Rumor: Factor 5 developing Kid Icarus on the Wii

by Candace Savino { Jan 20th 2008 at 3:00PM }

When Factor 5 announced that they would be making a Wii game, many of us took guesses as to what it would be. According to Kombo, though, a credible source claims that the game will be a new Kid Icarus title. The rumor also states that Factor 5 will not be using their GameCube graphics engine, and instead will be developing the game from the ground up.

With Pit being a playable character in Brawl (which is likely to increase hype for the Kid Icarus franchise), we wouldn't be surprised if this rumor turned out to be true. Since it is only a rumor though, be sure to take your daily dose of salt with it, perhaps a grain or two.

[Via GoNintendo]

Tags: factor-5, kid-icarus, pit

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Mr Khan @ Jan 20th 2008 3:13PM

This seems more like "Wishful thinking"

I'll need proof on this one, it seems far too good to be true.

Technologically proficient developer + long-awaited sequel?

Mr Khan @ Jan 20th 2008 3:14PM

Bah, cut off the rest of my comment somehow

Meant to add: Those 3 statements will sum up the majority of opinions, although they do represent my own

Doesn't make it impossible, and it would be the wickedest of wicked awesome

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 6:43PM

Personally, I think it would be the wickedest of wicked awesome if Nintendo make it kinda like Ninja Gaiden...but without all the blood and ultra violence.

That's about the only genre I could see a new Kid Icarus naturally taking without it being a ripoff of Zelda

MidnightScott @ Jan 20th 2008 3:13PM

I'm the one that found this and sent it into GoNintendo but he didn't give me credit :(

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 6:35PM

That's probably because like 40 other people sent it to him, too...

Van Faulk @ Jan 20th 2008 3:20PM

This would be a nightmare. A series like Kid Icarus deserves more than a no talent developer like F5.

The only thing they can do well is star wars games...and they can't do that anymore.

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 6:38PM

Factor 5 have a lot of talent...especially the technical variety.
I'm confident that if Nintendo is letting them make this game, they aren't going to let them fuck it up.

Discosis @ Jan 20th 2008 9:05PM

Factor 5's got plenty of talent, they've been around a lot longer than many other development houses.

Maybe they can bring Turrican to the virtual console :)

Nebinator @ Jan 20th 2008 3:49PM

I never liked pit...
He's...
just so happy-like

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 6:34PM

I know! He'd be cooler if he were a gangsta space marine who shot up aliens and monsters with futuristic space weaponry.

gorecki @ Jan 20th 2008 3:59PM

I know for a fact that it is or isn't true.

thethirdmoose @ Jan 20th 2008 6:52PM

Wrong. Until you open the box, it both is AND isn't true.

Schrodingers game?

Croove55 @ Jan 20th 2008 4:24PM

NO! THAT WASN'T MEANT TO HAPPEN!

Really, though, give Kid Icarus to Retro Studios. They have proven that they can bring back a Nintendo series and make it kick ass again. What do we have from Factor 5? Rouge Squadron games, which, while apparently good (I've never played them myself, so there goes my credibility), are still pilot games. Then we have Lair. The people responsible for the motion controls in LAIR are making a game for a console that DEPENDS on motion control. Is anyone else considerably worried?

Then again, I'm just reacting at the gut level. Certainly the Wii has a better motion control development toolset, and Kid Icarus will focus less on flying than Lair, so maybe there's a chance that they'll make good on this attempt (if this turns out to be true). Still, I just feel as though it should go to Retro, HAL, or Ninty's development team themselves.

Mr Khan @ Jan 20th 2008 4:47PM

I think Lair would've done better on Wii, if only because the major strike against it probably would've worked out better

Lair, iirc, was supposed to be an essay in gargantuan environments more than a motion-controlled adventure. Hopefully they'll embrace the motion controls a little better

If this is at all true, of course

Sensai @ Jan 20th 2008 5:10PM

Factor 5 is a quality developer, capable of pushing the hardware of a system to its true potential. (Jesus Christ, I sound like PR!) Look at Rogue Squadron for the Gamecube.

....looked at it? It seriously looks better then about 95% of all GC or Wii games to date. Now, the big kicker: it was one of the first GC games.

I hope this turns out to be true, although, as someone else said, Retro Studios could be given this and it'd turn out great.

Perverted @ Jan 20th 2008 5:43PM

I wouldn't be to upset if this happened to be honest but I'd rather Retro got Kid Icarus and F5 get StarFox(but then maybe their tired of flying/space games)....

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 6:32PM

Hmm...

On the plus side to this, Factor 5 knows the Gamecube/Wii hardware better than anyone, save Nintendo themselves.

The downside is that they're a bit hit and miss these days and most of their experience in game development for the past several years has been in flight games. I don't imagine they'd be well suited for this kind of game...

If they made a new Kid Icarus a game where you're staring at Pit's ass the entire time as he's flying around, I'll be very displeased.
I'd MUCH rather see them make Star Fox.

On the other hand, I find it VERY hard to believe that Nintendo of all companies would just let them have one of their classic series without good reason. If they are making it, I suspect that Miyamoto & Friends will be lording them every step of the way to make sure it comes out right.

Mr Khan @ Jan 20th 2008 6:40PM

Rather be staring at Krystal instead of Pit, eh?

samfish @ Jan 20th 2008 6:44PM

Ouch! Low blow! Such a low blow!

gevenstaines @ Jan 21st 2008 11:40AM

it really depends how they render his ass...

blueblur @ Jan 20th 2008 6:47PM

sounds like a great idea

thethirdmoose @ Jan 20th 2008 6:53PM

Does this mean metal gear on wii?

Mugira @ Jan 20th 2008 6:55PM

If it´s true, all in all, why not becoming 2D? What Factor 5 created with Turrican on Amiga years ago is still top of the top, I´d love to see Kid Icarus in such style. It would rock, and be the surprise of the decade.

DonWii @ Jan 20th 2008 6:58PM

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, and give Factor 5 Star Fox or Pilotwings, since they are good at flight games.

Makes a lot more sense.

hvnlysoldr @ Jan 20th 2008 7:40PM

I remember when Kid Icarus was a "sister" game to Metroid since they were designed on the same engine by the same team.

Tom @ Jan 20th 2008 8:01PM

Yeah, Retro could do a better job with it, and F5 could work wonders for StarFox. Still, I'm pretty sure that Nintendo wouldn't let them fuck up one of their beloved old school franchises. Also, I agree that it would be awesome for this game to be like Ninja Gaiden.

Polecat @ Jan 21st 2008 1:24AM

I could see factor 5 doing something amazing with Kid Icarus as something in between "Panzer Dragoon" and "Sin and Punishment" in style, with maybe a lil exploration added in in the form of Temples with boss fights exploding out of the ceilings after a tunnel chase from the bottom of these levels.

What we'd probably GET though, is Space Harrier '08.

gevenstaines @ Jan 21st 2008 11:41AM

if it's 2D and stays true to the original, i'll play it no matter who develops it.

Aden Nak @ Jan 21st 2008 1:33PM

If Factor 5 really is building a new graphics engine, that's a good thing. The Rogue Squadron launch title for the GameCube is still, to this day, one of the best looking GC games ever produced. F5 knows how to build an engine, and their texture work is second to none. Yeah, Lair was a big pile of poo - but saddled as it was with Sixaxis, why act surprised?

Kid Icarus has amazing potential as a game - and that's despite the fact that it was a one-hit wonder (GameBoy port not withstanding) that hasn't been developed since. Add to that the fact that Kidiky was an intentional Metroid clone that featured Eggplant Wizards, squealing Grim Reapers and a Archangel retail clerk with a Brooklyn accent. . . where was I going with this?

Oh yeah, Factor 5. Don't count them out. They made a series of spectacular flight-based combat games and then produced one dud. What remains to be seen is if they can do for Kid Icarus what Retro Studios did for Metroid - usher in the transition from 2D to 3D, update the concept, but retain the particular flavor (and challenge) of the original.

I mean, worst case scenario, we'll get a Greek Mythology version of Prince of Persia with some flying and archery thrown in. I'd buy that.