.jpg)
Kid Icarus Uprising is a game a sequel to the classic Kid Icarus games, which was reimagined as a Star Fox-style flight action shooter with grounded action segments. Its concept as a whole was very appealing, and had an addictive gameplay loop with much replayability. It was a great game, but with flaws that could stand to be corrected.
To me, remakes and remasters benefit games like this. An amazing game that passes the test of time doesn't gain much from being remade, except for being made more accessible to newer players. Alternatively, a terrible game might not even warrant a remake at all. However, it is those games where you can see the untapped potential within the flaws, the diamonds in the rough, which benefit more from them. That is because the developpers can have the benefit of hindsight and consummer feedback.
I remember when I first played Uprising. It was unplayable. I am left-handed, and not the type that can just use a stylus with his right hand and power through. I was absolutely inept, and even dropped my stylus while playing this game. As a response, I bought the Circle Pad Pro accessory, which enabled me to play using my left hand to aim. It did the job on the original 3DS, and despite the stylus controls being far from ideal, I was able to get through the game. Then the XL was released, and I upgraded to it. Unfortunately, this led to a big problem: I needed to buy another Circle Pad Pro to fit the bigger system, but also... it was a lot heavier and clunky to hold a bigger piece of hardware "and" a giant plastic contraption with one hand. It was playable, but not comfortable. But then, the New 3DS XL was released, and I upgraded to that. Now, the problem was even worse. My only option was a little nub that didn't quite cut it as an analogue stick, and no Circle Pad Pro was available for this model. I could not physically play the game anymore.
The previous issue is what happens when software is centered around a specific gimmick (motion controls, gyro, touch controls, etc...) and doesn't offer alternatives. It's an accessibility issue just as much as it is a taste issue. Kid Icarus Uprising was hampered by its control scheme, and prevented people like me from fully enjoying this game. As such, a remake is a chance to make it right and add a twin stick control option. This would allow more people to enjoy the game, and with the added buttons, limitations of the 3DS hardware could be nullified. This is a game with a lot of charm that I want to, and should love. Let me. And for those who didn't mind the weirder controls, they're just getting an upgraded version.
Another angle is the multiplayer. With the many weapon types, and the team-based combat, it's a very solid and fast-paced experience. It was fun, the online is going to shut down, and there is no other way to play it. A remake with perhaps more maps and modes would bring this to new people, and can enhance an already decent multiplayer experiment into something more substantial.
The next angle is pretty straightforward: the game's age is showing when it comes to its visuals. The 3DS already wasn't very cutting edge in that department, and having this on an HD TV would make a game with good artwork and character design have a vehicle to show them in a more flattering light.
Finally, the extras. The game has a lot of collectible weapons with unique attributes, and adding more would be a fun. I've always wanted something silly like Amiibo-based weapons, just because I was Pit swinging fireballs out of the Binding Blade, but there is also much more that can be done. New challenges, extra chapters, maybe some featuring playing as characters like Magnus during the time Pit was out of commission for instances. Maybe add new heroes and vilains in the multiplayer mode. There's much that can be done, and even the base game as it is alone would simply benefit from a fresh coat of paint and the sheer popularity of the Switch.
A remake would be a less risky endeavour than a newer game, and while I think that it would be neat to have a sequel, if it's not in the cards, a remake would be the next best thing for the current fans awaiting something, it would be a boon for people like me who physically could not fully enjoy the game but liked the concept. It would be good for people who didn't even bother because the controls seemed too strange, and it would be a new experience to a lot of new players.
When it comes to 3DS games, it's likely one of the best picks for a remake.
