Virtual Console Reviews

This is (almost) as good as they got back in the day! Kid Icarus is still awesome after all of these years.

Moreso than Kid Icarus I want to see Kid Nikki for the VC!!

I'll probably buy this even though I imported the Famicom Mini version. It's that good!

I love this game. It is really hard, but with enough preserverance you can make it through.

Just completed it for the first time in years. Great game, thouh I never really understood why people say it's so hard. I'd say it's one of the easier classics from the NES-era.

On my first couple of tries, I was shocked at how difficult it seemed. It was extremely frustrating to get really far on a level, miss a jump, and have to start over. It gets easier to play after a bit though. My only disappointment now is having to deal passwords in case the Wii loses my place.

Don't worry about passwords, just look them up on gamefaqs.com or something. I really love this game and I remember when I was a kid I could only get to the 2nd stage. Once I got to the zelda-like dungeon that you get a map and you can explore it I freaked out ZOMG! lol I was so happy... spending hours getting my health back and being turned into an eggplant over and over didn't really amuse me tho :[

I remember really loving this when it first came out and i was worried that it might have lost some of its magic over time but playing it for the first time in over 15 years i see its lost none of its charm. As good as i remember it, if not better cos of the retro cool. Cant wait for megaman. (anyone remember when that series was good?)

Ah, Kid Icarus. Such a classic, and a pioneer for the Password system at that, along with Metroid. Non-Mario platformers didn't really get much better than this. Totally worth the 500 points. (And diablos, Megaman was only good for Megaman 2. STILL my favorite NES game.)

Had this for a few days, really fallen in love with it! To be fair, it is very hard, especially when compared to games today, but it has that 'one more go' factor in spades. Megaman 2 would literally melt my eyes, got it on my nes but you know, wanna have it on me wii!

I'm so happy to finally play this game. I had the Kid Icarus sequel for game boy and that game is loads of fun.

It's too bad Nintendo abandoned this franchise. It was basically the brainchild of Gumpei Yoko (one of the greatest game designers of his time and the main force behind the first 2 metroid games and the designs for the original Gameboy). Once he parted ways with Nintendo to make the wonderswan for Bandai, this series kinda fell wayside but there are rumours of a third game in the series for the Wii at some point in time.

Kid Icarus was my second game, but I enjoy it for more than nostalgic reasons. I've beaten it at least six times now. The music, difficulty curve, and level design keep me coming back. This game epitomizes the best of the NES adventure game genre. This is not far off from Metroid, but they got the mythology all wrong. Icarus is called Pit and tries to kill Medusa, who is supposed to be killed by Perseus. The Plutos are only remotely related to Hades, the god of the the realm that bears his name and also precious metals. Nonetheless, I cannot recommend this enough. Just don't get turned into an eggplant. 5/5.

I remember this game being really hard when I was a kid. I VCed it and nothing has changed. I have not gotten any better.

This is one of those games that makes you yell at the tv. You get so close to the end of a climbing level...and you fall. 10 minutes of work gone... Maybe I suk.

I think the most aggravating part of the game is when your in a room with the pots of free stuff and you shoot the one that has the mini-reaper in it and that damn music comes on. That little f-er is now haunting my dreams.

Fantastic in all, because I want more. Played the first Zelda-esq dungeon in the game (level 1-4) for an hour yesterday and didnt get through it.

They're bringing pit back on the wii in the new super smash brothers, so perhaps they've also got a new 3D platformer in the works too? I wouldn't mind mimicing bow and arrow actions with a wiimote.

Kid Icarus is at first a strange mix of an platforming/ action/ adventure/ rpg. It also is a shooter in the last level.

If you practice a bit and get into the controls, so that you don't fall off the screen, you'll have a good time. The game gets easier as you progress.

Only the first three or four levels are hard, because you couldn't level up your energy enough. If you keep killing monsters you will get more bonus points at the end of a stage and you are more likely to level up. That's the secret and if you manage that, this game will be much more easier but no doubt still be a challenge.

I'm not that much of an hardcore gamer, but I beat this, so I would say, put time into it, and write down the passwords for each level, so you can replay a level to get more points and get stronger sooner and you will beat it too! Yeah, it's a very good game! Even today 4 Stars.

This is, without a doubt, one of the greatest NES titles Nintendo has to offer. I'd recommend it to anyone who loves Mario, Zelda, and Metroid and that want a game that blends elements from a three games into one. It's not an easy game, though, so look out for VERY hard challenges along the way.

Damn whoever said metroid was harder than this was wrong
So annoying if you fall off the screen, you know the ground is just a tiny bit off but still you die, It's damn annoying

how do you use items with the wii remote? thats been bugging me for a while, i cant use hammers or anything, it sucks

Hammers can only be used in fortress levels. Press minus to switch between them and your weapon. Note that all they do is free Centurions!

This game good. but it's hard. But remember this, The game doesn't hate you.
Challenge rating:8.0
Fun rating:7.0
Graphics rating:6.0
SFX/Music rating:7.0
Gameplay rating:8.5
Overall rating:4 stars

The game is not that hard! All you have to do is shooy every single enemy. You'll get upgrades quickly and the game is very easy then. After 1-4 the game is very easy.

It is very fun if you can master it.

You know, honestly, there's a reason this game didn't "make it" as a key Nintendo franchise the way Metroid and Zelda did: it isn't nearly as good. There are little kernels of greatness; the three "dungeon" stages at the end of each world have hints of Zelda-esque design, for instance. And the final shooter-type stage, when Pit is at full power, is cool. But that's too little too late; the bulk of the platforming levels never really transcend their early NES feel. They're not just hard; they're sparse, and you feel you just aren't doing very much as you slog through them. The boss battles are made artificially hard - also, tedious - simply by forcing you to land a ridiculous number of hits before they'll die. the game isn't bad, I guess, but unlike Metroid (its sister title) this game just never rises above its 8-bit roots.

This is a good game, but there are some really bad design choices. For example, there are these hard-to-dodge bandits that will steal your hard-earned powerups and force you to buy them back from a black market later on. The eggplant wizards can also make you lose your mind as you're left to wander helplessly trying to find a hospital. This game is also notorious for starting out hard and getting easier and easier right up to the final boss (which is something of a disappointment, though still fun). Some of the rooms are left empty, and others contain insanely hard challenges. But if you're willing to deal with some frustrating moments, you'll enjoy yourself.

I heard somewhere that they deactivated the passwords for the VC release...

I could never get past level 1 when I rented this as a kid.

Recent Wii VC version passwords helped me out once I downloaded this to try again.

Fun game. Sadly never got a sequel even though lesser games did.
Not the best game but had some great potential.

Hopefully Pit will kick some butt in Smash Bros Brawl and we'll see a rebirth of this unique franchise.

this game is a bit of a chore unless you use the password for all the power ups.

Kid Icarus is a good game. Its nothing really spectacular, but overall its alot of fun to play. The downfall of the game is its difficulty. Ever heard of the term "nintendo-hard"? I believe that term was made because of this game. Each level is just a huge onslaught of enemies, in which you can take very few hits and do not have that great of a weapon. I am not going to lie, me and my buddies used to play this alot, because once you get used to it and practice you can get quite good. But if you are having trouble with games like Ninja Gaiden, Kid Icarus may not be for you.

3/5 stars is my rating. If it were a bit less of a chore to play through it would get a higher score. I know I am definitely excited for Pit's arrival in SSBB.

Wow this game is hard. I still havn't gotten past Level 1 >>.<<

This is one of those games that I can sense a great amount of potential in... and I suspect it gets much better, but the difficulty will take some getting used to, and there's nothing really driving me to attempt it, either. I suppose I'll come back to it later, play it, and get addicted, but until then...

This game is soooooooooo hard! I keep on dying on level1. Pit is cool

I have a strong feeling, this lost gem of a game will see a 3d rebirth on the wii. Starting with Pit being in brawl.

Yeah, I haven't even made it past the first level. I have to give it three stars. I suppose if I was twelve years old and only had Kid Icarus to play I'd give it the time it needs to get good at, but after dying six times I just play something else!

i never played it before, but it is definetly going to be my next download

Geebus. Now I feel old. This game is kicking my anus. I know my cousin and I either beat this or were close. Now I suck. Grrr. Still an interesting and fun game...when I'm not chasing after the controller I just tossed!

A great game. Unfortunately it doesn't get the attention it deserves.

Great game, i remember it being sooooo hard back in the day. Just recently downloaded it. Much easier than i remembered, however those *^&$£ eggplants are very annoying!!!!
4/5 for me!

i heard about this after reading a Metroid article and decided to take a chance with Kid Icarus. Fortunately for me, it paid off. This is a great game and if you like Metroid, definetly get. i'm just hoping now that the Factor 5 rumours of a new kid Icarus game will pay off.

This is actually better (in my opinion) than the original Metroid. It actually has maps of levels! I bought this two days ago and just finished it. It certainly does start off hard, but keep at it! It gets better and easier as you level up. That's right! There is an experience system in a game this old! Who'da thought?

I might buy it today

A nice adventure/plattformer with an awesome soundtrack is worth 500 points, no doubt about this. but it is so friggin' HARRRRRD! that's why i give it 3 out of 5 points

This game reminds me of the awful Kid Icarus character on Captain N: The Game Master. "I can fly-icus! I just need wings-icus! I ate some cheerios for breakfast-icus!"

This game is worth the money.

I had never played this before. I have to say it is one of the best titles on the NES. Id go so far to say its #2 behind mario 3. Download this now! unless you dont like hard games, because this one will kick your ass.

I just downloaded this and its seriously better then super mario bros. It took me an hour 13 just to get to the third level, dying many, many times, (good thing theres unlimited lives), but the challenge adds to the greatness. It never feels unfair, and you will always want to try again. Its very addictive that way. You also get such a feeling of accomplishment when you do finish the level. I cant wait to play the rest!
5 stars.
oh by the way ninja gaiden 2 sucks.

I downloaded this game and its good but hard. If you like a challenge download this

A great game. Mostly is good because of Nostalgia - Pit is in SSBB, nice to go back to the old days. It is quite hard in places. As for saving the game, the wii does that for you.. 4/5

My first game for VC.
Well, I mean its GOING to be
I love Kid Icarus
The song keeps me up forever^^

Oh, a quick question
When you die, it gives you a code
Does that mean you have to write down a giant code every time you play or can you just press continue and go from where you left off?

very tough but ya
gotta love the music

grim reaper theme=the coolest

The opening title theme of Kid Icarus was truly amazing for its time and still catchy today. Overall, I think it was overshadowed by Legend of Zelda and Metroid back in the day, but no hardcore nintendo addict passed this one up.

A note to people giving this one a try: the very toughest part of this game is the beginning since you start out with a teeny tiny little life bar. As soon as you get that first life bar upgrade the game is much more manageable. I think this happens at the end of level 1-4.

I noticed the initial difficulty when I played it again for the first time in twenty years and kept thinking to myself, I don't remember it being this hard! Then, the dust and cobwebs covering some long-dormant synapses in some backwater area of my head were brushed aside and vague memories of my childhood friend telling me all this started coming back. I finally had that "Ohhhhh that's right" moment when I got the life bar upgrade. So stick with it and you'll soon be rewarded with one of the best old school platformers.

This is a hard game, but I still love it. You should probably only get this game if your hardcore, and have lots of patience.

Just bought this today as I was browsing the shop...very impressed.

It's certainly challenging, but I like games that offer unforgiving gameplay mechanics.

I also thought it would serve as a nice precursor to the Kid Icarus content in Brawl. Yes, I'm a (patient/foolish depending on your view) European who didn't import.

Wow, I LOVE this game! It's incredibly hard at the beginning, which made many would-be fans of the game turn away from it, but it gets easier and more fun as the game progresses.

Plus, who doesn't love the fact that they put Pit in Brawl? Freakin' awesome.

this was one of the first VC games I ever downloaded, along w/ Battle Lode Runner and Super Mario World. It's a pretty good game, but it's crazy hard, especially at the beginning. But your puny little health bar increases as the game goes on, so it gets better. If it weren't for some useful tips NP gave me, I might've never gotten through it. It's also not the best-designed game out there, what with the empty rooms and some weirdly placed locations and items (a training ground at the end of a long, gruelling stage? RIDICULOUS!) and why do I need to buy a torch and pencil to make the map worth something? and WHY DID THEY REMOVE THE FREAKIN' POWER-UP PASSWORDS BUT LEAVE IN THE THE DAMN FLICKER AND SLOWDOWN?

but still, a good buy at 500 points, if a tad underwhelming, and I love the music (especially when it was remixed in Brawl!)

btw if any of you guys can find it, get KI: Of Myths and Monsters for the Game Boy. It's easier and much better-designed than the original, though the music isn't as good. KI fanboys might try to tell you otherwise, but they're wrong I tell you, WRONG! the only thing I don't like though is that in that game, you can only use power-ups like the long arrow if your health is at a certain level. oh well...

Loved this game back in the day and its still great to play even now (I don't care if thats the nostalgia talking!) Enjoyed the gameboy sequel just as much too- Hopefully Kid Icarus will finally make a comeback on the Wii.

Just bought this game, and I have to say, this game is awesome. It took me about 20 tries to beat the first level! I haven't tried much of the second, but I have already died 4 times. Luckily, if you have the patience, this is an awesome game.

@Ry-Type

I heard on Gamefaqs that they actually ARE making anew KI game for Wii. It's called Kid Icarus III: The End of Worlds, or something like that. I don't know if it's true or not, but one can hope.

I played this at a friend's house, and I was more than impressed. Oh, sure it was hard, (curse you eggplant wizard!) but I am already seriously considering buying this game.