Hands-on with Kid Icarus: Uprising on Nintendo 3DS

I’ve never played Kid Icarus, I have no fond memories of the original game, and I wasn’t impressed by the reveal video for the game at last year’s E3 - so why am I so excited about it now?

In part, it’s because it feels a little like a late-generation DS game. Not in the sense that it has blocky graphics and is download-only, but that it’s a title that actual takes advantage of the system’s strengths, rather than force something that won’t fit into the twin-screened shell.

Despite what the trailer may have you believe, the game isn’t an action-adventure (or at least not in the traditional sense).

Each stage begins with the titular Kid - whose actual name is Pit - flying through the clouds, blasting enemies in an on-rails shooting segment.

Aiming is handled entirely with the stylus, while the left shoulder button fires and the joystick maneuvers Pit away (hopefully) from enemy fire.

Interestingly, you charge up your shots by not firing - the reverse of the norm - which makes blasting through the waves of enemies that scoot onto the screen in these sections a lot more comfortable.

Kid Icarus: Uprising contains hands-down the most impressive moments of 3D I’ve seen on the machine hitherto.

One level, for instance, sees you flying through an impressive electrical storm, wind currents whipping around you as you dive towards the earth.

Once you’re near solid ground, Pit then charges into the bowels of a giant cave, with huge rocks looming and zooming past the screen. It’s frantic like any good shooter, but also well staged and paced like an explosive blockbuster.

The stylus controls are a godsend for aiming, feeling completely natural and exact, while the ‘flick-to-dodge’ mechanic on the joystick makes quick reactions a cinch.

Things get a little less impressive when you hit the ground, as the stylus has to double up as both your aim and the camera controls.

Sharp, quick sweeps turn the camera, while jabs on the joystick cause Pitt to dodge. It’s awkward at first: especially given how many enemies are usually on-screen at once.

But by about halfway through the second of the demo’s levels, I was dashing up to foes (to initiate melee thwacks) and dodging like a pro.

So, despite my detachment from its 8-bit incarnation, and my distaste for the annoyingly high-pitched voice of Pit himself, Kid Icarus: Uprising has managed to fire an arrow into this gamer’s heart already.

We’ll see if the game can sustain a long-term relationship with me later in the year.