Surprise Factor Five
So, I’ve been saying from the day Pit was announced as a Brawler that a new Kid Icarus game was in the works. And as soon as I fully understood the relationship between Factor 5 (makers of Rogue Squadron, Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader, and Rogue Squadron III: Let’s Go To Hoth A-fucking-gain) and Nintendo, I called it that Factor 5′s new project would be Kid Icarus for the Wii. Apparently, the company’s foray into PS3 land with the tragically crippled controls of Lair was primarily the result of Nintendo being so tight-lipped about both the hardware limitations of the Wii and the motion-sensitive controls.
And on some level, I can’t blame them. Sony already tacked on their tilt controls at the last moment (currently due for execution) and rumors now abound of Xbox motion sensor controls on the horizon. However, it was most definitely not in their best interests to alienate a studio as talented as Factor 5. Especially considering that Factor 5 stuck with them, continued to produce for their console despite it being in third place last generation, and worked technical marvels on the Gamecube. No studio outside of Nintendo can even compare to the graphical feats that Factor 5 squeezed out of that little purple box.
At any rate, news of the new Kid Icarus is already unofficially official, and the developer is apparently so obvious it need not be named. Factor 5, for their part, confirmed they are working on at least one new already existing IP for the Wii, and that it would be neither a Rogue Squadron game nor a joint collaboration on a new Star Fox (which, just so we are clear, needs to happen). The only IP that could possibly fit those criteria, and would be significant enough for Factor 5 to work on, is Kid Icarus. And truth be told, it’s a great match. The original Kid Icarus featured very little actual flight, but the new Brawl version of the wide eyed angel suggests a much more fluid, maneuverable game experience. Now, sure, I could be wrong. Maybe Factor 5 is all pumped up because they are working on Festor’s Second Quest or A Man And His Blob. . . but I doubt it.
Kid Icky is coming back, and if Factor 5 can accomplish on the Wii the level of production value they repeatedly offered on the Gamecube, it should be a hell of a ride.