For a game that hasn't even been formally announced, there sure seems to be a lot of information circulating about the Wiicreation of the celestial NES action-platformer, Kid Icarus. For instance, Kombo.com (not to be confused with Zombo.com) recently posted a veritable cornucopia of concept art for the rumored title, as well as some heretofore unannounced deets. Apparently, Pit has been "cursed for thousands of years for a crime" and has become a fallen angel -- those mature themes seem to resonate through the conceptual drawings, available on Kombo's site.

We're not sure if this new media is legit, but Kombo did break the rumor that Factor 5 was working on an Icarus title in late January. Perhaps they do indeed have an inside source -- though it's just as likely that their early plot details could have rolled off their own forked tongues. Check out the images, and judge for yourself.

Pit's feature role in Super Smash Bros. Brawl could be a precursor to the Kid Icarus franchise's triumphant resurrection, or at least IGN seems to think so. On their latest Nintendo Voice Chat podcast, Matt Casamassina and the gang discuss Reggie's recent comments about a holiday blockbuster to be announced at E3, and speculate that it could be the new Kid Icarus that they "know" is in the works.

Now, how Casassamassassassina and crew can be so absolutely sure that Kid Icarus is Wii-bound is beyond us. We'll personally apply a liberal amount of skeptical sauce to this story, although it's also worth mentioning that the IGN team actually hopes Nintendo's E3 reveal isn't the Kid Icarus game they magically already know about. We'll be content either way, thanks.

[Via Wii Fanboy]

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.

It's been about a week since we last checked in on the Super Smash Bros. Brawl site, so we thought it was time for a quick recap that inevitably devolves into a flame war about the relative merits of the Wii. First off, there's been new character information released on a couple of old friends and one new face: Pit, of Kid Icarus fame. As you probably could have guessed, Pit's special moves include limited flight and firing steerable arrows.

There are also some new items being profiled too. The one that looks most like candy (it's not) is the Gooey Bomb, a sticky explosive just begging for a rich varnish of innuendo during all-night gaming sessions. Also, characters can now collect a Final Smash orb that let's them perform a super attack of some sort (you can see Mario's in our picture). Perhaps director Masahiro Sakurai says it best: "...it's kind of like a powerful and personalized hammer. (Or maybe not...)." We're almost sure we can't wait to check it out.

Forget about the old "ICARUS FIGHTS MEDUSA ANGELS" code. Ain't gonna work with the Virtual Console version of Kid Icarus released Monday. A warning attached to the game download states: "The original Kid Icarus allowed players to use secret passwords; however, Virtual Console does not support these passwords."

The omission of these codes is apparently a result of the original cartridge depending on an included module to process the codes; Virtual Console was not designed to emulate this specific component. Similar to Mario Kart ghost data or rumble feedback, Kid Icarus codes are dependent on hardware external to the game file. It simply isn't cost effective for Nintendo to patch VC to support these apparently minor features; unless the service encounters a backlash. You willing to stand up for those cheat codes?

The last time these three games -- Kirby's Adventure, Ice Climber, and Kid Icarus -- were all gathered on your Nintendo system, Kirby's producer wasn't yet head of Nintendo, Kid Icarus' creator had gone on to create the Game Boy, and the adorable Ice Climbers had no idea they would be duking it out in Super Smash Bros. Melee in the future. And so, another Virtual Console Monday comes and goes, again just barely missing that promise of four new titles.

But that's okay, we're still working on last week's Super Mario World ... though we would like to get our hands back on Kid Icarus. He may not have ever made it to DS or The Console Formerly Known as Revolution as rumored but he did make it to Wii intact. All three NES titles will be available at 9am PT for the standard NES fare of 500 Wii Points.

The NES, billed as the savior of the video game industry after the 1980s crash, has a special place in the hearts of many long-time gamers. Now, an artist is offering up a piece of that with an NES. Not just any original NES, but one lovingly painted. Depicting The Legend of Zelda, one of the NES's landmark titles, the NES is not only a functioning piece of gaming history, but an incredibly well done piece of art. The NES looks like a screen shot were taped to the top of it and is protected by 3 or 4 layers of acrylic coating. The seller also has other custom painted systems featuring Kid Icarus and Mega Man 2. Worth taking a look at if you're under the mindset that games are art, as these systems are quite artistic.

The ESRB has approved and rated another pile of Nintendo's Virtual Console throwbacks, including:

• Duck Hunt (E)
• Hogan's Alley (E)
• Kid Icarus (E)
• Kirby's Adventure (E)
• PilotWings (E)
• Pro Wrestling (E)
• Punch-Out (E)
• Wild Gunman (E)

With Duck Hunt, Hogan's Alley, and Wild Gunman making appearances, the Zapper can't be far behind. Think the E3 prototype fits the bill?

[Thanks, Spindash54]