Kid Icarus Belongs on Wii U

Don't let Pit's next adventure be his last, Nintendo. Here's why the angel would fit right in on the company's next home console.

January 25, 2012

 With very few Wii releases on the horizon (Rhythm Heaven Fever, Mario Party 9 and Xenoblade are pretty much it), our minds can't help but wander to the possibilities presented by Nintendo's next generation of home consoles, the Wii U. Pair this with anticipation over the revival of the Kid Icarus series on the 3DS (check out our latest Kid Icarus Uprising preview if you haven't already), and it's not hard to imagine where our minds went.

In truth, the Kid Icarus series wouldn't just be cool on Wii U, it absolutely belongs on it. Below are a few reasons why the Big N is just plain cruel if it doesn't make its next Pit stop (see what we did there?) an HD one. Give us what we want, Nintendo, or we'll sick our two-headed dog on you.

Heel, Cerberus, HEEL!

Angels in HD

Our most recent demo of Kid Icarus Uprising helped to ease a lot of our initial misgivings, and left us with much more positive feelings about Pit's forthcoming 3DS outing. One of the things that impressed us most was the game's look. A monstrous step up from the series' former 8-bit endeavors, Uprising features absolutely gorgeous graphics, with brilliant, striking visuals setting the backdrop for Pit's soaring adventure.

Uprising will allow players to experience this vibrant world in full 3D, so a fitting next step would be to make a high definition sequel. Sure, it's completely not necessary, but to see this same style and creative use of color communicated in full HD with even more detail would be simply jaw-dropping. Nintendo will soon have a system on the market that can facilitate this - so let's make it happen. Don't leave Pit in the dust as Link and Mario make the jump to HD.

Kid Icarus and the Tablet: A Match Made in Elysium

Although our last demo proved to us that the controls for Uprising are passable (if not entirely preferable), there's no doubt that dual analog sticks would go a long way in solving any lingering discomfort problems caused by the current setup. Until the inevitable 3DS redesign, Wii U is the best choice if the Big N wants the next Icarus to maintain Uprising's style of gameplay. Two analog sticks would make Uprising's controls not only more comfortable, but actually quite fantastic. This is probably the biggest reason Icarus needs to come to Wii U - and it's a really, really convincing one.

Oh, the possibilities.

But twin sticks aren't the only reason we want to play a Kid Icarus game with the Wii U tablet. The fact that the controller has its own screen would make translating the Uprising formula to a home console that much easier. The running commentary of Pit and Palutena that currently takes place on the 3DS's bottom screen could easily be moved to the controller. The same is true of the inventory and ability options on the bottom screen during the non-flying segments. Wii U is a perfect platform for using ideas that originated on Nintendo's dual-screen portable systems and applying them to a console experience - and what better place to start than with Kid Icarus Uprising 2?

Options Galore

Of course, replicating the Uprising experience for Wii U isn't the only option - not by a long shot. If Nintendo is looking to go a different direction for the next entry in its long lost franchise, an HD system with numerous control possibilities seems just the ticket. The system supports motion controls, traditional controls and touch controls, the tablet has built-in gyroscope technology and a camera, and, of course, it's HD. There's no end to the number of routes Pit could fly next, so the developers need not tie themselves down to Uprising's gameplay.

Why not take the next one off the rails and let us explore a full, three-dimensional version of Angel Land? Sounds like a dream come true to us, and a great choice for the as-of-yet unannounced and nonexistent Kid Icarus Wii U. A return to the franchise's platforming roots wouldn't be bad either. Or maybe something totally unexpected is in order. Again, the number of ideas that could spring to life thanks to Wii U's plentiful play options is endless, and there are beaucoup opportunities there. Don't waste them, Nintendo.

Save Pit!

Kid Icarus was a great game on the NES, and its oft-forgotten Game Boy entry was fun too. We can't fathom why it's taken Nintendo so long to return to this franchise, but we're hoping the company doesn't make the same mistake twice. Pit, Palutena and company certainly deserve more than a release every two decades or so. We'll have to wait until March to know for sure, but our recent demo has us looking forward to Pit's next big adventure more so than we have since we first heard it was announced. Regardless of how this one turns out (though our hopes are up), we definitely don't want to see Pit fade into obscurity again.

I can see it now - Operation Pitfall.

Seeing Icarus represented in the Super Smash Bros. series isn't enough - especially if he gets dropped from the roster (don't do it, Sakurai-san!). It's a solid franchise, and we sincerely hope the big N keeps growing it and helping it find its footing with modern audiences. What better way to keep things rolling than with a sweeping console adventure? Seriously, Pit needs a Wii U entry, if only so people don't forget about him again. He's a good character. Don't banish him to Hades or the Island of Misfit Toys or wherever forgotten game characters go (R.I.P. Bonk). Pit deserves better than that.


We think we've made a pretty convincing argument for why Kid Icarus belongs on Wii U, but what do you think? What would want from a Wii U Icarus game? Discuss!

 

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