User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 643 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Negative: 27 out of 643
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  1. Feb 16, 2013
    10
    I love this game. It is a worthy title for any 3ds owner. The voice acting is great, the controls are different, but they work tremendously well. I always found myself laughing with the different personalities of the bosses. I love the main antagonist. It was really developed. Overall, this game is a masterpiece, and i recommend buying it now.
  2. Feb 9, 2013
    9
    A fairly different game.The combat works well though and I enjoy both the land and air sections.The weapon system is incredibly good and the effort from Nintendo to make this work has been good.(I've been to two Kid Icarus events) Easily the best 3DS game of 2012.
  3. Feb 7, 2013
    10
    All I can say is "wow". Before I played this game, I would have thought considering it my favorite game of 2012 to be laughable at best. I couldn't have been more wrong! I was almost turned off by the quirky dialogue and upbeat anime artwork, only to realize the full potential of witty remarks and one liner exchanges in the latter chapters. There's one point in which pit tells HadesAll I can say is "wow". Before I played this game, I would have thought considering it my favorite game of 2012 to be laughable at best. I couldn't have been more wrong! I was almost turned off by the quirky dialogue and upbeat anime artwork, only to realize the full potential of witty remarks and one liner exchanges in the latter chapters. There's one point in which pit tells Hades "Just go home", in such a way that you know exactly what he means. Hades is the god of the underworld for those rusty on their Greek mythology. The character models and level designs differ from cutesy anime styles to intense psychedelic trips at breakneck speeds, remaining purely eye-candy in every style explored. Another EXCELLENT aspect of this game is the weapons system. With over 100 different weapons (each with their own abilities and different assets) from bows, clubs, claws, palms, orbitars, arms, staffs, blades and the ability to fuse two weapons to create a new and more powerful one, the replay value thrives and provides a mind blowing amount of depth. There's a difficulty level (0-9) with 9 requiring a well crafted weapon to complete the missions, along with rewarding rarer weapons/stats for further weapon modification. Once you think your arsenals worthwhile, take it online to prove it! The online multiplayer mode is a fast paced, lag free smashfest that still has me addicted to the game and provides continuity to the replay value of the weapon system. THE ONLY NEGATIVE issue I see with the game is the learning curve involved for the controls. Notice how I didn't say "the controls" specifically? As with anything new (riding a bicycle, driving a car, getting deflowered, etc) there's a slight learning curve. Once mastered, however, the feeling of smashing something (especially people online) feels so solid and purely awesome, it'll keep you coming back for more. Let's bear in mind this game was developed by the same creative genius that brought us Super Smash Bros. To sum it up, this game is worth every penny spent and I feel should be a must own for every 3ds owner. I've played many games on many different systems in 2012, and I've gotta say this is BY FAR my favorite game of 2012. In a year defined by sequels, first person shooters, and sequels to first person shooters, it's good to see some fresh gameplay surface. I give it 10 out of 10 plasticEGO Expand
  4. Feb 6, 2013
    10
    Kid Icarus Uprising was a much needed reboot for the Kid Icarus Franchise. The control scheme is nowhere near as bad as people say it is. The default controls are used mostly with the L Button and the Touch Screen. The controls can be changed to your liking, however. The story is a step up from the previous installments, but I won't spoil it. Let's just say the game lasts longer after yuKid Icarus Uprising was a much needed reboot for the Kid Icarus Franchise. The control scheme is nowhere near as bad as people say it is. The default controls are used mostly with the L Button and the Touch Screen. The controls can be changed to your liking, however. The story is a step up from the previous installments, but I won't spoil it. Let's just say the game lasts longer after yu face off against Medusa. The dialog between the characters is amusing and almost never gets old... almost. The music is great, however it is hard to hear considering the characters tend to talk throughout the entire game. Beating the game, however, will allow you to turn the talking off, so you can pay more attention to the music. The gameplay is amazing, albeit cheap at some points with certain enemies and bosses. Their is a grand total of 108 different weapons in this game, and too many enhancements that can go along with them its hard to count, but some examples are adding burning statuses to enemies, becoming more durable or giving you a longer range. Along with weapons are Powers. These are, in a nutshell, spells you can activate in this game. There is a 6x6 grid that you fit Powers in, and each Power has 4 different strength levels. This game all around is impressive and a great reintroduction to a long forgotten franchise. Any issue with this game is always backed up with something that makes you forget about said flaw. Welcome back Pit. Expand
  5. Feb 6, 2013
    9
    This game is awesome. The dialogues are such fun and everything is an explosion of action, motion and vivacity. The air battle are my faves, because I love to shoot enemies while watching the environment beneath me, and it's also easier to dodge attacks. There is plenty of weapons and the challenges are many. The controls are different from every other game and at first they could be aThis game is awesome. The dialogues are such fun and everything is an explosion of action, motion and vivacity. The air battle are my faves, because I love to shoot enemies while watching the environment beneath me, and it's also easier to dodge attacks. There is plenty of weapons and the challenges are many. The controls are different from every other game and at first they could be a little frustrating, but when you'll get used to them, you'll go just fine. Expand
  6. Jan 25, 2013
    10
    For a sequel to a game that hadn't seen light in almost 20 years Uprising really was a surprising gem. Fast, customizable combat, full on voice acting, a fun story, beautiful visuals, and amazing online make this one of the best titles on 3DS still even to this day. While many have complain about uncomfortable controls I have yet to ever have a problem with them.
  7. Jan 5, 2013
    8
    The controls might be annoying at times, the level design isn't that special but this game is beautiful, charming and hilarious. The best 3DS game, and it comes with a ton of modes too!
  8. Dec 24, 2012
    9
    Ive now played the game for many hours, at first I found the game very uncomfortable. The controls when on land are not as good as they could be, but after 20 hours you barely notice that anymore. Its a matter of getting used to them.

    Sakurai wanted to set kid icarus apart from other Nintendo Franchise by giving it a very corny sense of humor, rather than a serious tone like Zelda
    Ive now played the game for many hours, at first I found the game very uncomfortable. The controls when on land are not as good as they could be, but after 20 hours you barely notice that anymore. Its a matter of getting used to them.

    Sakurai wanted to set kid icarus apart from other Nintendo Franchise by giving it a very corny sense of humor, rather than a serious tone like Zelda Twilight Princess. The jokes are well done having been translated/written by a former Nintendo of America employee who now works for IGN.com

    This game has so much to do in it. It takes well over 100hours to 100% complete this game, like Smash Bro's it has many unlockables to keep you interested and playing. The gameplay is deeper than it first seems keeps the 25 levels fresh as you will be replaying them a lot.
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  9. Dec 18, 2012
    9
    Uprising is my favorite 3DS game. Graphics are not console-level but they are above average for the 3DS- at least with 3D off. I found the 3D effect to be atrocious- if I turned it on, even briefly at a low level, the screen got all blurry and my eyes hurt for a good 5 seconds after turning the 3D off. Granted, I am not the biggest fan of 3D but I have enjoyed it in games like Super MarioUprising is my favorite 3DS game. Graphics are not console-level but they are above average for the 3DS- at least with 3D off. I found the 3D effect to be atrocious- if I turned it on, even briefly at a low level, the screen got all blurry and my eyes hurt for a good 5 seconds after turning the 3D off. Granted, I am not the biggest fan of 3D but I have enjoyed it in games like Super Mario 3D Land and OoT3D. Fortunately, game looks good without 3D. The story was amusing and didn't take itself seriously for the most part(there were some serious moments later in the game). The whole game was filled with unique characters and funny dialogue which made it a joy to play. Controls for ground segments were clunky and circle pad pro support allowing for the second circle pad to be used to aim would have helped a lot. However, I got used to the controls after the first few chapters and they were actually perfectly adequate after those first chapters. Gameplay is good. The game is quite difficult if you put it anywhere near 9.0 by betting hearts with the innovative difficulty system in which you bet hearts(currency) to increase difficulty and earn more hearts and better loot in the chapter, while losing many of these hearts if you die. This system is unique and is a great touch. Between multiplayer, replayable chapters, streetpass, collectible idols bought using play coins, weapon crafting, and an achievement system, Uprising is a polished title with a lot of replayability. Bad 3D and the difficult-to-learn controls keep Uprising from getting a perfect score, but it is a generally fantastic game. Expand
  10. Nov 17, 2012
    9
    Kid Icarus: Uprising gives Nintendo a fresh entry of gameplay ! Playing and enjoying it while sometimes it is still hard to control Pit. In the online mode only hc kid icarus can withstand the really harshly controls !
  11. Nov 9, 2012
    9
    Awesome graphics, 3D and gameplay. Yes, it'll take some time before you can handle the stylus with expertise, but it's a new way of controlling games, and it works very well, you just have to try to learn how to do it, and not just complain and give up as a grumpy old man.
  12. Nov 8, 2012
    10
    I'll begin with a simple fact: It's the best game I have ever played. And I played a lot of Mario, some Call of Duty, Borderlands 2 (This one is awesome too), The Legend of Zelda, etc. What I'm trying to say is that you should at least give this awesome game a try. It has lots of content (From weapons to powers, from stages to characters), a lot of charisma, and it's unique. I never playedI'll begin with a simple fact: It's the best game I have ever played. And I played a lot of Mario, some Call of Duty, Borderlands 2 (This one is awesome too), The Legend of Zelda, etc. What I'm trying to say is that you should at least give this awesome game a try. It has lots of content (From weapons to powers, from stages to characters), a lot of charisma, and it's unique. I never played a game like this one: If you want, you can only melee. But, if you want, you can only shoot. Or you can do both. ... And use a "Super laser" too.
    Accept the "Sorry to keep you waiting"!
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  13. Nov 4, 2012
    10
    I love this game, as a lefty I struggled with the first level, but after that it let me toggle my controls in the options setting, if you are struggling with the controls then you were either too stupid or too lazy to check the settings and edit them yourself. If you really want to use the circle pad then get the circle pad pro. Gosh people!
  14. Sep 29, 2012
    9
    If I could write this review just for the music, I would. The music in this game is incredible. I have not heard such beauty in video game music in years! I still listen to all 4 cds everywhere I go. Now for the game itself, it's also really well done. The controls were really difficult to get used to, but when I did, I loved them. The story is magnificent and the dialogue is lightheartedIf I could write this review just for the music, I would. The music in this game is incredible. I have not heard such beauty in video game music in years! I still listen to all 4 cds everywhere I go. Now for the game itself, it's also really well done. The controls were really difficult to get used to, but when I did, I loved them. The story is magnificent and the dialogue is lighthearted and cheesy. The voice acting for the most part is very solid, with a few slip ups from Palutena. The graphics were shockingly beautiful at times. A solid game with very good replay value. Music 15/10, Story 10/10, Gameplay 8/10, Dialogue 9/10, Graphics 9/10, Controls 8/10, Replay Value 10/10. Total 9/10 Expand
  15. Sep 23, 2012
    8
    Oh the fun I had with this!A very notable game in the 3DS' library.Kid Icarus Uprising was a long time coming,to say the least.The story is complex but understandable and strewn together well.The gameplay is a nice reboot from the 8-bit classic.The sound is fantastic.Wonderful music and hilarious dialogue between characters.I love it.The level design is creative but at times feelsOh the fun I had with this!A very notable game in the 3DS' library.Kid Icarus Uprising was a long time coming,to say the least.The story is complex but understandable and strewn together well.The gameplay is a nice reboot from the 8-bit classic.The sound is fantastic.Wonderful music and hilarious dialogue between characters.I love it.The level design is creative but at times feels unnecessary,as the game kind of plays itself sometimes.Visuals are very good.Beautiful areas with tons of atmosphere.The controls weren't too great.The on-foot sections we awkward.It sometimes made an extraordinarily exciting game feel boring sometimes.Despite that,Kid Icarus is awesome!An 8/10 a great satisfying experience. Expand
  16. Sep 18, 2012
    10
    This is one of the best games i\\\'ve ever played in my life. It has an incredible story that is told through dialogues (among the best to ever be writen to a game), an amazing soundtrack, maybe the best nintendo has ever made and a new control scheme. It is reason enough to buy a 3ds.
  17. Sep 7, 2012
    10
    The controls are hard to get used to, but they work adequately. The game is beautiful, has a quirky sense of humor and it packs a TON of content and replay value. Multiplayer works well and can be a lot fun. Heavily recommended.
  18. Aug 28, 2012
    10
    This game was made for the Nintendo 3DS XL. I just (grudgingly) upgraded for the bigger screen. Makes all the difference with this game (surprised by how much, actually.) Sure, it's nice to have a big screen for Mario and such. But you don't really need it. But this game, huge difference. First, while the control system is unconventional and takes some getting used to, the XL makesThis game was made for the Nintendo 3DS XL. I just (grudgingly) upgraded for the bigger screen. Makes all the difference with this game (surprised by how much, actually.) Sure, it's nice to have a big screen for Mario and such. But you don't really need it. But this game, huge difference. First, while the control system is unconventional and takes some getting used to, the XL makes it a lot easier to adjust to thanks to it being a lot more comfortable to hold. And the XL's bigger screen makes all the difference too. This is a game where, especially on the higher difficulty levels, dodging incoming fire is essential. And the big screen is a godsend for that. If you've got a new 3DS XL, you owe it to yourself to check out this game. Expand
  19. Aug 27, 2012
    9
    Controls are a bit uncomfortable at first, but your hand will eventually get used to it. Other than that, the game is perfect. The music, the graphics, everything. Just be patient with the controls and you will be rewarded by the game. Please note that this is coming from someone who is left-handed and has never even laid hands on a Circle Pad Pro.
  20. Aug 21, 2012
    10
    -very good game this is the game i want so i gave it a perfect 10.
    -very challenging .
    -more unlockable weapons and powers. -the lasting appeal of this game is excellent i already play this game like 450hrs. -if you are a fan of weapon farming this is the game you want. -together mode is very enjoyable nearby or online. -1 thing i hate about this game when your playing light vs dark
    -very good game this is the game i want so i gave it a perfect 10.
    -very challenging .
    -more unlockable weapons and powers.
    -the lasting appeal of this game is excellent i already play this game like 450hrs.
    -if you are a fan of weapon farming this is the game you want.
    -together mode is very enjoyable nearby or online.
    -1 thing i hate about this game when your playing light vs dark or free for all when a daybreak part has appear it blocks the screen the rest is fine. -about the controls it's fine with me since i played metroid prime hunters on the ds
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  21. Aug 19, 2012
    10
    This is one of the best games I've ever played, along with Zelda OoT and SS, Portal, and the highly under-rated Super Mario Sunshine. Packed with contend ( Over 140 weapons), great graphics with amazing 3D, and controls that should get more credit. The story is great for fans of Greek mythology, but if you prefer online mode like CoD you are in for a big treat. This game has the bestThis is one of the best games I've ever played, along with Zelda OoT and SS, Portal, and the highly under-rated Super Mario Sunshine. Packed with contend ( Over 140 weapons), great graphics with amazing 3D, and controls that should get more credit. The story is great for fans of Greek mythology, but if you prefer online mode like CoD you are in for a big treat. This game has the best online mode I have played since Mario Kart Wii. All the complaints I see are explaining that you have to use the circle pad and the stylus - wrong. You can purchase the amazing circle pad pro for only 20 bucks! I highly recommend you buy this. Great job on another amazing title! Expand
  22. Aug 15, 2012
    9
    First of all Pit is Back after 20 plus years of goin M.I.A and this game is amazing. The only problem that I got with it is the controls but People!!! U GOT OPTIONAL CONTROLS SO U DON'T HAVE TO USE THE STYLUS!!! The story mode is fun but I like the multiplayer mode the best!!! This game has tons of replay value and I play this game hours at a time. I like the power UPS u can get and alsoFirst of all Pit is Back after 20 plus years of goin M.I.A and this game is amazing. The only problem that I got with it is the controls but People!!! U GOT OPTIONAL CONTROLS SO U DON'T HAVE TO USE THE STYLUS!!! The story mode is fun but I like the multiplayer mode the best!!! This game has tons of replay value and I play this game hours at a time. I like the power UPS u can get and also fusing the weapons too. The graphics on this game are amazing and not ps2 like some Sony fan boys like to this diss on here!!! Gameplay is very good and if anybody has a 3ds then this game is a must have!!! Expand
  23. Aug 13, 2012
    9
    Fun game. Also I love that you can make the difficulty before each lvl anything from 0.0-9.0. The control scheme is annoying, but it's also cool.

    There are a lot of different weapons you can get in this game.

    The onlines modes are very fun (in my opinion).

    Get this game.
  24. Aug 10, 2012
    9
    My review for Kid Icarus uprising, the gameplay looked great but still. The graphics looked awesome! The story is so freaking funny. Multiplayer seems fun but i enjoyed it. I love the game A Must buy
  25. Aug 3, 2012
    9
    I haven't played the two other Kid Icarus in the series and wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't sure about buying this game as I read it was a hard and challenging game. However I was pleasantly surprised when I found out you could change the difficulty depending on your skill. I haven't played it that much as I only got it today but I loved it. The gameplay seems good so far. The cutI haven't played the two other Kid Icarus in the series and wasn't sure what to expect. I wasn't sure about buying this game as I read it was a hard and challenging game. However I was pleasantly surprised when I found out you could change the difficulty depending on your skill. I haven't played it that much as I only got it today but I loved it. The gameplay seems good so far. The cut scenes are very good as well! The only bad thing I have noticed about this game so far is that the camera controlls are annoying. You have to flick the touch screen left or right depending on which way you want. I was disappointed to find ou my Circle Pad Pro didn't control the camera. This game is compatible with the Circle Pad Pro but is only useful for left-handed people.
    Overall, this is a good game for all abilities of gamers because of the difficulty control. The only thing that lets it down is the poor camera control. Definitely give it a go, it will be worth it!
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  26. Jul 25, 2012
    10
    Kid Icarus made me glad I bought a 3DS. The only game and system combo I've been amazed with like this was Halo & Xbox. It truly is jaw dropping in content and graphics compared to other 3DS titles.
  27. Jul 18, 2012
    5
    This is one of the only games I really struggled with on the system so far. It's a great game and definitely one of the best on the system, but I eventually lost all patience with the ground control. I never got used to the horrible design of it, even though I worked out a passable method to at least give me a good chance of clearing every level. The problem was I didn't enjoy the feel ofThis is one of the only games I really struggled with on the system so far. It's a great game and definitely one of the best on the system, but I eventually lost all patience with the ground control. I never got used to the horrible design of it, even though I worked out a passable method to at least give me a good chance of clearing every level. The problem was I didn't enjoy the feel of it and still managed to die because of how frustrating it was to play those sections. If there was an option to just exclude every ground section of the game, or at least put it on rails similar to the flight sections, this could've been one of my favorite games. It's excellent in every other way, especially in replay value and loot collecting. I can only hope if they come out with a #2 that they will address the awkward ground movement or exclude it from the game entirely. If the point of the game were to overcome the terrible control design, then I know whatever category this game falls in definitely isn't for me. It's a shame because I really wanted to like all the other great features. I'm even a big fan of the original and glad I at least got the 3D classic Kid Icarus. Just try before you buy. Expand
  28. Jul 13, 2012
    10
    For me, this game was amazing. The Treasure hunt has really expanded my love of the game, because I have worked so hard on it. Some of the things are super hard, which just challenges me, giving me one more thing I have to do. I still have not finished the story, even though I have played it for almost 40 hours! The multi-player is just amazing, especially since I can train against bots,For me, this game was amazing. The Treasure hunt has really expanded my love of the game, because I have worked so hard on it. Some of the things are super hard, which just challenges me, giving me one more thing I have to do. I still have not finished the story, even though I have played it for almost 40 hours! The multi-player is just amazing, especially since I can train against bots, then attack real people. The way that Nintendo balanced the team multi-player is Ingenious! I hate playing online and getting beat because other people have better equipment than me, but that does not matter in this game. Also, you have to limit your powers to a small box, which has been fun, finding the perfect combination for both Single and Multi-Player modes. The controls to move and shoot are smooth for me, but the touch screen can be somewhat sluggish at times, Nintendo added an option to speed up how fast the camera moves when you flick the stylus. I think that Nintendo really gave Pit a good 25th anniversiary game. I love it, and play it all day long, sometimes. I really don't get many streetpass tags, because I have no friends with a 3DS, so I really haven't been able to fully experience that feature, but it adds to the experience. The weapon fusing is so perfect, because I hate playing a game and getting a weapon that I know that I will NEVER use, but with fusion, I can change it to a different weapon, usually better than both and a weapon that I will use. This game is one of my favorites and has been the only game in my slot for a while. Expand
  29. Jul 4, 2012
    10
    kid Icarus Uprising is definetly a MUST HAVE. The nice graphics,practical jokes, nice music,lot of content, multiplayer. There is pretty much nothing wrong with this game! The controls are a bit bad but, that's why you can customize them. That is also why you got a stand use it! Great game! You have to get this game if you are a hardcore gamer!
  30. Jun 28, 2012
    8
    In many ways, this probably one of the best handheld-exclusive games I've ever played. The controls seemed weird to me when I started playing it, but luckily are easily customisable. I quickly changed to the "left-handed" system although I am right handed (you get analog control over the aiming reticle and Pit's movements using the buttons are as precise as they need to be) and all wasIn many ways, this probably one of the best handheld-exclusive games I've ever played. The controls seemed weird to me when I started playing it, but luckily are easily customisable. I quickly changed to the "left-handed" system although I am right handed (you get analog control over the aiming reticle and Pit's movements using the buttons are as precise as they need to be) and all was good - I recommend trying this if you are having problems with the other systems!! Positive highlight for me is the hearts system - it makes the game extremely replayable and worth mastering to get the better weapons. The main negative for me is variable quality in the level design. Sometimes it is great, but sometimes levels seem completely pointless and feel like they have just been thrown in there to make the game longer. Three of the main examples are two levels in which you are basically replaying parts of the game you have already completed and one in which you are just killing wave upon wave of monsters. Was this really necessary? It makes the overall impression of the game feel a bit grindy which was a shame because actually some of the level design was brilliant. However, despite this gripe, playing through this game was a lot of fun and I'm already having a lot of fun replaying some of my favourite levels. With this and Gravity Rush, it's great to see handheld getting some much deserved TLC! Recommended! Expand
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 75
  2. Negative: 1 out of 75
  1. Jun 27, 2012
    90
    No doubt in my mind, 3DS owners should have Kid Icarus: Uprising in their library of games, especially if action games are a favorite.
  2. Hyper Magazine
    May 14, 2012
    90
    Nintendo magic strikes again, if you can adapt to the controls. [June 2012, p.68]
  3. Pelit (Finland)
    May 11, 2012
    83
    Kid Icarus: Uprising is an underdog tale: how an action game can be thoroughly enjoyable even when it suffers from some severe control problems. [May 2012]