most poorly managed of all of Nintendo's efforts. After Ocarina of Time, it's been very LSD inspired.

 

[cookiva]

True, but that doesn't mean that they aren't amazing games.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

I sort of have to agree. But until they get a good premise to deliver a Zelda game on, we're stuck sailing seas and getting sucked into dimensional rifts to be a wolf.

 

[Shifty]

I f'ing called this. Not Factor 5, but a new Kid Icarus game. No reason to put him in Brawl outside of testing the waters for fan love of Pit. Nintendo has a new franchise on its hands, which in 10 years, if handled properly, will be a Metroid sized franchise.

Metroid has never be a huge franchise. Sidescroling or Prime trilogy. The critics have loved it but they should try to shoot for something bigger than Metroid. They should be aiming for Zelda numbers.

Nintendo has no new franchises. Attempts at upstarts like Animal Crossing and Pikmin are quickly abandoned in favor of more Mario games.

I hate the way Nintendo runs their franchises into the ground.

Nintendo hasn't abandoned Animal Crossing. Like most Nintendo franchises there are one for each console. N64 Japanese version, Gamecube, DS and now one is coming out for the Wii and should be a big success in Japan and the rest of the world. I'm sure Pikmin 3 will make its way to the DS eventually.

Zelda is probably the most poorly managed of all of Nintendo's efforts. After Ocarina of Time, it's been very LSD inspired.

The game sales don't lie. Zelda has the critical acclaim but the sales have never come close to OoT.
The top five games sold are Oot, LoZ, LttP, TP and AoL. If you combine the Gamecube and Wii sales of TP its only the third best selling Zelda game. Granted TP has only been out for just over a year but I don't see it catching up to OoT. Something needs to be done to the Zelda franchise.

But it hopefully this rumour is true.

 

[cookiva]

Why do people always use VGChartz when their numbers suck?

And why aim for something nearly inachievable. Zelda numbers are for few games. Metroid numbers are more realistic for the first game in a "new" series.

 

[WhatsHisFace]

The game sales don't lie. Zelda has the critical acclaim but the sales have never come close to OoT.
The top five games sold are Oot, LoZ, LttP, TP and AoL. If you combine the Gamecube and Wii sales of TP its only the third best selling Zelda game. Granted TP has only been out for just over a year but I don't see it catching up to OoT. Something needs to be done to the Zelda franchise.

But it hopefully this rumour is true.

Nintendo would be well-off to hire a writer, and reboot the Zelda franchise with a story that's more uniform and easier to track. The crazy continuity problems the series has faced have probably caused more people than me to lose interest. I'm not asking for a Batman Begins style reboot where everything has a reason for existing, because at it's core, Zelda is still fantasy. But they don't need to bring in odd plot devices and whimsical dimensional shift for every game. Just tell a decent story and provide the same old excellent game design.

 

[Shifty]

Why do people always use VGChartz when their numbers suck?

And why aim for something nearly inachievable. Zelda numbers are for few games. Metroid numbers are more realistic for the first game in a "new" series.

Okay the link here says, from a Retro employee, 2 million.
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16389

That should be their goal in ten years. After ten years they shouldn't be stuck around 1-2 million in sales. Which is where Metroid is after twenty years.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

The game sales don't lie. Zelda has the critical acclaim but the sales have never come close to OoT.
The top five games sold are Oot, LoZ, LttP, TP and AoL. If you combine the Gamecube and Wii sales of TP its only the third best selling Zelda game. Granted TP has only been out for just over a year but I don't see it catching up to OoT. Something needs to be done to the Zelda franchise.

It's unlikely a Zelda game will come close to OoT's sales. OoT was a huge landmark game for Zelda, Nintendo, and gaming in general.

 

[cookiva]

Okay the link here says, from a Retro employee, 2 million.
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16389

That should be their goal in ten years. After ten years they shouldn't be stuck around 1-2 million in sales. Which is where Metroid is after twenty years.

You think that Nintendo wouldn't be happy with a revived 20 year old game making $50-100million???

 

[WhatsHisFace]

Okay the link here says, from a Retro employee, 2 million.
http://www.gamasutra.com/php-bin/news_index.php?story=16389

That should be their goal in ten years. After ten years they shouldn't be stuck around 1-2 million in sales. Which is where Metroid is after twenty years.

That was a great read... thanks. t:

 

[Shifty]

You think that Nintendo wouldn't be happy with a revived 20 year old game making $50-100million???

Nope.

Yes they would but after a while you would hopefully like more and more people being brought into your franchise if the quality of game is high.