The Star Fox remake is cool, but another Nintendo IP deserved a revival first

Star Fox returns with a high-fidelity remake of the first game in the series, and reactions are mixed to say the least. While Star Fox reprisals honestly looks pretty fun, the fact that it's just a remake after so many years of waiting for a new entry is disappointing. It is far from anything like it Star Fox Adventure for the GameCube, which actually made a serious attempt to take the franchise in a new direction.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that Nintendo generally does a good job of keeping its flagship series fresh and exciting, historically speaking. Mario and The Legend of Zelda is arguably the most consistently high-quality series in the gaming industry, for example, and even more hit-or-miss IP that Mario Party usually guided by forward-thinking creativity. But at the same time, Nintendo is guilty of neglecting many of its older properties, relegating them to nostalgia and Super Smash Bros. lists. One such property is Kid Icarusa franchise that, despite its age, has great potential to become something special if only given the chance.

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New Star Fox Switch 2 gameplay details leaked

A new detail has emerged about the leaked Star Fox game allegedly coming to Switch 2 later this year, suggesting a new direction for the series.

It's about time Nintendo brought back Kid Icarus

What is Kid Icarus, the long-lost Nintendo franchise starring?

If you have played any Super Smash Bros. game from Fraction ahead, you might recognize Pit, the cherubic warrior who wields a double-edged blade. This is the hero in Kid Icarus series, whose first entry, was released in 1986, can roughly be described as a mix between Zelda and Metroid. He reprized his role in the 1991s Kid Icarus: Of Myths in Monstersbut audiences wouldn't see him again until more than 20 years later, when The Kid Icarus Rebellion was launched for the Nintendo 3DS in 2012.

Scratch & Peek

Identify the wrapper while scraping off as little foil as possible.

Scratch & Peek

Identify the wrapper while scraping off as little foil as possible.

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The Kid Icarus Rebellionwhile not perfect, is a good encapsulation of what a modern Kid Icarus games can and should be. It retains the liberally interpreted Greek mythology background of the previous titles, but with an injection of chaotic 3D combat that often takes advantage of the 3DS's unique hardware. The levels are divided into on-rails shooters and third-person combat and exploration, with the former serving as a kind of prelude to the former. The way the game balances on-rail shooting, third-person shooting and melee combat is elegant and frenetic, and a genuinely impressive showcase of what the series is capable of under the right circumstances. Sadly, Rebellion is the last one Kid Icarus game that has been released, with no word on where the IP is headed next.

The Kid Icarus Rebellion was directed by Masuhiro Sakurai, the creative lead for SMash Bros. and more recently, Kirby Air Riders. His penchant for a fast, no-holds-barred game shines through Rebellion just as much as in his other games.

Kid Icarus could fill a gap in Nintendo's first-party lineup

Not every franchise needs a revival – many classic games have had their schtick bettered by modern titles, and I'm sure everyone can think of at least one instance where a beloved retro series was dug up and revived simply to capitalize on brand recognition. Part of what does Kid Icarus' The absence from Nintendo's contemporary portfolio frustrating is that it is not one of those franchises, and can definitely be an enriching addition to today's gaming market.

Fit the 9 games into the grid.

Nintendo has its fingers in many pies, arguably cementing itself as an industry leader in genres such as 3D platformer, 2D platformer, open world adventure, cart racer and metroidvania. But a dedicated third-person action game built primarily around combat is noticeably missing from Nintendo's Hall of Fame. Sure, there is Bayonettabut it's not exactly a franchise that screams “Nintendo”, mostly due to the fact that it's developed by Platinum and not an in-house Nintendo team. If Kid Icarus would make a return, perhaps with an experience along the lines of The Kid Icarus Rebellionthen Nintendo could end up with a valuable, unique and trademark melee action game in its clip.

What could a new Icarus game look like?

Of course, I and many others would prefer a brand new one Kid Icarus games over a remake or remaster; again, that's why the news is about Star Fox remake has been so disappointing to so many. However, a remake or even just a port of Kid Icarus The Rebellion is arguably far more meaningful than 2026 Star Fox treatment. After all, you can still play the 1993 original Star Fox on Switch via Nintendo Switch Online, while The Kid Icarus Rebellion is still locked to the Nintendo 3DS. It's unlikely to ever come to the Switch in its original form, as the unique characteristics of the 3DS can make emulation difficult. A remake or proper port with new controls would thus be necessary.

Even if Nintendo re-releases The Kid Icarus Rebellion for its modern platform (which it should), a new entry in the franchise should still be coming soon. It's not that Nintendo needs to fight for good exclusives at the moment, but reintroduce Kid Icarus to the company's first-party release cycle would definitely make for a more robust and diverse game catalog, at the very least.