Almost Every Super Smash Bros. Has Used These 2 Characters, But Nintendo Won’t Give Their 40-Year-Old Game a Sequel

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Nintendo games have a special quality that makes them memorable. Characters like Mario and Link are instantly recognizable, and even lesser-known ones often bring back fond memories. For decades, Nintendo has been remarkably good at refreshing its classic characters and franchises, giving fans new experiences while still honoring what they loved about the originals. The Nintendo Switch has been a fantastic platform for this, with some of the best installments in my favorite series. Personally, *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* is my favorite Switch game, largely because of its incredible cast of characters – even those who’ve already had plenty of games!

Seriously, it’s been way too long since Popo and Nana got their own game! These guys debuted way back in 1985, and since then, they’ve mostly just shown up as cameos – thankfully, they’re in every *Super Smash Bros.* game since *Melee*, which is cool. But honestly, it feels like Nintendo just doesn’t *like* them. They only have that original *Ice Climber* game to their name! I really think it’s time Nintendo gave Popo and Nana another chance and made a new game for them.

Ice Climber, Nintendo’s Forgotten Classic

Originally released on the NES when Nintendo was first becoming popular, *Ice Climber* hasn’t seen a new installment since. This simple yet charming arcade-style platformer challenged players to climb 32 different peaks of Icicle Mountain. Even for its time, the gameplay was straightforward, but it was consistently fun and enjoyable.

I always loved *Ice Climber*, but it never quite hit the same level of fame as *Super Mario Bros.* or other big NES games, which is a real shame. It kind of faded into obscurity, but it still had a dedicated group of fans – especially because you could play with a friend and it was all about climbing *up* instead of running sideways like most games back then. Even when Nintendo rereleased older games or put out the *VS. Ice Climber* arcade version, it still felt a little overlooked.

Nintendo briefly featured the characters Popo and Nana from *Ice Climber* in *Super Smash Bros. Melee*. They were unique because the player controlled one character while the computer controlled the other, usually mirroring the player’s actions. However, players discovered ways to disrupt this synchronization, allowing the computer-controlled character to perform unexpected moves. This led to the discovery of a powerful, infinite combo called “Wobbling,” which made Ice Climbers incredibly strong and well-known in the competitive scene. Even today, professional *Super Smash Bros. Ultimate* player Big D continues to demonstrate the characters’ potential, consistently defeating top-ranked opponents.

Missed Opportunities for Ice Climber’s Comeback

Nintendo hasn’t really done much with the Ice Climbers despite a recent surge in popularity. Even though *Super Smash Bros. Melee* was a big hit, we haven’t seen a new Ice Climbers game. They’ve stayed known thanks to appearing in each *Super Smash Bros.* title, but that’s been it. It’s not that they’re too old or forgotten – Nintendo has brought back other older games like *Kid Icarus*. Many other games that first came out on the NES have had sequels and new releases, but Popo and Nana remain stuck with their original 8-bit look outside of their appearances in *Smash*.

The Nintendo GameCube was the perfect time to bring back *Ice Climber* and give the series a fresh start. *Super Mario Sunshine* tried something new with 3D gameplay, and *The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker* featured a dramatically different art style. Nintendo also took a big risk with *Mario Kart: Double Dash!!*. Given this willingness to innovate, the GameCube seemed like the ideal moment to invest in a new *Ice Climber* game, but Nintendo ultimately didn’t pursue that opportunity.

Fans have repeatedly hoped for a new *Ice Climber* game, but Nintendo keeps focusing on other franchises. While Popo and Nana appear in *Super Smash Bros.*, it’s not enough. Many wonder how popular the duo could be if Nintendo gave them a chance to star in a modern adventure.

Why the Switch 2 Is Perfect for Ice Climber’s Return

Now would be the perfect time for Nintendo to bring back *Ice Climber*, especially with the upcoming Switch 2. *Donkey Kong Bananza* showed that there’s a huge demand for 3D *Donkey Kong* games, and a new 3D *Ice Climber* focused on climbing could really shake up the platforming genre. The success of *Astro Bot*, which was named Game of the Year in 2024, proves that players are eager for high-quality, innovative games like this.

A key part of what made the original *Ice Climber* so fun was playing with a friend. Hazelight Studios has really set the standard for cooperative games with titles like *It Takes Two* and *Split Fiction*, and Nintendo could become a strong competitor again by reviving the *Ice Climber* series. A new *Ice Climber* game could be Nintendo’s best co-op experience yet, especially since cooperative play felt a bit weak in games like *Super Mario Odyssey* and *Donkey Kong Bananza*. Having one player control Popo and the other Nana, connected by their rope, could lead to some really interesting and creative gameplay.

Nintendo has a knack for reviving older, less popular game series when they focus on them. We saw this with *Fire Emblem*, which was struggling until the release of *Fire Emblem Awakening*, and *Kid Icarus*, which gained a lot of fans on the Nintendo 3DS (though a new *Kid Icarus* game is still hoped for). With the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2, Nintendo could do the same for *Ice Climber*, potentially making it a hit. Imagine a *Ice Climber* game with a huge, 3D mountain to climb, strange arctic enemies, dangerous avalanches, and cooperative gameplay to reach the top. Because it’s been 40 years since the last *Ice Climber* game, Nintendo has a lot of freedom to create something new and exciting for the Switch 2.

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2025-09-29 00:18