Ice Climber: all version differences
6 documented differences between the releases of Ice Climber, each with a source. Back to the main page for names, releases and where to play.
Category × version
| Category | VS. Ice Climber (arcade) | Famicom (JP) | NES (NA/EU) | VS. | NES (EU) | Famicom Disk System | Famicom/NES | PC-8801 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Graphics | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 |
| Cover | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bug fix | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
Version differences
-
ContentVS. Ice Climber (arcade)
VS. Ice Climber has two sets of 24 mountains, 48 in total and 16 more than the NES game. It adds a super bonus stage every eight stages, blizzards and wind, extra enemies such as a bee, bonus multiplier items, and a giant butterfly instead of the condor in the second set.1
-
GraphicsFamicom (JP)NES (NA/EU)VS.
The enemy Topi is a blue seal in the Japanese Famicom version, but a yeti-like creature in the Western releases and in VS. Ice Climber.1
-
CoverNES (EU)
On the back of the European box, the seal-like Topi was painted over.2
-
ContentFamicom Disk System
The 1988 Disk System version is based on the arcade game but drops the difficulty settings and replaces the bee and butterfly with a Nitpicker and a blue condor.1
-
Bug fixFamicom/NESVS.
On the Famicom the lives counter keeps showing 3 after a 1UP, when the player actually has 4; the arcade version shows the true count.2
-
GraphicsPC-8801
Hudson Soft's PC-8801 version uses a more limited color palette and a reworked HUD.1
Sources
Checked: 2026-10-13