Kid Icarus: Uprising

 3DS
User Score
8.7

Generally favorable reviews- based on 643 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 556 out of 643
  2. Mixed: 60 out of 643
  3. Negative: 27 out of 643
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  1. priemo
    Mar 23, 2012
    9
    The gameplay is great, it holds challenge for those wanted more. Tons of contents to explore and to uncover, the story is good and lighthearted. Maps are gorgeous and so are the graphics. The controls needs sometime to get used to, but I liked how they're utilizing touch in this game. I've missed these kinds of games that are simple yet offers challenge with multiplayer options that areThe gameplay is great, it holds challenge for those wanted more. Tons of contents to explore and to uncover, the story is good and lighthearted. Maps are gorgeous and so are the graphics. The controls needs sometime to get used to, but I liked how they're utilizing touch in this game. I've missed these kinds of games that are simple yet offers challenge with multiplayer options that are intense and smooth.… Expand
  2. KoolC
    Mar 25, 2012
    9
    Hello to all! This is my 1st review. I wanted to wait until I finished this game before posting my review, but I thought I'll comment on what I've completed and learned so far, then I'll try to comment again once I've completed the game. First, I have to correct something that Gameplayer03 said (no disrespect intended). Gameplayer03 said that you can only play this game in 3rd person.Hello to all! This is my 1st review. I wanted to wait until I finished this game before posting my review, but I thought I'll comment on what I've completed and learned so far, then I'll try to comment again once I've completed the game. First, I have to correct something that Gameplayer03 said (no disrespect intended). Gameplayer03 said that you can only play this game in 3rd person. This isn't true. I found out by accident that you can play it in 1st person too. All you have to do is press up on the D-pad. This will allow you to switch to 1st person. Press again, and you're back in 3rd person mode. Secondly, I will agree that the controls can be very ackward at 1st. However, just like Dalck said, if you put in an hour or two, the controls become easier. Now that doesn't mean that Nintendo shouldn't have allowed usage of the 3ds circle pad pro. Aside from resident evil revelations, I thought that I would get to use the second circle pad, but unfornately, no. The only reasons I can think of why Nintendo didn't include this option, was due to the game being so far along in development, that if they went back and added, it would have delayed the release for quite a while, or, they would've had to cut some stuff to make it work. Whatever the case may be, I hope that at E3, one of these gaming journalist ask why it wasn't included. Anyways, I'm on chapter 11 now. I probably could've beaten the game already, or close to beating it, but I've been having so much fun with the betting system. For example, I've replayed a few chapters 4 or 5 times in the hopes of obtaining better weapons. Also, I love the fusing system. I just tried the multiplayer last night. I did the team battles. So far, it's cool. What I really love about it, is that whatever weapons and powers you win, you can use in the single player mode too. Now, about the story. So far, so good. Especially chapter 9. I will admit at times, that the constant chatter can be a little distracting, but only a little. All in all, from what I've played thus far, I'm loving this game. Will your hand be a little sore after playing this game? Yes! Will you find the stand helpful? I didn't. It kinda got in my way. Will there be times you curse the controls? Yes! But, those times have been far and few (so far). Truthful, once I completed whatever task I was having difficulty with, I forgot about the controls. So, I hope what I've said helps. If you haven't, I would recommend picking this game up. In my opinion (so far), I would give this a 9. Would love to give it a 10, but I'm taking off a point for the controls. Also, don't know how metacritic tallies their score, but they have Gameshark review listed as 42%. They gave the game a C-. Don't know about you, but I've never known a C- to equal 42%. In fact, a C letter grade is in the 70 percentile. Just saying. Before I forget, best buy has this game on sell for $29.99 (03/25-03/31). If you haven't picked it up yet, go get it. C-ya!… Expand
  3. Hitokiri_Ace
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    Great game, controls take some getting used to but work beautifully once mastered. The difficulty is adjustable from easy, clear up to impossible almost. Great artwork, clever story, and dialog. Truly another masterpiece title from Nintendo.
  4. aksu113
    Mar 23, 2012
    10
    this is almost perfect game only controls are little annoying. i cant understand who can hate this game.this game is too cool for 3ds thats why sucks controls
  5. muu
    Mar 27, 2012
    10
    The controls bashing has been a stellar example of why I no longer trust game 'journalists.' If, playing through the game, you can't see the fact that this game is too fast for dual analog controls (unless they just blasted through at 2.0 intensity to fill their review quota, which would be equally horrid), you don't deserve to be writing for a games magazine. Maybe a corner in TIME orThe controls bashing has been a stellar example of why I no longer trust game 'journalists.' If, playing through the game, you can't see the fact that this game is too fast for dual analog controls (unless they just blasted through at 2.0 intensity to fill their review quota, which would be equally horrid), you don't deserve to be writing for a games magazine. Maybe a corner in TIME or something major like that, but not if you proclaim yourself as any sort of gamer. It's sad that these guys always go on a roll about games needing INNOVATION, and when it comes knocking on their door they take every measure possible to make sure it scores 20% lower than the next Call of Duty or GTA release.

    Having said that: controls took me a bit of time to get used to, but that was that. Not much more jarring than the first time I had to use dual analogs in place of a KB+M. Waiting for me was a game with incredible SP, excellent dialogue (what I thought would be Saturday Morning Cartoon-quality turned out more like the better battle sequences in a Disney flick), and a balanced MP that offers limitless playability with the huge number of weapons available.

    New experiences in life often require learning new things (think back to when you first drove a car, rode a bike, operated a power plant, etc). Sakurai refused to conform the game to existing controls, and playing the game it should make it obvious that the reward is more than worth the small learning curve.    … Expand
  6. ScreamoPichu
    Mar 31, 2012
    10
    This game is absolutely fantastic. Yes, the controls on ground are a bit difficult, but, unlike a lot of critics claim, they aren't uncontrollable. And, once you get a hold of them, it's a hell of fun. The story is fantastic, gameplay never slows down, 3D or not, 3D is magnificent, and graphics are even better than anything seen on the Wii.
  7. DoungnutGamer
    Mar 28, 2012
    9
    Kid Icarus: Uprising is quite simply amazing. The story is crafted perfectly, with amazing presentation and graphics throughout, the dialogue is whitty but at times gets annoying, however it gives the game a unique charm. The game also has a multiplayer mode which whilst fun, isnt amazing and shouldnt be your main reason for buying the game instead its just part of ALOT of amazingKid Icarus: Uprising is quite simply amazing. The story is crafted perfectly, with amazing presentation and graphics throughout, the dialogue is whitty but at times gets annoying, however it gives the game a unique charm. The game also has a multiplayer mode which whilst fun, isnt amazing and shouldnt be your main reason for buying the game instead its just part of ALOT of amazing content. Which brings us to bad bit, the controls, the controls are irritating and will take a long time to get used to, but the game comes bundled with a little stand which slightly helps the problem.… Expand
  8. Zack124
    Mar 30, 2012
    10
    A wonderful fresh look on an old franchise, there's a butt-ton of content to this game, and an almost as large amount of plot twists. The controls are a little bit funky at first, but after you give them a little bit of time you find a very engaging experience to be had.
  9. Nosidda89
    Mar 25, 2012
    9
    Kid Icarus Uprising is the 3DS's flagship game of 2012, and it's a great one. This game is very fun, packed full of amazing content, and is addicting to the point where you'll keep coming back for more. This game was developed by Nintendo's very own Project Sora, the team responsible for the fantastic Super Smash Bros. series, and although this may not be the best game they've made, it'sKid Icarus Uprising is the 3DS's flagship game of 2012, and it's a great one. This game is very fun, packed full of amazing content, and is addicting to the point where you'll keep coming back for more. This game was developed by Nintendo's very own Project Sora, the team responsible for the fantastic Super Smash Bros. series, and although this may not be the best game they've made, it's still one that deserves plenty of attention. It's a great example of what the 3DS is capable of, and will likely serve as a template for 3DS games to come. Basically, Uprising is a shooter that has two play modes. Single player campaign, and of course, multiplayer. In the campaign, you play as the angelic Pit, who fights the forces of the underworld for the goddess of light, Palutena. Each level begins with a flying sequence, and later goes into a land battle. Flying sequences play very similarly to StarFox. Pit flies on rails, controlled by Palutena, and you're job is to fly Pit around the screen while shooting underworld forces that attack you, while Palutena guides you towards your objective. It's addicting, and the opening flying sequences alone can keep you playing for hours, but there's also the land sequence, which you'll be spending most of your play time doing. Land battles aren't as fun as the flying sequences, and suffer from the games awkward controls (we'll get to that in a minute). Still, the land sequences are fun, and can prove to be really challenging and intense. Basically, land battles are sequences of getting from point A to point B while destroying any enemies that are thrown at you along the way as well as collecting treasure that can be used later, until finally you reach the boss at the end. Defeat the boss, and you'll beat the level, and earn rewards. Weapons, powers, hearts, and even achievements. Hearts, however, are very important, as you need them to buy new gear, fuse gems that you get from StreetPass tags, as well as bet on each level you play. The difficulty of the level you play determines how many hearts you'll earn in your fight. The harder the difficulty, the more hearts you'll earn, and vice-versa. But if you die, you lose the hearts you bet, and difficulty will automatically go down as your penalty, so be careful how much you bet. Betting can be bad for you after all. Once you've started earning weapons, however, you can begin fusing them to create better gear. This game is literally packed full of a ton of content, meaning there are more than a fair amount of weapons to choose from. From claws, to bows, to blade, to staves, to many others. You'll have plenty a variety to choose from once you progress, so get ready to experiment from up to 100 different weapons. Then there's multiplayer, where you can play either Light vs Dark (Team Deathmatch) 3 vs 3, or Free for All. You can play online, or locally, and any gear you obtain in the single player campaign can be used online. And of course, you can invite your online friends to play with you. Each team has a health bar, and when you die, the health bar decreases. The first team to lose all their health is the loser. Eventually, though, once the teams health bar reaches a certain point, the last player to die will become that teams Pit, or Dark Pit if you're on the Dark Team. That player then becomes the last resort, and if he dies, the team loses. So once the opposing Pit appears, the goal is to defeat him. However, the person who becomes Pit or Dark Pit gets enhanced abilities and health, so don't think you can kill him as easily as the others. The game is fantastic, and of course 3D looks great. Dialog in the campaign is corky and entertaining, and will give you a few laughs. There's just one problem with this game that prevents it from being a 10, and I'm sure people already know where this is going. I'm talking, of course, about the controls. Uprising is controlled by moving Pit around with the circle pad, while aiming with the stylus-touchscreen combo, and shooting/melee with the L button. And believe me, this takes getting used to. I'm actually pretty shocked that Sora didn't include a dual analog option with the Circle Pad Pro, but I think they were trying to go with the more accurate route of stylus since this alternative really is much more accurate for a shooter this intense. Still, It would've been nice to have the option for players who aren't as daring. But the good news is, though the controls sound awkward, it really doesn't take long to get used to. And once you've figured out the controls, you'll have a blast with this game. But if you're stil grieving for dual analog, then get yourself a thumb stylus, or a DS Wrist Strap. That'll solve your problem. But overall, Uprising is a fantastic 3D shooter adventure that's well worth the money. Kid Icarus Uprising gets a 9/10 from me. :)… Expand
  10. YipManSays
    Mar 26, 2012
    8
    Good fun! The control scheme does sort of hurt your hand using both the thumb stick and stylus. But the game is a lot of fun and has some awesome shooting action action and combat! The 3D is also rather impressive and the graphics themselves without the 3D are nice too. The banter between Pit and the other characters is pretty funny and repeatedly breaks the 3rd wall. Over all it's goodGood fun! The control scheme does sort of hurt your hand using both the thumb stick and stylus. But the game is a lot of fun and has some awesome shooting action action and combat! The 3D is also rather impressive and the graphics themselves without the 3D are nice too. The banter between Pit and the other characters is pretty funny and repeatedly breaks the 3rd wall. Over all it's good old Nintendo fun!… Expand
  11. Rockinsquat
    Mar 30, 2012
    10
    10/10 pour contrer les notes style 0/10 qui on juste pour but , de démonter la moyenne du jeu , sinon j'aurais mis un gros bon 9/10 ! Il est vraiment excellent , très complet , un très bon scénario , un humour décapant , le gameplay posera des soucis a certains a d'autres non , moi j'ai trouvé sa parfait !10/10 pour contrer les notes style 0/10 qui on juste pour but , de démonter la moyenne du jeu , sinon j'aurais mis un gros bon 9/10 ! Il est vraiment excellent , très complet , un très bon scénario , un humour décapant , le gameplay posera des soucis a certains a d'autres non , moi j'ai trouvé sa parfait ! Clairement le meilleur jeu de la 3DS a ce jour ! Bravo… Expand
  12. groosenater
    Mar 25, 2012
    10
    This game is the start of a new high standard Nintendo First part game. Amazing story, humor, voice acting, combat, collectables, and multiplayer. The game has many hardcore parts and cinematics that you would not expect from a Nintendo game. The multiplayer is balanced and extremely fun. This has been the best Nintendo game in forever and I cannot wait to see more games in the series.This game is the start of a new high standard Nintendo First part game. Amazing story, humor, voice acting, combat, collectables, and multiplayer. The game has many hardcore parts and cinematics that you would not expect from a Nintendo game. The multiplayer is balanced and extremely fun. This has been the best Nintendo game in forever and I cannot wait to see more games in the series. Welcome back Pit, you are here to stay!… Expand
  13. Inuyazeiah
    Mar 26, 2012
    9
    Love the constant control complaints. The controls are what people say, they in a way do mess up with the game, but it is also an amazing game if you can find an alternative. The people who continue to criticize this game for the controls dont attempt other methods that will make this game more comfortable, they just try it the old fashion way and then give up. What I did when playing thisLove the constant control complaints. The controls are what people say, they in a way do mess up with the game, but it is also an amazing game if you can find an alternative. The people who continue to criticize this game for the controls dont attempt other methods that will make this game more comfortable, they just try it the old fashion way and then give up. What I did when playing this game was wrap my right hands pinky on the back of the 3DS, since we wont use the buttons that much, place the finger next to the pinky there curled up, and use the remaining fingers for the stylus. This for me feels comfortable and I get to enjoy the game it is meant to be enjoyed. Also, to move left and right, all you have to do is move the circle pad and slide the stylus to the direction where you want to move and then move the stylus away from the screen. If you keep it touching the screen, you wont move where you want to move. This game is amazing, if you give up on the controls, well, you're missing out on a great game. Amazing level design, amazing music, many great unlockables, etc., Only reason I gave it a 9 is because of the annoying chit chat between Pit and the goddess.… Expand
  14. GreenCupcake
    Mar 26, 2012
    9
    Kid Icarus is a surpising game for Nintendo. This game is a very accurate representation of what the NES game would be in a 3D enviorment. It' very different from the NES game, but feels similar. All that expostion a side, this game is great. I'm not sure why everyone is hating this game. First thing on everyone's agenda is the controls. I'm here to tell you they are just not that bad.Kid Icarus is a surpising game for Nintendo. This game is a very accurate representation of what the NES game would be in a 3D enviorment. It' very different from the NES game, but feels similar. All that expostion a side, this game is great. I'm not sure why everyone is hating this game. First thing on everyone's agenda is the controls. I'm here to tell you they are just not that bad. They work really well with the fast-paced action, having everything respond very well. But, are they comfortable? My answer is yes. They're not the best control scheme ever made but they don't really hurt your hands. Next item of business, the dialog. This is not a problem. It's not hard to play the game while listening to some of there corny quips, and sometimes they're actually pretty amusing. The story mode is incredible. Let me explain, the story isn't great. What would you expect from a Nintendo action game? But the chapters are incredibly satisfying. They have the story involved in a way where it's fun to know what's going on and it makes the game play make sense, but the upside to all of that is the re-playability. In the end, the story doesn't make sense and isn't involved, but in makes the chapters perfect to play over and over and over. I think playing through the story mode again is fun because I like the style of air, land, boss, but for those who don't want to do that, there's more incentive. The fiends cauldron allows you to play through the same level on higher difficulties. You have to pay the cauldron, but in return you get a harder, more satisfying experience that allows for collecting more money and to collect more powerful weapons. Another great part of the game is the multiplayer. This might be the biggest reason to come back to the game after you've beaten it. It allows you to play with your friends who have the game, or play online. There's two ways to play. First, Light VS. Dark. This splits up in two teams of three. Each team has one big health bar. Whenever someone on your team dies, a certain amount is taken from your team's health bar. When the health bar drains, the last one to die on that team becomes the angel of that team. The team health bar is replaced by the angel's health bar, and when the angel gets hurt, it slowly lowers until the match is over. Free for all, the other mode, is obvouis. It's the same thing without teams or angels. Your on your own. When you compete in multiplayer, you can earn weapons and powers. Some are mystery bonus' awarded to an outstanding player, others you get just because you played. There's also a acheviment's board. It's like Sony's trophy system but exclusive for this game. There are 360 in all. Whenever you commplete one, a puzzle piece is add to the puzzle board, as you call it. It's like the street pass puzzles except you have to earn them. This gives a little bit of incentive to play more and more. The graphics and sound are absloutley stunning. And it uses street pass and spot pass to trade weapons. With that, there are still idol's to collect AR cards to mess with, colleccting all of the weapons, fusing weapons, tossing eggs and more. This game is jam packed with content, and jam packed with fun. This is a surprising game from Nintendo, but a great surprise. 9.5 Stunning… Expand
  15. Jacksonbauer
    Mar 26, 2012
    9
    This game has some of the finest gameplay out there. Well constructed, decently sized story with loads of content and challenges, and awkward controls that you quickly get used to; not to mention the multiplayer, which in itself feels like it should be its own game because of how purely fun and fast paced matches can be. Overall this game is a must buy for any 3DS owner, and if there wasThis game has some of the finest gameplay out there. Well constructed, decently sized story with loads of content and challenges, and awkward controls that you quickly get used to; not to mention the multiplayer, which in itself feels like it should be its own game because of how purely fun and fast paced matches can be. Overall this game is a must buy for any 3DS owner, and if there was a 9.5 button i would rate it that, but it doesn't deserve a ten because I'm still deciding whether it's worth the 10 or not. I'll update it as soon as my verdict arrives. BTW, I have about 12 hours in the game so far and I'm completely glued.… Expand
  16. lisle57
    Mar 26, 2012
    10
    This game is really fantastic and deserves a much higher combined critic score. It's unfortunate that most of these scored are lowered because of the negative criticism regarding the controls, which I feel is completely unwarranted. Yea, they do take some getting used to, but this game's quality is worth the practice. 10/10
  17. Nin_96
    Mar 27, 2012
    10
    Brilliant game. The controls are perfectly fine for me and I'm left handed! If the controls are comfortable there are quite a variety of different control schemes you can choose from. Solo mode is very fun. The dialogue is absolutely hilarious at times. Fiend's cauldron is a great idea and the varying level of difficulty really shows. Online has been very entertaining. Prefer Free-For-AllBrilliant game. The controls are perfectly fine for me and I'm left handed! If the controls are comfortable there are quite a variety of different control schemes you can choose from. Solo mode is very fun. The dialogue is absolutely hilarious at times. Fiend's cauldron is a great idea and the varying level of difficulty really shows. Online has been very entertaining. Prefer Free-For-All to Light vs Dark but both are very enjoyable. There is plenty to unlock and the weapon variations keep players of different styles happy. The little retro touches are a good nod to players of the original. Once again, amazing game.… Expand
  18. Gamevine
    Apr 2, 2012
    9
    This has the best multilayer i have ever experienced on a handheld system. The solo campaign is great too. Also, I did not find the controls as frustrating or hard to master as some reviewers did.
  19. Royspaceghost
    Apr 2, 2012
    10
    I hardly consider a game to be perfect, I take into account every little aspect that could dent that view, story, gameplay, context, and so on, but Kid Icarus : Uprising was undoubtedly one of those games to cherish forever. At first the controls somehow made me feel reluctant towards the game, like many have felt, but the big disadvantage quickly turned in one of it's most appealingI hardly consider a game to be perfect, I take into account every little aspect that could dent that view, story, gameplay, context, and so on, but Kid Icarus : Uprising was undoubtedly one of those games to cherish forever. At first the controls somehow made me feel reluctant towards the game, like many have felt, but the big disadvantage quickly turned in one of it's most appealing things gameplay related, once you get a hold on the quite original control scheme, you feel it's natural flow, now I can't imagine the game without that type of controls, a perfect blend between analog, trigger and touch screen, that aren't really tiresome except of course you are not willing to play the game for more than 5 minutes in which case I really pity you so much as a gamer.
    The graphics were sublime without disregarding the first two entries in the series; the level design, the memorable boss fights and the replay value that the fiend's cauldron gives you (you can get back to any level, adjust the intensity, and never feel the same experience as before, it truly makes it very challenging and fun), it's what really makes Uprising one of the best titles on the handheld, if not the best one out there, it was a day-one buy for me, and I'm absolutely pleased with every penny I spent on it, props to mr. Sakurai for this masterpiece.    … Expand
  20. Rxbadass25
    Apr 1, 2012
    8
    25 years... 25 years since Pit originally debuted on the NES. Why such a long wait? Dunno. Don't care. The new installment from Nintendo is a very impressive one! The presentation, dialogue/banter between characters, and music are all phenomenal. I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for games with a magnificent soundtrack, and man, let me tell you, this one delivers. Believe that. The 3D is best25 years... 25 years since Pit originally debuted on the NES. Why such a long wait? Dunno. Don't care. The new installment from Nintendo is a very impressive one! The presentation, dialogue/banter between characters, and music are all phenomenal. I'll admit it: I'm a sucker for games with a magnificent soundtrack, and man, let me tell you, this one delivers. Believe that. The 3D is best utilized during the flight portions of each level (after that, it just kind of gets in the way of having to use the clunky ground-controls). The graphics are just outstanding. But this game isn't all good news (and I'm sure you know exactly what I'm going to talk about before you finish reading this sentence): the controls are just... just... I don't know how to explain it. If you use that dorky little stand that's packaged with the game, it isn't TOO bad... but if you want to play this game ANYWHERE else, your hand is going to hurt. You probably aren't even going to be able to play the game except for short bursts due to the carpel-tunnel-inducing control scheme. Additional problem: if you're left-handed, configuring the controls to accommodate the lefties is rather lacking; I know that you can use the "ABXY" pad and R-trigger (or if you bought the franken-stick, you can use that, but I don't see the point in buying it just yet), but this is just a hassle and doesn't feel as fluid as using the joystick.

    Overall, this game is breath of fresh air in a world that seems to be okay with rehashing stale ideas (Nintendo is particularly bad about this; Super Mario Tennis Golf Galaxyland 32 coming soon!). This is one of the first (of hopefully many) 3DS titles you should buy when you get the system! Eeeeeasily.    … Expand
  21. illmatiicc
    Apr 7, 2012
    10
    Kid Icarus: Uprising could quite possibly be the best handheld game of all time. I bought this game skeptical of what would be in store, but it definitely did not disappoint. To get this out of the way before dwelling deeper into this review, I want to state that the controls are NOT game breaking. They simply take a decent amount of time and practice to properly maneuver and actually addKid Icarus: Uprising could quite possibly be the best handheld game of all time. I bought this game skeptical of what would be in store, but it definitely did not disappoint. To get this out of the way before dwelling deeper into this review, I want to state that the controls are NOT game breaking. They simply take a decent amount of time and practice to properly maneuver and actually add depth / challenge to the game. But most importantly, it gives insight on a new control theme that has never been implemented before. After a while, I was having so much fun pinpointing my stylus on Pit's enemies in both the air and the ground that I completely forgot how difficult it initially was for me to learn. It takes precise and short movements of the stylus to angle the camera correctly, but it feels extremely rewarding when you are able to take down whatever enemy you want with ease after mastering it. Gameplay is extremely fast paced and reminds me of a insanely advanced mix of Star Fox 64 and Galaga while in the air, and a game of it's own on the ground. The transition from the air to the ground in each chapter keeps things fresh and upbeat because you aren't always doing the same exact thing the entire time. The dialogue, voice acting, and character development literally make this game. You get a really special feeling hearing the multiple gods converse between each other while fighting in game and towards Pit too. Due to this, all the missions feel as though they are your own. Chatter never ceases in this game, jokes are made, insults are thrown, and oddly enough.. it never gets annoying. Pit is an extremely lovable character from the start, and Palutena keeps him in line every now and then so that he doesn't seem too care-free. On top of this, the villains each have a boastful personality of their own and they constantly remind you of it. Everything in the game is so light hearted and ecstatic that it just compels you to keep on playing. Level designs are incredible and range from colorful and lush skies / forests to dark and menacing caves or storms. Each chapter you are excited to see what new villain or boss lies ahead and how they will affect Pit on his journey. The graphics are likely the best on the system, and the 3DS adds even more depth to the gameplay as is. Sakurai has always been a strong advocate in content on his games, and this one does not disappoint in the slightest. Imagine everything Super Smash Bros. Brawl had to offer, add about 2x more content, and then throw in the fact that all of it is done correctly. Trophies are there, achievements are present, difficulty levels are set, currency is available, online mode is great, powers are unlockable, various weapons are obtainable, and the list goes on and on. If you can recall the sticker function in Super Smash Bros. Brawl, you may have noticed that no one ever got around to them or used them to their full potential.. because quite frankly.. they didn't have any. In Uprising, Sakurai recognizes this mistake and fixes it to appeal to both a hardcore and casual audience with powers which work incredibly and all have their own distinct use. Weapons can be bought, fused, and each have their own special attributes depending on your knowledge of the game, and a bit of luck. And this isn't even one fourth of it. There is literally so many things to do in this game and so much content, that it can't even fit in this five thousand character review. As an avid music admirer, I can vouch for Kid Icarus Uprising likely having one of the best soundtracks of the last decade. Battles feel vigorous with steady drum beats wailing in the background, and your rivals have both attitude and flare with spanish guitars strumming to the rhythm of your movement when appropriate. Speaking of rivals, there is a mass amount of them.. and they all have an insane amount of variety. Each enemy is like a puzzle and requires different methods to defeat it. For instance, one of them turns red and green. If it's red, you must attack from far away, if green.. you must attack with melee. This is just one simple example of probably the fifty plus different enemies there are in the game and they introduce them at different points in the game so they never get old. Kid Icarus has brought something truly special to Nintendo's table by reviving a game that was created twenty five years ago and truly putting their own voice into each and every character. For example, not only does the game reference it's previous installments, but it also cracks jokes and hints at other events in various other staple franchises that Nintendo fans will recognize with ease and asks the player to embrace it. What makes this game such a landmark among the rest is it's reminder of what games are truly made for; to pass time by having fun. Kid Icarus is a masterpiece and without a doubt in my mind will be recognized as an iconic Nintendo staple in the years to come. 10/10… Expand
  22. edwardC
    Apr 23, 2012
    9
    Nothing new to add here from the other comments. Great gameplay, variety of weapons and powers make the game fun to explore. LOVE THE DIALOGUE, and multiplayer is very fun. Graphics are good, soundtrack is amazing....
    really, i dont know why people complain so much about the controls :, you could all change it to suit you and a 3ds stand should have been included with the game purchase.    Nothing new to add here from the other comments. Great gameplay, variety of weapons and powers make the game fun to explore. LOVE THE DIALOGUE, and multiplayer is very fun. Graphics are good, soundtrack is amazing....
    really, i dont know why people complain so much about the controls :, you could all change it to suit you and a 3ds stand should have been included with the game purchase.
    worth the 40$!!    … Expand
  23. Mmrrn
    Apr 26, 2012
    10
    This game is absolutely amazing. My favorite. It has amazing voice acting, which rarely gets old, and a diffuclty scale that lets you play at your own difficulty. All the boss battles are truly engaging, and the control scheme is brilliant once you get the hang of it!
  24. hapyrvwtime
    Apr 29, 2012
    10
    Kid Icarus Uprising is an absolute blast to play, has a fantastic soundtrack, and has wonderful graphics and art design, with gameplay that is simple but at the same time very complex and challenging if you want it to be. The difficulty is perfectly scalable to your skill level and the variety of fun and exiting weapons is just plain awesome, and managing your weapons and fusing oldKid Icarus Uprising is an absolute blast to play, has a fantastic soundtrack, and has wonderful graphics and art design, with gameplay that is simple but at the same time very complex and challenging if you want it to be. The difficulty is perfectly scalable to your skill level and the variety of fun and exiting weapons is just plain awesome, and managing your weapons and fusing old weapons to create new and exiting ones is very intriguing. Although the surprisingly long and highly replayable single player is the main bulk of the package the multiplayer is really exiting as well, and works exactly how it should. If you enjoy this game like I have, you will be playing it for months, if not years because of just how much fun it is and how much content is packed in here. But if I'm talking about Kid Icarus Uprising, then I can't help to mention the controls, and the truth is, they work very well. For anyone used to dual analog control it may be difficult to get used to the controls at first, but once you do you'll realize that the controls deliver an accuracy that dual analog cannot. One thing about the controls however that I believe I should mention is the fact that after prolonged periods of gaming, say one and a half to two hours, your hand may start to cramp, however because of the relatively short levels for the most part in the game and the nature of the gamepay which is best enjoyed in short controlled bursts, it shouldn't be a problem, unless of course if you're having such a blast you simply cannot put your 3ds down. I have played this game for a total of 26 hours now and I'm still regularly coming back for more. Another thing I should mention is that even though a lot of the gameplay aspects are different than the original kid icarus, it still maintains a lot of the feel of the original, and still feels like a kid icarus game. Oh, and the voice acting is great too, which is great because otherwise the non-stop dialogue would be a little tedious. Overall this game is absolutely fantastic and anyone with a 3ds needs to play it. It is one of the best reasons, if not the VERY best reason (beside super mario 3d land) to own a 3ds. You will not be dissapointed.… Expand
  25. Sumaebo
    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!
  26. Chammy
    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
  27. Samechie
    Nov 18, 2013
    9
    My "Kid Icarus: Uprising" 3DS review:

    Basic Overview of the Game: Kid Icarus: Uprising is an action adventure shoot 'em up game for the 3DS. Released March 23, 2012, it is the third installment in the Kid Icarus series. The last two being "Kid Icarus" released on the NES in 1987, and "Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters" released for the Game Boy in November of 1991. Uprising is broken    My "Kid Icarus: Uprising" 3DS review:

    Basic Overview of the Game:
    Kid Icarus: Uprising is an action adventure shoot 'em up game for the 3DS. Released March 23, 2012, it is the third installment in the Kid Icarus series. The last two being "Kid Icarus" released on the NES in 1987, and "Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters" released for the Game Boy in November of 1991. Uprising is broken down into sections for each stage consisting of; an On Rails Shooter section in the air, followed by a Free Movement Shooter section on land, and finished with a boss battle. There are 10+ stages, each being longer than the last. Difficulty/Difficulty progression is handled differently in Uprising. Before entering each stage (Note: Each stage can be revisited as many times as you like), the player has the ability to "bet" their Hearts (Currency) for the ability to earn more rewards in the stage. Betting more Hearts makes the stage more difficult by way of more advanced enemy AI and artificially through Pit (The main protagonist) taking more damage form enemy monsters and bosses. This however allows the player to find better loot, and more Hearts throughout the stage.
    The weapon and upgrade system is progressed through weapon drops in stages from treasure chests. The higher the difficulty you play on, the better the weapons you will find. The player also has the ability to fuse weapons together to make new ones, buy weapons with Hearts, get them from Gems via Streetpass, or as a random drop after online/local multiplayer matches. There are 9 unique types of weapons to unlock, each with their own play style. These weapons can be fused, sold for Hearts, or turned into Gems to be given to someone through Streetpass.
    Also at your command are abilities. These abilities are found in chests just like weapons, and they each do different things. You have a limited number of uses for each ability per stage, but you replenish those upon completion or exiting the stage. These abilities can range from Healing yourself to firing a laser (My personal favorite (Laser OP)).
    Streetpass functionality is simple and sweet. Players can turn some of their unwanted weapons into Gems which are then swapped with other players' Gems whom you pass who also have their Streetpass on and a game save file on the system. These Gems can be fused together to create new and/or better Gems, or can be turned into the weapon that the Gem contains for use in your game.
    Online play consists of two modes: "Light vs. Dark" and "Free For All." "Light vs. Dark" is a team based deathmatch with a twist. There are three players to a team, each wielding weapons from their own games. Killing an enemy player results in the opposing team's Life Meter going down (The Life Meter goes down more the better that player's equipment is). Once either team's Life Meter is completely drained, the player who lost the last of the Life Meter is turned into either Pit or Dark Pit (respective to their side). The angel has more health, but the weapon used is seemingly random (Although I'm not sure). Once the Angel is killed, the killers' team wins. Free For All is as you would expect. 6 players duke it out in an arena, trying to kill and not be killed. The person with the highest score, wins.
    Lastly there is the extras. An achievement board of 120 different objective is yours to complete (Think SSBB or Kirby's Air Ride), and there are 403 different Idols to collect (Think Trophies in the Super Smash Bros. games). Lastly there is a Music Gallery and a useless Heart Offering that brings a 3D model of Lady Palutena closer to the screen.

    Review:
    Kid Icarus is very visually stunning, and the audio is crisp, clean, and a pleasure to listen to. The voice acting is really well done, and the animation is very smooth. The game is fair, and lets the player move at their own pace. However, it is not without it's faults. Gameplay mechanics work great in theory, but the limitations of the 3DS make it a pain (both metaphorically and physically) to play for any extended length of time. This was actually a huge problem beings that I wanted to keep playing, but the awkward controls crippled my chance of fully enjoying the experience. The left hand is placed with the index finger over the left trigger, and the thumb on the circle pad (which is your run of the mill contolling position for the 3DS). However, the right hand is used for aiming with the stylus, resulting in a one handed, off balance, unpleasurable gameplay experience. That said, it is tolerable for shorter sessions of play, and it's even worth the uncomfort for marathon style play.
    Something I haven't touched on are the story and characters. The story is shallow, yet still very charming. And the characters are very lovable and I found myself liking every character I came across. The writing is amazing, and I found myself actually laughing at some of the dialogue. Each character has their own distinct personality and they all feel very real. So real in fact that even when they do "break the fourth wall" so to speak, it seemed natural and flowed nicely.
    Online functionality is quite fun, and I enjoyed it. It definitely is nothing to write home about though. It is what it is. There was certainly things they could have done to push the multiplayer above and beyond what it is now. But then again, what it is now isn't bad. If you like the gameplay enough, the multiplayer is just that.
    Just as it was in Kirby's Air Ride, the achievement board is compelling to fill out, and adds a lot of replay-ability to the game. No objectives are unfair or too obscure, and it balances really well. Rewards for completing them are just that, rewarding.
    The musical score is also superb. Different tracks for each stage, each setting the mood very well and adding to the game feel. This along with the awesome voice acting makes for an incredible audio experience to go with the amazing visuals.

    To Sum Up:
    Kid Icarus: Uprising is a good game. The audio is good, the visuals are good, the characters are nice and charming, and the gameplay is nice and rewarding. The only turn off is the down right poor controls. They are inexcusably uncomfortable, and actually made my hands hurt after awhile. That being said, I personally don't care. The rest of the game is good enough to cover that up. Kid Icarus: Uprising has made my top five 3DS games, and I highly recommend it to anyone who owns a 3DS.

    Kid Icarus: Uprising gets an 88 out of 100.    … Expand
  28. Incarta
    Feb 16, 2014
    6
    My main issue is with the controls. I never got on with them. Clumsy and fiddly and never mastered. Maybe it was me. Still, it's good looking enough and the story is ok. I hope they make another with more traditional controls
  29. Litaker61
    Feb 20, 2013
    9
    I really enjoyed this game however I had one issue... I'm left handed and found the game completely unplayable without the circle pad. However once I used the circle pad I have to say that this is one of the deepest, most re-playable games made for the 3DS. Graphics are stunning if a little overbearing at times. The length of the game surprised me, 25 chapters in total but not once did II really enjoyed this game however I had one issue... I'm left handed and found the game completely unplayable without the circle pad. However once I used the circle pad I have to say that this is one of the deepest, most re-playable games made for the 3DS. Graphics are stunning if a little overbearing at times. The length of the game surprised me, 25 chapters in total but not once did I find myself bored. The storyline is well written as are the characters with very cheesy dialogue. Gameplay is great especially the flying segments but I do agree that the on foot segments could be improved, that does not take away from the fact this is one of the longest console worthy handheld games ever. All in all a great game and definitely recommended as I don't think there will be another game with Pit for a long time unfortunately.… Expand
  30. BlogDog123
    Apr 3, 2012
    10
    Playing Uprising feels like taking a breath of fresh air after being in a cave for a long time; it's cool and refreshing. While the control scheme may take a few minutes to get used to, it works beautifully when you get used to it. The graphics are console-quality, but a tiny bit of bad textures get in the way sometimes. The story is gripping, and it keeps it at a light-hearted tone due toPlaying Uprising feels like taking a breath of fresh air after being in a cave for a long time; it's cool and refreshing. While the control scheme may take a few minutes to get used to, it works beautifully when you get used to it. The graphics are console-quality, but a tiny bit of bad textures get in the way sometimes. The story is gripping, and it keeps it at a light-hearted tone due to the silly chatting between characters on the bottom screen (complete with solid voice-acting). If you don't at least chuckle at the frequent Nintendo game references and the awesomely bad puns, than you obviously have no soul. With a crap-ton of achievements, idols (think trophies from Super Smash Bros. Brawl), and weapons, Kid Icarus: Uprising is definitely worth the price and your time.… Expand
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Awards & Rankings

4
#4 Best 3DS Game of 2012
3
#3 Most Discussed 3DS Game of 2012
4
#4 Most Shared 3DS Game of 2012

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
83

Generally favorable reviews - based on 75 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 66 out of 75
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 75
  3. Negative: 1 out of 75
  1. Armchair Empire
    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.
    Read full review
  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]
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