Star Fox’s Remake is Cool, But Another Nintendo IP Deserved a Revival First

The classic game Star Fox is making a comeback with a visually updated remake of the original. However, fan reactions are divided. While the remake looks enjoyable, many are let down that it’s not a completely new game after such a long wait. It’s quite different from Star Fox Adventure on the GameCube, which tried something new and expanded the series’ gameplay.

Nintendo usually does a great job of keeping its most popular games, like Mario and The Legend of Zelda, innovative and fun. These series are consistently among the best in the gaming world, and even games that are less predictable, like Mario Party, often show creative thinking. However, Nintendo sometimes overlooks older franchises, mostly keeping them alive through nostalgia or by including them in Super Smash Bros. One example is Kid Icarus. Despite being an older series, it still has a lot of potential and could be something really special if Nintendo gave it another chance.

It’s About Time That Nintendo Brought Back Kid Icarus

What Is Kid Icarus, the Long-Lost Nintendo Franchise Starring Pit?

If you’re familiar with recent Super Smash Bros. games, you might know Pit, the angelic fighter with a special sword. He’s the main character from the Kid Icarus series, which began in 1986 with a game that played a bit like a combination of Zelda and Metroid. Pit returned in Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters in 1991, but fans didn’t see a new game for over two decades until Kid Icarus Uprising came out for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012.

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Despite some flaws, Kid Icarus Uprising successfully reimagines the Kid Icarus series for modern gamers. It keeps the original games’ playful take on Greek mythology and adds fast-paced, 3D battles that really take advantage of the 3DS. Gameplay switches between on-rails shooting stages and more open, third-person combat and exploration, with the shooting sections often leading into the action. The way the game blends these different styles of combat – shooting and melee – is both smooth and exciting, proving what the series can achieve with the right approach. Unfortunately, Uprising is currently the last Kid Icarus game we’ve seen, and there’s no news about future installments.

Masahiro Sakurai, known for leading the development of games like Super Smash Bros. and Kirby Air Riders, also directed Kid Icarus Uprising. The game shares his signature style of quick, action-packed gameplay found throughout his work.

Kid Icarus Can Fill a Gaping Hole in Nintendo’s First-Party Lineup

It’s true that not every old game needs to make a comeback – often, newer games improve on what made those classics great. We’ve all seen examples of retro franchises being revived just to trade on their name. What makes the lack of a new Kid Icarus game disappointing is that it’s actually a series that could offer something fresh and exciting to today’s gaming world, unlike some of those uninspired revivals.

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Nintendo is known for dominating many game genres, like 3D and 2D platformers, open-world adventures, racing games, and metroidvanias. However, they surprisingly lack a major, self-developed action game focused on combat. While Bayonetta exists, it doesn’t feel distinctly like a Nintendo game because it’s made by another company, PlatinumGames. If Nintendo were to revive Kid Icarus, perhaps with a similar style to Kid Icarus Uprising, they could finally have a strong, original, and truly Nintendo-style action game.

What Could a New Kid Icarus Game Look Like?

Many fans, including myself, would much rather see a completely new Kid Icarus game instead of a remake or remaster – and that’s why the news about the Star Fox remake was so disheartening. However, a remake or even a port of Kid Icarus Uprising actually makes more sense than what’s planned for Star Fox in 2026. You can still play the original Star Fox on the Switch through Nintendo Switch Online, but Kid Icarus Uprising remains exclusive to the Nintendo 3DS. It’s unlikely to ever come to Switch in its original form due to the 3DS’s unique features making emulation difficult. Therefore, a remake or a proper port with updated controls would be a great solution.

Even if Nintendo were to bring back Kid Icarus Uprising on its current consoles – and they really should – a completely new Kid Icarus game should still be on the way soon. Nintendo isn’t struggling to find strong exclusive titles right now, but adding Kid Icarus back into their regular lineup of first-party games would definitely create a more varied and appealing selection of games.

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2026-05-14 12:04