[Update: It turns out that the enhanced maps and tilesets were made by Jon Leung of VGMaps back in April 2007. He wasn't properly credited for the use of his edits. Not cool, Flip Industries. Not cool at all.]
Kid Icarus will return this March in Uprising, the first new game in the series in over 20 years. Understandably, many may want to refresh their memories, while others may not have played the oiginal or the Game Boy sequel at all.
You have two ways to brush up. One, Nintendo will be releasing a 3D Classics version of the NES original that sports brand new, fairly detailed backgrounds. Two, you can check out the above fan-made Flash remake, Super Kid Icarus. I wouldn't call it a total conversion (some sprites obviously didn't get redrawn), but it's something fun for a rainy day.
A lot of you will probably wait for the 3D Classics release anyway, and that's fine. However, the 3D Classics version won't have a map editor! Unfortunately, developer Flip Industries is withholding the map editor until the game receives a total of 950 "likes" on Facebook and Google+, and it's currently about 300 "likes" shy of the goal. Why lock something so cool away like that?
Tony Ponce (aka megaStryke) is a culturally confused, Canadian-born Puerto Rican who grew up in Japan and South Florida ... yet can only speak English. He specializes in writing features and maintaining an immaculate goatee. Likes: Any and all things related to Mega Man, Contra, Castlevania, 2D, PB&J sandwiches, applesauce, and candy corn.
Meet the rest of the team
I keep saying, over and over, that Kid Icarus was always a terrible game. I'm not trying to mean here. It really was not fun.
I remember being at my friend's place as a kid and we were all trying to enjoy it, then we realised it was pointless, gave up, and ploughed through loads of Wrecking Crew levels in co-op instead.
Kid Icarus is not a bad game, it's just terribly misunderstood. Once you get past the first 4 levels the game gets pretty easy, but you need to learn how the game works. One important thing is to kill as many enemies as you can because at the end of the level Pit gets powered up if he's earned a certain amount of hearts. And most importantly, endure Zeus' training rooms because he will give you items that are essential to getting through the levels. It's not a masterpiece, but certainly a classic.
Though I will admit, those damn Eggplant Wizards are among the worst enemies ever to be conceived.
People say nintendo games sucked now because nowadays people are used to being hand held, nothing more. You have to understand that back in the day, people liked holding a object with a device that turned left and right, and used said device to make a bar on a screen move up or down, left or right, just so it could bounce a ball. For those who don't get it, thats pong. When nintendo came out with all these games, it blew pong away, so all of us were like OOOOHHHHH and AAAAAHHHH. We had a ton of fun with nintendo games. I remember the original Castlevania, me, my brother, and my dad would all play it. I would take on frankenstein and medusa, my brother would take Dracula and another guy I can't recall, and my dad would take the Grim Reaper and another I can't recall......it has been around 24 years since then.
Point is, nintendo games were not terrible, they are just a view of the past, and for today's gamer, its a past they can't handle.
But yes, Kid Icarus was always a poor game. I played it when it came out and it just seemed poorly designed and pointlessly punishing. I never understood why people loved it so much. Maybe Nintendo didn't either, explaining its lack of sequels.
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Contest:
2:00 AM on 01.11.2012 | 
I remember being at my friend's place as a kid and we were all trying to enjoy it, then we realised it was pointless, gave up, and ploughed through loads of Wrecking Crew levels in co-op instead.
Though I will admit, those damn Eggplant Wizards are among the worst enemies ever to be conceived.
Point is, nintendo games were not terrible, they are just a view of the past, and for today's gamer, its a past they can't handle.
Wait, it's not out in the US yet? Got my code for it last week or so :o
You say Kid Icarus was boring, but then you guys played Wrecking Crew!? And how is that any better?
@Felix Kyo Grnewald
Nope. Also, it should be released for sale in all regions eventually, not just as a freebie download.
MEDUSA ANGELS
Always enjoyed this game growing up and I can't wait for the 3DS update and game.
If I could play flash games on my iPhone or 3DS I'd be in business.
icarus meets castelvania. get rid of the 1-1 worlds and go castletroid instead.
A lot of games on any system are bad.
But yes, Kid Icarus was always a poor game. I played it when it came out and it just seemed poorly designed and pointlessly punishing. I never understood why people loved it so much. Maybe Nintendo didn't either, explaining its lack of sequels.