Quick review: Kid Icarus: Uprising

apologies for the lousy camera and the lousy jpeg

My collection of 3DS games is going strong with my fifth title Kid Icarus: Uprising. I first read about the game in an issue of Nintendo Power, if it wasn't for their coverage I wouldn't even be aware that the Kid Icarus series is being revived by the 3DS. Pit Cloud is a character I already know of since Super Smash Brothers Brawl. I'm not that big of a fan of the character and the series but the game just made me one immediately after the tutorial.

The game includes one Kid Icarus: Uprising game card, 5 AR cards and a Nintendo 3DS stand. The stand, apparently, is the developers' way of making up for the lousy control mechanics of the game. Despite the good gameplay of KI:U getting around with the controls is a tedious task (especially for a leftie like me), unless of course if it's part of the challenge. KI:U's standard control scheme almost only uses the left part of the whole console for movement and attacking, the touch screen for aiming. Sounds simple but aiming, especially with the touchscreen, requires fast reflexes and with the intensity of the game without careful hands the touchscreen will get scratched in no time. Also gaming on random areas' a little uncomfortable.

Technical difficulties aside the game itself is highly addicting. Each chapters in the game have great replay values (one level of intensity is a new experience overall). The game also have a wide array of highly customizable weapons in nine different categories (correct me if I'm wrong). 

So far I've completed the first two chapters in 36 minutes with intensity set to standard which is 2.0 (highest is 9.9 I think). Each chapters have a sky and land battles. Sky battles serves as a warm-up to what's to come during land battles where exploration is possible. There's no time limit in both parts of each chapter (except for the fact that Pit can only stay airborne for 5 minutes). Sky battles, so far with my current progress, are completely different from each chapter. No two chapters are the same both in sky and land battles. New enemies are introduced each chapter and old ones also return as lesser pawns.

The in-game graphics are great and stunning. Again, it's a really big leap from the DS to the 3DS. Music, BGM's and SFX's are all topnotch. I especially note the character interactions in-game. The dialogue especially from the vocal protags Pit and Palutena are both witty and well-written.

Ultimately, Kid Icarus: Uprising has top scores in almost all aspects that make a video game extra special. It only falls short on its control scheme. But a little practice on the end-user will really make a difference. I do hope that if ever they're planning to make a sequel to the game, the controls (even though highly customizable as well) get a complete revamp.