Kid Icarus Review - Screenshot 1 of 2

Kid Icarus is one of those games that makes you think 'they sure don't make them like they used to'. Graphically it's very basic - this is from 1986 after all - but the charm simply shines through regardless.

This is a game from an era where developers had to really make an effort and use what simple technology they had available to them - and when considering this it's somewhat shocking that Kid Icarus has more character than most modern platform games.

The game is about a Cherubim royal guard named Pit, who, among other cherubims must protect their queen, but she and all others are captured by Medusa; Pit is the only one who manages to escape from Medusa’s goblins and he takes it upon himself to fix everything. The game features four worlds and three types of levels for each world. Each world is divided into sections and each features a side-scrolling level, vertical-scrolling level, and a dungeon where you wander form one room to another to get to the Boss.

Kid Icarus Review - Screenshot 2 of 2

In the game you are armed with only a bow and arrow but you can purchase upgrades to your armour and weapons. In each level you must reach the end while gathering hearts, which are used to purchase upgrades, and hammers that are used to free cherubims in dungeons. Each dungeon has several rooms that you have to wander through to reach the boss to get one of the three Legendary Weapons which you need to battle Medusa in the final world.

Conclusion

This is classic Nintendo design at work here - the gameplay, challenge and control are pretty much perfect. For 500 Wii points this is well worth looking into.