In the latest episode of Harada's Bar, Super Smash Bros. Ultimate director Masahiro Sakurai spoke about how Kid Icarus: Uprising started out life on the Nintendo 3DS.
At the time, Nintendo's Touch! Generations line (featuring games like Brain Training) was incredibly popular. With the belief this "trend would continue", Sakurai decided he wanted to take this concept to the next level and provide a more thorough experience.
"The original plan was based on a new hardware, the 3DS, that was coming. At the time Touch! Generations was popular on DS. Touch! Generations is a general term for small software games like Brain Training. They were different from ordinary games but they gave you many benefits and were good for short periods of play...I thought the trend would continue. So I wanted to make something that will allow you to play games thoroughly, that's how I planned Kid Icarus: Uprising."
Before Kid Icarus was even in the picture, the framework for this more substantial take on the Touch! Generations series had been laid out. The plan was to make a third-person shooter, but due to the size of the 3DS screen and limits of the 3D, person-to-person battles weren't really going to cut it. And so in Kid Icarus: Uprising we see Pit taking on giant monsters and Gods.
"We were going to make a third-person shooter because the 3DS had a depth feature. But the screen is small so the depth was limited too. That's why we didn't make it a battle between a person and a person. We made the opponents many times bigger."
The game obviously turned out to be a hit and ever since there have been ongoing requests for more new entries in the series. In the very same episode of Harada's Bar, it was noted how many fans of Sakurai asked a lot about Kid Icarus: Uprising when the show was taking questions to pass on to Sakurai.
Despite how many fans would like to see this series return, earlier this year, Masahiro Sakurai mentioned how a sequel to Uprising would be difficult, which basically means it won't be happening any time soon.
And right now, of course, Sakurai is hard at work on the final DLC fighter for Super Smash Bros. Ultimate.
[source youtu.be]
Comments 45
I would like them to port it at the least bc I never got to try it.
It's a fun game but it gets tiresome playing with the stylus and the d-pad.
amazing masterpiece of a game but the damage and pain it would cause to your hand is aweful.
Couldn't they just port the existing games to Switch? After all, there are only three of them.
The NES, GB, and 3DS games in a single package would be mighty nice.
I could totally see this game working with gyro controls, so I feel like the lack of touch controls wouldn't be a problem. I don't really understand what would make this port or sequel especially difficult to make.
Please port this to the Switch somehow….
Oh man I loved this game. One of the very best on the 3DS. Would love a port to the Switch
interesting since the multiplayer was just the person-to-person combat. but man, what id give to replay this game on the big screen
@Wavey84 exactly, I've always felt it should have been released on the wii instead of the 3ds (sin and punishment comes to mind). I can't count how many times I have started KIU and droped it because it was so unconfortable to play. Not a big fan of this wave of ports nintendo's been doing, but that's one I would like to see on the switch (sadly, no wii remote though 😥
"A sequel to Uprising would be difficult" Sakurai stated, adding "I don't really remember how to make games anymore. I've been working on the same one for the past 10 years." He continued "but if you want someone to add a bunch of androgynous characters with swords as DLC to Uprising, I'm your man!"
Still have my copy impulse purchased for £15 in a sale but haven't ever played it. Really should get around to playing this, however peoples criticisms of the controls put me off...
I tried my friend's copy but wasn't for me as I don't play games with bad controls that aren't fun for me to move around with. It's a red line for me. Same reason I passed on Skyward Sword and Starfox Zero.
@Wavey84 they could just use the right analog stick for aim. It wouldn't be as good as with the wii remote, but they won't release the game for the wii or wii u anymore, so...
Why they never patched the game to change the control scheme is beyond me.
@FatWormBlowsASparky You can actually change the controls a lot in the game, I did that myself
Kid Icarus ended on NES and Gameboy, I’ll never consider this a real entry
Hopefully they get someone else to make another game. Probably won't be the same standard of Sakurai but I could see Retro Studios doing a really good job with this series.
@stevep how's that though? Because it plays differently? It's the way all games go when they transition into 3D gameplay. Mario 64 played entirely different to the format laid out in Super Mario Bros. Metroid Prime went from side scrolling to first person. They absolutely could make a side-scrolling Kid Icarus like they've done with Mario and Metroid in recent years but it shouldn't be restricted to that format.
@Clyde_Radcliffe I passed on it for similar reasons - hearing the controls were less than ideal - but having never tried it, maybe I’ll pick it up next time I see it. I would like to try it. And since it doesn’t seem to be that expensive at the moment, maybe now’s a good chance.
@BANJO I have never had problems with the controls myself or hand cramps. Give it ago, the game is great. If you happen to be someone that gets cramps figure out about when that happens and play in bursts of that stretch of time.
Sin and Punishment 3 in this style, please. Although I did love Uprising too so I would take a sequel for the Switch too.
I guess the beginning is what most of us played. Before we gave up on the worthless controls.
@Aqueous I will certainly give it ago. Just watched a couple of YouTube videos to remind myself about the game and was quite impressed with it. It's moved to the front of my backlog so I will play it shortly.
I have fond memories playing the demo of this in Manchester at a preview event, Kid Icarus stood out from all the other demo's for 3DS, it blew the other demo's away. Monkey ball and then live action street fighter and resident evil were a close second and third for that event (and yes the zombie actors tried to trip me up hahaha).
As much as I love and respect Sakurai as a developer, I kinda hope Nintendo gives the reigns to this series to someone else so we can at least get another game.
This was a far better game than it had any right being. I even love the story progression. As soon as it starts to settle, it throws some ridiculous curve balls at you that really keep it fresh. And honestly, the online multiplayer was pretty fun. I'm fortunate in that I never experienced the hand cramp issues that others did.
Screw your Switch ports! I want a sequel!!
I never understood people’s complaints about discomfort while playing this until I tried replaying it a year ago using my New 3DS XL. Holy cow, the size/weight of the XL model caused so much hand cramping.
Nintendo wake up! You have your own Devil May Cry which you forgot about.
This would have been a great remaster.
A moderately powerful laptop can run it in Citra. Kinda. But it's not even close to full speed
I feel like Ubisoft made a Kid Icarus game, but called it Immortals Fenyx Rising in the end. I mean, they just made a Mario and a Starfox game as well. But maybe this one had to be multiplatform without losing all the interest on other platforms..
That said, I loved this on 3ds, and would love to see it continued.
To me, easily the best 3ds game. The only question is if it’s my favorite game ever made.
To those who hate the controls, I get you. They are hard to grasp at first. They also make the game for me. The game could work with regular controls, especially surface battles but even then, something would be missing. If this game was made with the new 3ds in mind, I think the extra shoulder buttons would really help perfect the controls. To this day, the only part I hate on the controls is using your power ups on that stupid small scroll bar at the bottom. Just awful. Everything else though? Pure gold Jerry!
@Desrever Somehow, this game might have my favorite storyline in any game. Not too serious, but bam, it hits you hard here and there. A perfect distillation of action and comedy. Plus, the way the story gets told while you are playing? Still unmatched in my mind. I don’t think any other game used all the features of a 3ds so well.
@HIGHscores85 They are hard to understand at first, but they are far from worthless. It saddens me that some are stuck with only 2 or so control schemes. Learn a little, it’s fun.
A port… a new game… something! PLEASEEEEE!
@edgedino For sure! The gameplay and story was fantastic, it sure hurt to play it though! I still love it.
Oh look another article on Masahiro Sakurai.
@Tasuki
Oh look, another comment from Tasuki.
@BANJO I hope you have a great time!
This needs to be on Switch already.
@Danny429 because it was made for an specific console in mind, and they'd have to assemble a new team, not to mention that they'd need to change the full interface and gameplay to made it work.
A game so unique it'll stay on the system it came out. Good.
Uprising is one of those games where everything about it is absolutely amazing except actually trying to play it.
I love everything about the world, the characters, story, design, even the overall gameplay systems. But actually playing it is more infuriating than fun.
@Danny429 Agreed.
I have tons of respect for Mr. Sakurai, but it does upset me that he seems so adamant about not working on the series further.
If nothing else, couldn't we let someone else give it a try?
I want more Kid Icarus, dang it...
@Edu23XWiiU you say that like they didn't do the same thing for many other ports, and quite honestly, though the touch screen system is unique, I think even just a dual stick control system (if not gyro that is) would play and feel better for most people.
@TeddyBearSolid Same here, I just really wanna play it again, lol
@Danny429 Translating source code is a pain in the ass, and even Sakurai himself said that bringing a team together to do the work is a very unlikely act. So, want to play it? Play it on a 3DS.
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