Kid Icarus: Uprising
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About Kid Icarus: Uprising
Pit returns as the hero of Kid Icarus: Uprising, a 2012 shooter and hack-and-slash developed by Sora for the Nintendo 3DS. Masahiro Sakurai led this project, bringing back a franchise that last saw light on the NES in 1987. The game merges aerial dogfights with frantic melee combat on the ground. You play as Pit, a winged messenger serving Palutena. While flight is limited to specific windows, you constantly switch between shooting enemies from above and fighting them face-to-face. This title launched on March 22, 2012, and stands as one of the few games built specifically to use the 3DS hardware for its unique control schemes. It targets fans who want fast action without complex menu navigation.
Gameplay
Sessions feel frantic because you juggle three distinct weapon classes while managing a flight meter. You select Blades for balanced attacks, Claws for speed at the cost of range, or Orbitars that fire projectiles growing stronger over distance. The core loop involves flying through bullet-hell style waves of enemies before landing to slash through groups of Medusa minions. Controls rely heavily on the stylus for aiming and dodging while using face buttons for movement and attacks. Each level forces you to switch tactics constantly since enemies attack from all angles. You collect various items mid-stage that boost your stats or grant temporary power-ups. The game offers both single-player campaigns and multiplayer modes where you battle against others in arena-style matches.
What Players Think
The data shows this title sits at the top of wish lists for a reason. Metacritic gave it an 83 out of 100 while IGDB rated it 84.9 based on 95 reviews. Players who finished the main campaign report an average playtime hovering around 12 hours, though completionists spend much longer hunting for every collectible. Community mood tags frequently label the experience as "intense" and "skill-based." Review snippets often praise the control scheme despite the learning curve. The community notes that the game feels tight because every enemy move matters during those ground battles. Many users mention replaying levels to unlock all weapons since they offer distinct playstyles. No other site tracks these specific mood tags or completion rates alongside standard critic scores.
PlayPile's Take
This game is worth your time if you have a 3DS and enjoy twitch shooters. The price was originally $49.99 on the eShop, though used cartridges vary now. You will earn numerous achievements for mastering weapon combos and completing chapters without taking damage. Sakurai's design ensures every minute of gameplay feels active with no filler. Some players find the flight segments repetitive after a few hours, but the ground combat makes up for it. If you want a game that respects your reflexes over story length, pick this up. It remains one of the best action games on the handheld system.
Game Modes
Single player, Multiplayer
IGDB Rating
84.9
RAWG Rating
4.3
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