Rumor: Factor 5 working on a Kid Icarus game for Wii

by Griffin McElroy { Jan 20th 2008 at 7:30PM }

We reported last week that Factor 5, developers of the amazing Rogue Squadron series for the Gamecube and the nightmarish Lair for PS3, has rekindled their relationship with Nintendo, and are currently working on an unnamed project exclusively for the company's home console. According to gaming site Kombo (and their anonymous inside source), the project is a brand new Kid Icarus game, designed from the ground up for the Wii. Given F5's renewed partnership with Nintendo, and the Kid Icarus buzz already in the air due to protaganist Pit's inclusion in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, it's a definite possibility. However, until we hear something from the new lovers, this is just hearsay at best.

Tags: factor5, kidicarus, nintendo, pit, wii

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)

J-Guy @ Jan 20th 2008 7:38PM

Hmm.

BrianLo @ Jan 20th 2008 10:13PM

Is no one questioning that the source is a few days old site? I think this is a logical guess, based on rumors that have gone around before, but I doubt they actually have a real insider source.

i_hate_mtv @ Jan 21st 2008 4:23AM

I'd prefer that Factor 5 work on Star Fox, and Retro work on Kid Icarus.

It just seems better that way.

DonWii @ Jan 20th 2008 7:39PM

I don't doubt that there is an upcoming Kid Icarus game, but I doubt Factor 5 is working on it.

I always thought Kid Icarus should be given to Retro-since they also revived Metroid after a long hiatus- and give Factor 5 Star Fox or Pilotwings, since they are good at flight games (unless they make graphics a priority).

Makes a lot more sense.

Moofree @ Jan 20th 2008 7:43PM

They could use the Metroid Prime 3 engine!
Brilliant!

wait in the car @ Jan 20th 2008 9:19PM

While the MP3 engine would work, in theory, I think Kid Icarus would be better as a 3rd person platformer.

BPM4:Guns of the Idiots @ Jan 20th 2008 9:47PM

They could use the same engine, but convert it to a third-person adventure. I mean, look at everything that uses the Unreal engine, for example.

Factor 5 is great at making a game both fun and great-looking. The Rogue Squadron games were some of the best-looking games on N64/GameCube. Granted, there's not much more power to work with Wii than GameCube, but if anyone (that isn't Nintendo) that can make a great-looking Wii game, it's them.

PilotWings sounds like a great candidate for revival, though. Only two games in the series, and has been dead for a while.

tmacairjordan87 @ Jan 20th 2008 11:08PM

yeah...lair was a ton of fun *rolls eyes*

Co @ Jan 21st 2008 12:59AM

"I think Kid Icarus would be better as a 3rd person platformer."

I can only see Kid Icarus being successful as a 2.5D platformer/ flight game. 2.5D being polygonal side scrolling ala Mischief Makers or Kirby 64.

DellCPU @ Jan 21st 2008 2:26AM

Just so you all know, Kombo is AMN's new name. So this isn't just some random site reporting a rumor.

hvnlysoldr @ Jan 20th 2008 7:42PM

Just because Kid Icarus and Metroid were created by the same team with the same engine doesn't automatically make Retro Studios the designated team.

...Jan... @ Jan 20th 2008 8:20PM

- Sure it does. It worked on the NES, and I think it would work on the Wii. It just needs to be in 3rd person.
- Factor 5 could probably pull it off...except it better not be like the ground based Rebel Strike missions.
- Retro would have made the game look nice. But, Factor 5 will probably push the Wii to the limit. Let's just hope that's not on the top of their priority list.

Obie @ Jan 20th 2008 7:43PM

Factor 5 used to be a great developer until their giant misfire "Lair". As long as they keep intuitive controls a priority, I am looking forward to their next Nintendo project.

Moofree @ Jan 20th 2008 8:21PM

One bad game doesn't make a bad studio.
Look at Tribes Vengeance.

Jeff @ Jan 21st 2008 3:52AM

Why must you mention Tribes Vengence...that brings a tear to my eyes.

I am still playing Tribes 2 because of Vengence.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 20th 2008 7:43PM

I want that Factor 5, with Nintendo, make a new Star Fox game.

But don't use motion control to move the Arwing (ala Lair)... with the analog stick you control the Arwing, and with the IR Pointer you aim and moe the camera (ala Metroid Prime 3), you shoot with A and drop bombs with B.

Sounds perfect to me.

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 8:31PM

Firing with B would hurt like a bitch after a while. It'd be better to fire with A and drop bombs with B, as you do that less.

Dopple Boppler @ Jan 20th 2008 9:19PM

I don't know, the Starfox minigame in WarioWare Smooth Moves with the motion controlled Arwing was really fun. Then again it might get old as an entire game.

BPM4:Guns of the Idiots @ Jan 20th 2008 9:49PM

Press B for bombs! Use bombs wisely!

hvnlysoldr @ Jan 21st 2008 12:07AM

Do a BARREL ROLL!

Geist @ Jan 21st 2008 11:35AM

Do a barrel roll, Fox!

playwhutyalike @ Jan 20th 2008 7:49PM

If they design it they should make Pit ride a dragon.

That would be awesome.

AaronMD @ Jan 20th 2008 8:01PM

I think the press tends to be a little too hard on Lair. Its a good game. The general motion controls are fine to me, but gratned there are some aspects of control that should have been mapped to buttons. Its still very playable and entertaining, and a patch could have "fixed it" quite well in my opinion.

Fernando Rocker @ Jan 20th 2008 8:04PM

Don't try to convince yourself... Lair sucks.

hvnlysoldr @ Jan 20th 2008 8:10PM

Replace Lair with PS3:
We don't hate PS3 as much as we're disappointed in it.

Secura @ Jan 20th 2008 10:18PM

Fernando, we all know you don't have a PS3 and most likely have never played Lair. I'm not saying it's a good game, but you can't say it sucks based on other people's opinions.

wootman @ Jan 20th 2008 11:09PM

have you ever fallen into a pit of acid?
you can base it off of other peoples opinions that it would be bad.

Croove55 @ Jan 21st 2008 12:44AM

Actually, I HAVE done the pit of acid before just to see for myself. I don't think it was amazing, but I think it got a lot of undeserved bad press. It had it's moments.

Tom @ Jan 21st 2008 1:03AM

Except that there's nothing subjective about falling into a pit of acid. A bad video game, however bad it may be, can usually scrape together some redeeming qualities. While falling INTO a pit of acid can be universally considered bad, it still has an inherent value to someone who needs to dispose of a body. In this way, even a pit-of-acid game like Lair finds its niche. So those of you who have read other people's reviews of Lair are more than welcome write it off as pure crap, but that's not a license to spout off a bunch of nonsense about a game you haven't played.

AK @ Jan 21st 2008 12:13PM

The Joker fell into a pit of acid, and he turned out pretty good.

Jon @ Jan 20th 2008 7:55PM

Ignore this comment. Just trying to figure my email out.

Jon @ Jan 20th 2008 7:57PM

I think I got it now.

J-Guy @ Jan 20th 2008 7:59PM

I'd like to apologize for wasting space trying to change my email here. Sorry everyone.

baby sea tuna @ Jan 20th 2008 7:58PM

Okay.

Avarice @ Jan 20th 2008 7:59PM

At this point I'd be far more interested in an Eggplant Wizard spin off.

arrrgh @ Jan 20th 2008 9:29PM

fail.

BPM4:Guns of the Idiots @ Jan 20th 2008 9:49PM

Arrgh fails, Avarice wins. I support an Eggplant Wizard game.

Russ Carroll @ Jan 20th 2008 8:02PM

Sounds like a fun rumor, though I keep holding out for Eiji Aonuma to be put on Kid Icarus. I think his sensibilities, which have made some excellent Zelda games, combined with the freedom of a new character who is not bound to the world of Hyrule would lead to a fantastic adventure.

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 8:25PM

I really, really think the worst thing possible would be for Nintendo to make Kid Icarus like Zelda with the ability to hover and fly. It's so obvious a direction to take, I can't help but think it'd feel uninspired.

Ideally, Nintendo should talk this chance to make an action game. I'd be VERY interested in seeing what Nintendo does with a game in vein of God Hand, Ninja Gaiden or Devil May Cry.
It would also round out their genres, as they already have platformers, FPS's, (two) racers, fighting, flight and adventure games represented perfectly.

Blue_Falcon @ Jan 20th 2008 8:23PM

Sweet, so the game will have X-Wings and Dragons!

On a serious note, I didn't like Rogue Leader from the GCN launch, I heard the 3rd one was worse, and I've heard seldom good things about Lair. If F5 is doing this game, I may skip it.

Also, I like how once F5 says they return to Wii, they're automatically pinned onto some Nintendo franchise for development. I remember for the past several years people were saying the 'rumor' about Kid Icarus was with Capcom in relations to Dead Phoenix (from the Capcom Five). And now 'this' is the rumor.

I'd rather let someone in-house at Nintendo do it anyway.

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 8:29PM

*IF* Nintendo really is letting Factor 5 or anything other company take the reins of a series like Kid Icarus, which has been dead for decades, there's no way they're going to let them ruin it, if you ask me.

I'd more expect Factor 5 to regret taking it on, given Nintendo's legendary hardassedness.

Zertoss @ Jan 20th 2008 8:41PM

Oh I'm sure Factor5 could find a way to screw it up epically. They're a one hit wonder.

Dopple Boppler @ Jan 20th 2008 9:23PM

Well from all the Metroid Prime development stories, the game was on track for being a disaster until Miyamoto came in and directly intervened, and look at what we got. It doesn't hurt that I loved Rogue Leader, even though I agree with the people that say Star Fox would make more sense for Factor 5.