Difference between revisions of "Kid Icarus"

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|developer=[[Nintendo R&D1]]
 
|developer=[[Nintendo R&D1]]
 
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
 
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
|system=[[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Gameboy Advance]], [[Virtual Console]],  
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|system=[[Nintendo Entertainment System]], [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Virtual Console]] ([[Wii Virtual Console|Wii]], [[Wii U Virtual Console|Wii U]]), [[Nintendo 3DS]]
|release='''Nintendo Entertainment System'''<br />JP December 18, 1986<br />US July 1987<br />EU 1987<br />'''Virtual Console'''<br />US February 12, 2007<br />EU February 23, 2007
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|release='''Nintendo Entertainment System'''<br />JP December 18, 1986 (FDS)<br />EU February 15, 1987<br />US July 1987<br />'''Game Boy Advance'''<br />JP August 10, 2004<br />'''Wii Virtual Console'''<br />JP January 23, 2007<br />US February 12, 2007<br />EU February 23, 2007<br />KO October 28, 2008<br />'''3DS''' (''3D Classic'')<br />JP January 18, 2012<br />EU February 2, 2012<br />US April 19, 2012<br />'''Wii U Virtual Console'''<br />EU July 11, 2013<br />US July 25, 2013<br />JP August 10, 2013
 
|gallery=[http://www.gamehiker.com/gallery/index.php?cat=161 GH Gallery]
 
|gallery=[http://www.gamehiker.com/gallery/index.php?cat=161 GH Gallery]
 
|rating= ESRB: E
 
|rating= ESRB: E
 
|}}
 
|}}
  
'''Kid Icarus''' is a classic game for the NES. For a while, it's been regarded as a lose classic, but has recently gained popularity. In Japan, this game is called  ''Hikari shinwa: Parutena no Kagami''(''Myth of Light: Paultena's Mirror'').
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'''Kid Icarus''' (known in Japan as ''Hikari shinwa: Parutena no Kagami'', which translates to ''Myth of Light: Palutena's Mirror'') is a classic [[NES]] platformer that is known as a sister game for the original ''[[Metroid (game)|Metroid]]''. It initially gained only one sequel and became one of Nintendo's more well-known cult classics until [[Portal: Kid Icarus|the series]] was revived in the late 2000s.
  
This game was made with the same game engine as ''Metroid''. In tribute to this, [[Metroid]]s are in this game as an enemy, under the name "Komayto" (Mayto is short for Metroid in Japanese and "Ko" indicates Child).
+
=Development=
 +
 
 +
[[Toru Osawa]] intended the game as an action game with role-playing elements, and he specifically based it on Greek mythology. This game was made with the same game engine as ''[[Metroid (game)|Metroid]]'', and some of the ''Metroid'' developers (including [[Yoshi Sakamoto]]) worked on ''Kid Icarus'' following the previous game's completion. In tribute to this, [[Metroid]]s are in this game as an enemy, under the name "Komayto" (Mayto is short for Metroid in Japanese and "Ko" indicates Child). Although Osawa originally considered the game to be serious, Sakamoto convinced the developers to incorporate more elements of humor into the game such as the [[Eggplant Wizard]]. The game was finished only days before its release dates, and some levels apparently had to be cut in the process.
  
 
=Story=
 
=Story=
In a time where gods and men lived together, Angel Land was ruled by two godesses: [[Palutena]], the Goddess of Light, and [[Medusa]], the Goddess of Darkness. While Palutena helped men when she could, Medusa hated men. Medusa ruined their crops and turned them to stone. Palutena was enraged; she turned Medusa into a monster and banished her to the underworld.
+
 
 +
In a time where gods and men lived together, Angel Land was ruled by two goddesses: [[Palutena]], the Goddess of Light, and [[Medusa]], the Goddess of Darkness. While Palutena helped men when she could, Medusa hated men. Medusa ruined their crops and turned them to stone. Palutena was enraged; she turned Medusa into a monster and banished her to the underworld.
  
 
Medusa spent her time in the underworld gathering an army of monsters and when the time was right, she conquered the Palace in the Sky, Palutena's home. After imprisoning Palutena, Medusa took the three Sacred Treasures and gave them to her minions. They are the [[Mirror Shield]], the [[Arrows of Light]], and the [[Wings of Pegasus]].
 
Medusa spent her time in the underworld gathering an army of monsters and when the time was right, she conquered the Palace in the Sky, Palutena's home. After imprisoning Palutena, Medusa took the three Sacred Treasures and gave them to her minions. They are the [[Mirror Shield]], the [[Arrows of Light]], and the [[Wings of Pegasus]].
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=Gameplay=
 
=Gameplay=
  
Many of people have noticed that ''Kid Icarus'' is built on the same engine as ''[[Metroid]]'', so the two have similar styles of play.
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The game is a type of platformer in which Pit can navigate levels and fight off various monsters. His primary weapon is a bow that can fire arrows without limit. The player can also find special upgrades and other items to help progress through the levels. Despite his wings, Pit can only temporarily fly with the use of an item.
  
The world of ''Kid Icarus'' is divided into the underworld, the overworld, the sky world, and the Palace in the Sky. Each world has three worlds and a fortress. Each fortress has a gatekeeper that guards one of the sacred treasures. Pit's strength may increase depending on how well the player scored on the level.
+
The world of ''Kid Icarus'' is divided into the underworld, the overworld, the sky world, and the Palace in the Sky. Each world has three worlds and a fortress. Each fortress has a gatekeeper that guards one of the sacred treasures. Pit's strength may increase depending on how well the player scored on the level. The game is saved through passwords, although the Japanese Famicom Disk System version can save data.
  
 
=Legacy=
 
=Legacy=
  
''Kid Icarus'' has been used as the basis of several of [[9-Volt]]'s minigames. Also, [[Pit]] is going to appear in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]''.
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''Kid Icarus'' has been used as the basis of several of [[9-Volt]]'s minigames within the ''WarioWare'' series, and [[Pit]] also was included as a playable character in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' after a trophy appearance in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Melee|Melee]]''. ''Brawl'' helped to popularize Pit and make there way for the revival of the ''[[Portal: Kid Icarus|Kid Icarus'' series]] in 2011. ''Kid Icarus'' was also one of the classic games featured in ''[[NES Remix 2]]'' and ''[[Ultimate NES Remix]]'', which use samples of classic games with a number of unique challenges (some of which combine elements of the different games).
  
 
==Sequels==
 
==Sequels==
''Kid Icarus'' had one sequel": ''[[Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters]]'' for the [[Gameboy]].
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''Kid Icarus'' initially had one sequel: ''[[Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters]]'' for the [[Game Boy]], which was not released in Japan. ''[[Kid Icarus Uprising]]'' was later released for the [[3DS]], over twenty-five years after the original game's release.
  
 
==Ports and Remakes==
 
==Ports and Remakes==
*''Kid Icarus'' was rereleased in Japan as part of the [[Classic NES Series|Famicom Mini series]].
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*In 2004, ''Kid Icarus'' was ported to the [[Game Boy Advance]] in Japan as part of the [[Classic NES Series|Famicom Mini series]].
*''Kid Icarus'' is available for download through the [[Virtual Console]].
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*''Kid Icarus'' has been made available for download on the [[Wii]] and [[Wii U]] in 2007 and 2013, respectively, as part of each system's [[Virtual Console]] program. A demo version was also included in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Brawl]]'' as a Masterpiece.
 +
*In 2012, it was released for download on the [[Nintendo 3DS]] as a 3D Classic. As a 3D Classic, this version was modified to be viewed with the 3DS's stereoscopic 3DS view. This came with new backgrounds for all of the levels.
 +
*In 2016, it was among the games included in the [[NES Classic Version]], although it was left out of the Japanese version.
 +
*In March 2019, it was among the NES games made available to play as part of the [[Nintendo Switch Online]] service. This version included cooperative and competitive online multiplayer options. An SP version was also made available the following month, in which the player starts on the final stage with the Three Sacred Treasures equipped.
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=See Also=
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 +
*[[Enemies in Kid Icarus]]
  
[[Category: Video Games]] [[Category: NES Games]][[Category:Gameboy Advance Games]] [[Category: Virtual Console Games]] [[Category:Classic NES]] [[Category: Kid Icarus Games]]
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[[Category: NES Games]][[Category:Game Boy Advance Games]] [[Category: Virtual Console Games]] [[Category: Kid Icarus Games]][[Category: 3D Classics]]

Latest revision as of 03:53, 10 April 2019

KidIcarusBox.jpg
Kid Icarus
Developer Nintendo R&D1
Publisher Nintendo
System Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy Advance, Virtual Console (Wii, Wii U), Nintendo 3DS
Release Date Nintendo Entertainment System
JP December 18, 1986 (FDS)
EU February 15, 1987
US July 1987
Game Boy Advance
JP August 10, 2004
Wii Virtual Console
JP January 23, 2007
US February 12, 2007
EU February 23, 2007
KO October 28, 2008
3DS (3D Classic)
JP January 18, 2012
EU February 2, 2012
US April 19, 2012
Wii U Virtual Console
EU July 11, 2013
US July 25, 2013
JP August 10, 2013
Gallery GH Gallery
Rating ESRB: E

Kid Icarus (known in Japan as Hikari shinwa: Parutena no Kagami, which translates to Myth of Light: Palutena's Mirror) is a classic NES platformer that is known as a sister game for the original Metroid. It initially gained only one sequel and became one of Nintendo's more well-known cult classics until the series was revived in the late 2000s.

Development[edit]

Toru Osawa intended the game as an action game with role-playing elements, and he specifically based it on Greek mythology. This game was made with the same game engine as Metroid, and some of the Metroid developers (including Yoshi Sakamoto) worked on Kid Icarus following the previous game's completion. In tribute to this, Metroids are in this game as an enemy, under the name "Komayto" (Mayto is short for Metroid in Japanese and "Ko" indicates Child). Although Osawa originally considered the game to be serious, Sakamoto convinced the developers to incorporate more elements of humor into the game such as the Eggplant Wizard. The game was finished only days before its release dates, and some levels apparently had to be cut in the process.

Story[edit]

In a time where gods and men lived together, Angel Land was ruled by two goddesses: Palutena, the Goddess of Light, and Medusa, the Goddess of Darkness. While Palutena helped men when she could, Medusa hated men. Medusa ruined their crops and turned them to stone. Palutena was enraged; she turned Medusa into a monster and banished her to the underworld.

Medusa spent her time in the underworld gathering an army of monsters and when the time was right, she conquered the Palace in the Sky, Palutena's home. After imprisoning Palutena, Medusa took the three Sacred Treasures and gave them to her minions. They are the Mirror Shield, the Arrows of Light, and the Wings of Pegasus.

With the last of her strength, Palutena sent a magical bow to a Pit. So, Pit must escape the underworld and rescue Palutena.

Gameplay[edit]

The game is a type of platformer in which Pit can navigate levels and fight off various monsters. His primary weapon is a bow that can fire arrows without limit. The player can also find special upgrades and other items to help progress through the levels. Despite his wings, Pit can only temporarily fly with the use of an item.

The world of Kid Icarus is divided into the underworld, the overworld, the sky world, and the Palace in the Sky. Each world has three worlds and a fortress. Each fortress has a gatekeeper that guards one of the sacred treasures. Pit's strength may increase depending on how well the player scored on the level. The game is saved through passwords, although the Japanese Famicom Disk System version can save data.

Legacy[edit]

Kid Icarus has been used as the basis of several of 9-Volt's minigames within the WarioWare series, and Pit also was included as a playable character in Super Smash Bros. Brawl after a trophy appearance in Melee. Brawl helped to popularize Pit and make there way for the revival of the Kid Icarus series in 2011. Kid Icarus was also one of the classic games featured in NES Remix 2 and Ultimate NES Remix, which use samples of classic games with a number of unique challenges (some of which combine elements of the different games).

Sequels[edit]

Kid Icarus initially had one sequel: Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters for the Game Boy, which was not released in Japan. Kid Icarus Uprising was later released for the 3DS, over twenty-five years after the original game's release.

Ports and Remakes[edit]

  • In 2004, Kid Icarus was ported to the Game Boy Advance in Japan as part of the Famicom Mini series.
  • Kid Icarus has been made available for download on the Wii and Wii U in 2007 and 2013, respectively, as part of each system's Virtual Console program. A demo version was also included in Super Smash Bros. Brawl as a Masterpiece.
  • In 2012, it was released for download on the Nintendo 3DS as a 3D Classic. As a 3D Classic, this version was modified to be viewed with the 3DS's stereoscopic 3DS view. This came with new backgrounds for all of the levels.
  • In 2016, it was among the games included in the NES Classic Version, although it was left out of the Japanese version.
  • In March 2019, it was among the NES games made available to play as part of the Nintendo Switch Online service. This version included cooperative and competitive online multiplayer options. An SP version was also made available the following month, in which the player starts on the final stage with the Three Sacred Treasures equipped.

See Also[edit]