Classic Games Database
ClassicGames DB

Kid Icarus

Review
Also known as
3D Classics: Kid Icarus Kid Icarus: Angel Land Story Paltena no Kagami 光神話 パルテナの鏡

This action platformer challenges you to ascend the Angel Land tower, mastering vertical combat and precise jumps.

Kid Icarus was originally released in Japan for the Famicom Disk System in 1986, but the NES cartridge version was first released in North America in 1987.

About Kid Icarus

Kid Icarus is a platform game set in Angel Land, where the player controls the angel Pit. His objective is to defeat the monster Medusa, who has kidnapped Princess Palutena and threatens the land. This quest involves ascending through vertically oriented levels, from caverns to a sky palace.

Gameplay centers on navigating these upward-scrolling stages, where falling off the bottom screen results in death. Pit attacks with a bow that can fire forward or upward, defeating enemies who drop hearts. These hearts function as currency for in-game shops.

Levels contain doors leading to various chambers. These rooms can present challenges like enemy encounters, offer services like health restoration, or provide opportunities to obtain items. Purchasable or findable items include a more powerful bow, a protective shield, a torch for dark areas, and a mallet used to free petrified warriors who aid in boss fights.

Character progression is handled through an experience system. Defeating enemies grants experience, leading to higher levels which increase Pit's maximum health. Some chambers also offer tests or rewards that can permanently strengthen his attacks.

The journey is challenging, with constant enemy attacks. Pit is equipped with various aids for his mission, including his bow, special feathers, and restorative Water of Life.

Kid Icarus Screenshots

10 images
Title Screen
Title screen (Famicom Disk System)
The game management screen (Famicom Disk System)
Hey, I got an arrow and you don't!
Pandora
Harpies!!!
Crosses in a Nintendo game!
If you get spotted by the reaper, he (or is it a she?) goes crazy, and calls for the reapettes. And they are more dangerous than they look.
Making a difficult jump in this unforgiving game. Even though you have wings, you can't actually fly (with a few exceptions). If you fall, you have to start over from the beginning of the level.
The first three levels takes place in the Underworld, deep beneath the surface of Angel-land.