Kid Icarus - A Game That Doesn't Feel Real | NES & FDS (1986)

[@ZefTillDeath8878]

This game was so close to being a timeless classic, leading to many more games in the franchise, but some things about it were just too frustrating to deal with it for me. It's probably the music that keeps my interest in this game after all these years.

[@HPRshredder]

The music does have a special quality to it. Some haunting tracks.

[@Sakeenster]

“Awwww you poor guy. You really need to make some friends!” 😂 Palutena is such a savage

[@HPRshredder]

Some big Princess Bubblegum / Finn the Human vibes. I like Palutena more than PB though. PB is evil.

[@Sakeenster]

Muchhh agreed ☺️

[@Mister_Oddity]

that's why we love her lol

[@Rockstago]

- Just discovered your channel, I really like it. You really capture the feeling & experience of these old games, especially given the fact you didn't grow up playing these games like old people like me did. Keep these video's coming!

[@HPRshredder]

Happy that you found it and that you get it! There are certainly more on the way. Zelda II is the next project I'm working on, and I was just wrapping up the NES version (I started with the FDS version). Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it.

[@tracyndiyob162]

happy 10th anniversary kid icarus uprising!!! :3

[@tokugawa7]

Best retro video game channel on KZbin. Your reviews are excellent.

[@tokugawa7]

Wow! Watched to the very end and kinda got pumped you thanked me lol. Love your videos. Recently got a cart of castlevania that I'm playing (all thanks to you). Hope you've been well and take care ~

[@HPRshredder]

I’m glad you’re still enjoying them! I felt bad you just barely missed the Zelda Game & Watch giveaway. But I like to say thank you to the people who keep coming back to watch more. I’ve been thinking about playing some Castlevania this weekend as well! I really can’t wait to play Simon’s Quest for the first time next season.

[@909crime]

The mysterious-ness of this game is almost surreal, i love it so much

[@HPRshredder]

Me too! I like remembering my time with it

[@quadpad_music]

mysterious-nes *cues Sienfeld theme*

[@LezardDesu]

These videos are always so well put together and fun to watch. Thank you so much for continuing to create them.

[@HPRshredder]

Thanks for continuing to watch. 🙂

[@skins4thewin]

By the way, I JUST happened to discover you, & being a stickler for quality KZbinrs who know their stuff, I have to say that I LOVE your content so far! I have a LOT of experience with Retro video games, so I love when ppl review some of the more obscure stuff that I may not be too familiar with, and I like it when a KZbinr both has skill and is knowledgeable about what they speak, which is clearly the case for you. That said, you are one of the ones who absolutely deserves more subs! Hope you keep up the great work & get there one day!

[@lostconciousness4255]

Kid Icarus was my fav NES game...the music is always what brings me back to it

[@HPRshredder]

It is haunting. Over a month later and I still catch myself humming the underworld theme.

[@NesNyt]

If I ever forgot kid Icarus' music, I'm obviously dead but that made life complete knowing I've experienced it

[@RetroSho]

Bro, these videos are amazing. Keep going! I completely understand how you feel on the "inverted curve" when it comes to KZbin. 😂 Kid Icarus is such a damn bizzare game for real. So much going on and it's all over the place. It's still crazy to imagine kids of 5-10 really grinded at this and beat it to completion.

[@HPRshredder]

Thank you, man. I really appreciate that. It really is difficult when you put so much effort into something and you want it to succeed but you kind of know KZbin won’t be doing you any favors - so you consider promoting yourself, but then wonder if you’re somehow preventing KZbin from doing it by doing that 🙃 But it is a very strange game. And when looking up info I realized there was very little on KZbin at least that really went into all of the mechanics. Sometimes I wonder if I should skip going over all the items and enemies; but I chapter the videos so people can skip through if they want to so ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@GameDevJourney]

How am I only finding this channel now? It is awesome, keep up the amazing work. Easter egg of Kid Icarus in the New Super Mario Movie too...

[@mr.g4990]

In-depth reviews like this are the ones I look for the most. I've seen dozens of hasty reviews and those oh-so-fashionable ratings where the tuber clearly played 5 minutes at most and feels entitled to slap his judgement for all to swallow. Looking at you, **** *****. This is especially true for retro games, and very clear to see if you know them well. Happy to say it doesn't happen here. Thanks for the review and for the mention.

[@HPRshredder]

I definitely take my time with them & I'm glad you keep coming back! I'd like to get more content out faster, but I definitely never want to be "hasty" lol

[@CerealCommander]

30:02 "alot of fun in smash or to smash" - mario kart 64 introduction great review. this level of detail doesn't seem real...really in-depth and love the vid.

[@ZbigniewKusnierz]

this made me laugh out loud.

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

Finally! I even got an youtube notification this time!

[@BelerenJace]

Mas, I discovered your channel today. I always miss channels that talk about retro games in a passionate and personal way. Super awesome

[@HPRshredder]

Glad you enjoyed it! Got a new video cooking that will hopefully be ready by Monday.

[@BelerenJace]

@@HPRshredder I will definitely check it out and follow your channel ^_^

[@HPRshredder]

@@BelerenJace Thanks! I appreciate that!

[@Clery75019]

Reverse difficulty is, pretty weirdly, something satisfying. Once you start getting weapons and extended life, you feel like you earned it, that you achieved something. And ultimately in the end, you feel very powerful. It's pretty similar to what we can experience in Zelda games actually.

[@HPRshredder]

You know, that's pretty true. A lot of games are most difficult while you're still getting your bearings. And getting over the hump and realizing you're now at a point where you can beat the game usually feels good.

[@briefcasemanx]

Your descriptions perfectly match my own thoughts, in a way others have not been able to articulate, at least on the games I've played that I've seen you review. Please keep making these!!!

[@HPRshredder]

More on the way! New vid coming out sometime in September~

[@DannyDeVoid]

The original Black Box games were so simple yet fun! Compared to the later more complex titles (Mario 3, Ninja Gaiden etc) they almost feel like they are a gen behind, not that that's a bad thing it's just amazing how far developers have come on the same system. Awesome video btw, this one turned out nice 👏🏻

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

It is almost kind of unfair to say it is the same system, yes it is the same system, but they used all sort of extra chips and mappers on the cartridge to allow this leap in development.

[@HPRshredder]

It is such a crazy system in terms of advancements and diversity of gameplay & genres. It is such a blast to finally experience these games for the first time. I’m stoked to continue seeing how they improve. This is my last 1986 title I believe. It’s on to 1987 after this.

[@UMAMIMAMU]

Black box NES games are a *way* *of* *life* . (100% serious)

[@ladams391]

Honestly the first few generations of gaming hardware, especially during the 8-bit era, experienced what was (in my opinion, at least) a larger gap between the beginning and end of any given machine's retail lifecycle in what developers could achieve in the presentation and gameplay depth of their games with the same hardware. Don't get me wrong when I say this, I love the game and it's obviously a classic, but compare the fairly simple, plain (though certainly still appealing) visuals and straightforward on-rails gameplay (aside from warp zones, but that's another topic all its own) of Super Mario Bros to that of Super Mario Bros 3, with its large, complex sprites and levels, its well-animated and dynamic world map, and numerous power ups that can be stored and used at will, meaning an inherent degree of emergent, player-driven scenarios leading to methods of traversing stages not necessarily intended or predicted by the game's developers. The gap is massive, and that's a relatively tame example from only the NES library, not even getting into platforms like the Commodore 64 where clever game designers and programmers are to this day accomplishing things with the hardware that feel like they should be totally impossible when compared to software that released early on in the computer's life.

[@KristopherBaker]

ICARUS FIGHTS MEDUSA ANGELS - Never Forget

[@zerobyte802]

I love watching younger gamers who take the time to experience these old games more like I did / as they were intended. Obviously you can’t unsee the future of graphics and gameplay standards but your takes are very on point for such gaming experiences. I liked the fortresses more than you but that’s because they piqued my imagination. I saw them as mysterious places with some hidden history. I thought of them as captured places that were once beautiful and good. I always wondered which of the three treasures came from which fortress. I felt a bit ripped off that you didn’t get to use them until the last stage. Great video. Subbed!

[@HPRshredder]

I like looking back on the fortresses. They certainly had a very cool aesthetic. I think at the time I was just pretty stressed in them. They do feel packed full of mystery. The whole game feels that way, really. Thanks for the comments! I appreciate them. Glad you're enjoying the videos~

[@Zeffarian]

Wow, what an in-depth review! I've never seen anyone talk about the NES Kid Icarus in such detail. Great job. You've got yourself a new subscriber.

[@HPRshredder]

Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for checking it out 🙂

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

By the way, I don't know if you tried something different but the parts with the triniton monitor felt even better this time. They bring me back to the 80s every time. The background colors variations are very pretty too, you didn't start it with this video, but you did some sort of effect on the colors this time, some sort of oversaturation that bled/reflected over the table that was very pretty.

[@HPRshredder]

I’ve been trying to get some shots extra close up with the camera lens and also playing with different colors and getting just more footage of it in general. It’s a unique aspect of the channel I think, and I like to lean into it.

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

​@@HPRshredder it is a very special detail that really makes a lot of difference.

[@thatguy1860]

Top 3 nes along with the 2 zeldas. Never understood why it didn't get more attention.

[@StrokedGT]

Castlevania enters the chat.

[@Jolis_Parsec]

Probably because of the angelic theme alongside the time period it was released in as my parents were a bit hesitant to buy me the “angel game” for fear that the Devil might be waiting to tempt me into going to hell or something to that effect. 😂

[@baseballMMAgames]

Really enjoying these! Grew up with these games, playing them with my grandfather. Thanks for the nostalgia.

[@HPRshredder]

Glad you've been enjoying them!

[@TheCrawl]

What a weird, fascinating game! I'm glad you gave it the Retro Odyssey treatment, I knew so little about it before now, and that surprises me. I can see how this game would go on to influence or inform other adventure games and action RPGs, but I never hear it in those conversations. I gotta give it a try soon, seems right in line with the idiosyncratic NES/Famicom games like Zelda II and Castlevania II that I love.

[@HPRshredder]

Man, I cannot tell you how stoked I am to play both Zelda II and Final Fantasy II

[@CarlMakesVideos]

This game has a special place in my heart. I think it was a Nintendo Power highlight article that brought it to my attention when I was a kid, and convinced me to grab it from the Wii Shop Channel. The inverse difficulty curve you describe was evident to my brother and I (I think we called it the same thing, or maybe a "difficulty cliff") as soon as we managed to beat the first dungeon level. I never knew about the hidden skill point system; I thought those empty chambers were just like that for no real reason, maybe just to highlight how desolate the underworld was. Good to know.

[@thewingedavenger1007]

Great video and review! It's interesting to hear what effect these games have on people who have no nostalgia for them.

[@HPRshredder]

Thank you! I have a lot of fun going through these games and seeing how I actually feel about them for myself. I'm glad you got some enjoyment out of it.

[@Theycallmemusicole]

The booklets for the Famicon games are jewels. Love your channel and just found you. You got a new subscriber.

[@RetroZoltan]

Oddly enough I just had collections call me because I still owe hearts on my KI credit card.

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

I never buy on credit.

[@sgtbakr]

Thank you for showing one of my favorite games from when I was in grade school :) It was a pleasure to hear your take on it!

[@kumrogames]

Awesome review and break down of Kid Icarus! I got to play this when it originally came out and it broke so many molds back then and still to this day. The game has its own unique feel and truly stands on it's own!

[@HPRshredder]

It really does have a unique feeling to it. The music and graphics work together really nicely. It's strange, but not in a bad way.

[@danluke426]

These NES/FAM reviews are THE BEST on KZbin, I am so glad you did a Kid Icarus review because honestly there are aspects of this game in particular that I knew you would research and analyze. Thank you!! Neeeeeed more!!!!!!! 🤘😎👍

[@HPRshredder]

Thanks you, man, I appreciate that! And I'm glad you enjoyed this one. I wish we could get another Kid Icarus game that was more in the style of the old ones rather than a rail shooter.

[@ChohatsuSensei]

I like the fact you list “haggling” as a gameplay feature :P

[@HPRshredder]

It feels worth mentioning as it’s a unique feature I hadn’t seen in any other NES title ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

[@jamesgames4553]

Fantastic video, really captures the unique appeal of the game both today and relative to its peers in the 80s! Never really played the game until very recently despite having Arika’s 3D Classics version, and watching this video gave me a huge hankering to import a copy and play on FDS instead. What’s really interesting is the 3DS version, even the Japanese version set to original controls, isn’t all that accurate to the FDS version. Pit is a lot more responsive to control in that his turning circle is very fast. I was shocked! In the FDS original it’s like you’re moving on ice, gives the platforming and action an extra layer of difficulty.

[@HPRshredder]

Are you talking about the 3DS Classics version that has the updated 3D backgrounds? I've been considering picking that up before the eShop closes. But thanks for the comment!

[@jamesgames4553]

@@HPRshredder yep, that’s the one! It’s still well worth picking up as a curio, but I was surprised to find Arika’s conversion isn’t entirely accurate to the source.

[@CaptainMangles]

Another instant classic video. Seeing the best ending is one of the reasons why I'm working out, so I can get a smooch from a goddess babe.

[@letrickyboy6552]

Great video, I like that you play both the NES and Famicom version to see the difference. And yeah Kid icarus is quite unique and worth trying.

[@HPRshredder]

I’m glad you appreciate that! There are lots of differences in this one; but the core gameplay is basically the same. Most of the time I play both versions because I enjoy it and also with these games you don’t always get a feel for everything just by beating it once.

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

Only now I noticed I'm on the special thanks

[@HPRshredder]

Don’t worry, David! You’ve actually been in the past few special thanks. I know you’re a supporter. Those people didn’t give me money I just like to recognize the people who seem to get enjoyment out of these. 🙂

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

​@@HPRshredder ​I know, after I noticed, I got back and watched the older videos again. I became part of the history of the show

[@NesNyt]

If "KI" never was made indont think my life would never be the same. Its legendary and mesmerizing. You work your balls off escaping prison to go up to the overworld and as it gets easier as you rise up you earn your wings kick Medusas ass(eye) and marry palutena. Thank you Toru Osawa you the man

[@Stout936]

I should bump this game up in the queue of FDS games to try on my MiSTer. My earliest gaming was done on the Super Nintendo (born in 91), so I missed out on most of the NES library. I need to change that

[@TonyStarkCLC]

Kid Icarus is still one of My favorite games on the NES/FCDS. It's weird, mystical, cool, and takes from several genres. And it has an awesome OST courtesy of Hirokazu Tanaka, the NES METROID composer. And I love it's difficult, because i love a good challenge. Not for everyone, though. But I loved it. Unfortunately, once you unlock the best ending, there's little incentive to return to it, save for speedrunning.

[@SpittedDusk]

Love the fun and inventive enemy designs in this game!

[@HPRshredder]

The designs are really cool. And I should have mentioned it more in the video but Pit himself has a great sprite and is a lot of fun to control.

[@Goldnfoxx]

Kid Icarus is one of my favorite NES games. I played through it over a three day period during AEA (back when spring break was just the teachers needing to go to conferences and get away from we noisy-ass kids for a week) in what I guess was '88. The music is pure nostalgia, especially the Underworld theme. To be fair, we needed the Fun Club Magazine to know what the hell was going on in those treasure rooms at that age, and the Credit Card was the best item in the game if you didn't know there was a hidden points system. I do remember it clicking the the more enemies I killed, the likelier it was a power up guy would show up toward the end of the level (though, the choice to put one of those rooms right at the start of the first level has baffled me for decades now). I've always felt it's a damn shame that Mario, Zelda, and Metroid get all these sequels, while poor Pit just seems to languish for no reason. Personally, I liked the labyrinths. After three stages of samey gameplay-ESPECIALLY early on, after the Underworld-having a switch-up of of both gameplay style and purpose was a welcome change. Could've been even MORE welcome if the non-dungeon stages were timed or something (and something about them, I just feel like they SHOULD be timed). But I always felt a sense of relief when I hit them. Like, an I-just-got-through-with-finals-and-now-I've-got-all-summer kind of relief. ... ...the Eggplant Wizards can fuck all the way off, though. Their friendship with King Hippo means nothing to me.

[@WhiteInk47]

Dude, I’ve been binging your videos after being recommended the Metroid one, and I just thought to look at your views. Oh my god your channel is underrated. Your production and entertainment value with these videos is nuts, you deserve a lot more attention. I just assumed the views were fairly high given how good these are

[@HPRshredder]

Thank you! I appreciate it. I'm pretty set on continuing to make them so it's nice that a few of my videos have been getting some more impressions lately. Metroid in particular.

[@NesNyt]

Toru osawa made a masterpiece. And yes the eggplant carried over from ice climber. U need the mod chip for your disc drive that converts kanji to english

[@iamsheel]

‏‪2:39‬‏ I never played but I'm guessing you want to say it's like a game you dreamed of and you woke up and found it is real and does indeed exist.

[@ChohatsuSensei]

Funny enough, I was just coming from Malstrom’s site today, and he posted an email from you where you talk about playing Kid Icarus, though I think the timing could merely be a coincidence. He says the same you did, that the difficulty is backwards, the hardest levels are 1st, then it gets easier as you play. Also says this game is truly unique, and there really is no game like it, even today.

[@HPRshredder]

Thanks for tipping me off to that! I still don’t know who sent my Zelda video to him last year but it definitely helped to motivate me to keep going. I hadn’t heard of him before that but now I check his blog about every week - sometimes more. That is interesting we have similar takeaways! But I cannot agree on Castlevania. Maybe I’m still in the honeymoon phase but I could play that game right now and have an excellent time. I love the first Castlevania. But, I haven’t played any others yet, so I can’t say if they totally overshadow it ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ my hunch would be that it still has a lot of value though.

[@jssandler]

Kid Icarus remains one of my favorite NES games. The graphics and sound aesthetics and the somewhat linear simplicity is a plus for me. Sort of like a Japanese tea ceremony, it doesn't try to do too much. And yet there's a feeling of exploring an abandoned mythical Greek environment - certainly not to the level of detail that today's games could achieve, but in a comical 8-bit self contained world, it works at some subconscious level. or maybe it's just because I was a kid myself when I first played it.

[@NEStalgia1985]

Last level music is iconic. Instantly puts my mind to 1987

[@amirdejesus7077]

You and Jeremy parish are the best of the best. Love ya !!

[@cashuuu]

Great stuff as usual.

[@HPRshredder]

Glad you came back to check this out after Adventure Island! 🙂

[@cosmicfab7874]

Just finished the game I must say that i wasnt expecting to love playing it as much as i did, it is just awesome for me, definitely one if not the best NES Game i have ever played, it's very good

[@HPRshredder]

I'm glad you enjoyed it! I saw AVGN did a video on it recently and I've been wondering if it might inspire more people to give it a try.

[@cosmicfab7874]

@@HPRshredder he definitely played a part on it, but i already had interest in playing the 3 games in order, Glad i Started doing so

[@Lwilibert]

Great content pal! here watching from Argentina! hoping to someday see you tackle my all time favorites like Solbrain and Dragon Quest 4! Have you played Archon? found about this one just recently and it looks so interesting!

[@HPRshredder]

I haven’t heard of Solbrain or Archon until this comment but Dragon Quest 4 is on my list already. I’m actually playing through Dragon Quest 2 right now! Solbrain looks really interesting and I guess it’s based on the show? And Archnon seems like chess but with physical combat? I’ll have to look more into either! Glad you’re enjoying the videos! Thank you for the comment.

[@Lwilibert]

@@HPRshredder Solbrain i think is shatterhand in the US, and Archin is exactly like you said, and when the units collide from dark and lightside, you fight in an arena, i think it's pretty cool cause it´s asymetric, both sides have their own units!

[@AbduCola]

Such a well done and edited video and so few subs. This channel needs to blow up

[@songsan807]

Growing up the only few nes games we got were Super Mario 1, Tag Team wrestling, and Punch Out. My more richer cousin would come over once a month to bring a new game that his parents would buy for him. So one month he brough over Zelda 1. The next month Metroid. And the following month Kid Icarus. Every time he brings them over we would play the whole weekend to beat it. The first 2 levels of Kid Icarus is what makes many kids rage quit. After you master those 2 levels it is a very enjoyable game.

[@Shadyshooter]

Glad I found your channel. Keep this up and you will go far!

[@HPRshredder]

Glad you found it too! New stuff coming next month!

[@8bitbuilds]

Love your extensive breakdowns! I may eventually make a Pitt LEGO Sculpture myself on my channel! I subscribed, liked and commented!

[@bigdeagle1331]

Back in 1987 this game and “Metroid “ were so different! I fell In Love with above said game!

[@Soberliving]

hey man I have seen this game many times but never had much interest, but once again your video has inspired me to buy it and play it! Thanks again buddy

[@HPRshredder]

I hope you have fun! It's a really interesting game. If you can make it past the first three stages in tact, you can definitely beat it.

[@hawaiidkw1]

Hi. You got recommended to me from the TASVideos Kid Icarus video, which I decided to rewatch today for some reason. 🙂 Looking back on it, I really think that the biggest adjustment most of us had to make for this game was how completely, unapologetically *cute* it was. Seriously, the first time I heard the title music, it was as if someone had set off a cotton candy bomb in my brain. And it bombards you from beginning to end. The hero is an angel. The flunkies are little winged snakes and little frogs and little octopi. You get aided by a kindly god in a bedsheet and a nurse. Anyone who went from pretty much any other prominent NES platformer of the era (Super Mario Bros., Contra, Castlevania, Metroid, Ghosts 'n Goblins, Kid Niki) to this risked getting the bends. Regarding the inverse difficulty: Yes, it's true that the Underworld definitely qualifies as some of the most painful early levels in an NES game (although there's plenty of company... there's a reason it's called "Nintendo Hard", after all). But the later stages have their own massive headaches, such has the Plutons, who can literally erase hours of progress in an instant. And I *never* stopped sweating the Eggplant Wizards. They got so bad for me that I learned to _intentionally take damage_ just to avoid the wrath of the eggplants. So yeah, don't anyone ever tell me this "didn't feel real". The struggles I went through, the finagling with Game Genie codes (ha!) just to get some semblance of playability, oh yes, my friends, they were _all too_ real. It says something that I didn't consider this any fun at all until I manage to get an emulator with no damage _and_ rewind (because the former regrettably offers no protection against those ########## Plutons).

[@HPRshredder]

When I say it "didn't feel real" I mean it occupies an odd space in gaming that doesn't feel directly comparable to any other game I've played. It feels both ahead of its time and out of time. It just has a very unique vibe to it. I'm not saying it wasn't challenging lol. Game was super hard. And yeah, the Plutons are scary. I got hit by them twice.

[@ptolemy3257]

Great video, you got a new sub

[@HPRshredder]

Thanks for commenting -- I'm glad you found the video and liked it!

[@Exmotable]

of course the day my internet goes out is the day this finally releases AAAAA but it's all good, it was worth the wait. kid icarus is one of those old famicom/nes games i wanna play through before i leave this mortal coil, and your coverage of the game definitely reinforced that lol. the stars wars-esque text scrawl of the story was pretty great, especially when it started used casual vernacular or whatever, i'm easily amused or something but that had me laughin it up. but yeah, good shit man. glad to see the video got to see the light of day, despite the unfortunate delays you had to deal with.

[@HPRshredder]

I’m glad you got the “joke” of just writing out whatever I was saying in the story segment lol. I’m glad you enjoyed it! I look forward to whenever you end up posting your next video. 🙂

[@Exmotable]

@@HPRshredder thanks man i appreciate the support! it probably won't be much longer, actually. the dumb fucker is finally uploaded, I'm just wanting to subtitle it before i make it live. it's almost an hour long and i'm really not proud of it, but i'm glad i finally got it done lol.

[@uffevonlauterbach]

Kid Icarus is definitely a strange game, and I really like it. It was the one game I really enjoyed playing when I was a kid. I don't know if I ever beat the game until later on when I was older, though. I can't remember. But I love this game.

[@chaosbringer666]

Your reviews are amazing and you have a relaxing voice

[@user-is4jf8yr4z]

Another hidden gem channel. 🙂👌

[@rustyshackelford3377]

Thank you for the original Japanese commercials for these games. They are always so so good.

[@ZbigniewKusnierz]

Did not expect to see DS2 DLC in this video! I don't really have much experience with the game but I have to agree about how this feels like it contains the voice of one person - a single person driving the vision of the game. I'm actually surprised how many systems the game has, it's a bit overwhelming to taking it all in. Definitely not something I would have expected from a first party Nintendo game on the NES.

[@HPRshredder]

I’m one of those people who really liked Dark Souls II + SotFS. Freeing the Sentinels just reminded me so much of those moments in the third part of the DLC. And you’re right that all the systems do make it seem a bit overwhelming. It’s why the first time just trying it out I felt like I was playing it wrong - and I kind of was!

[@ZbigniewKusnierz]

@@HPRshredder if you haven’t played the base DS2, I recommend it over SOTFS. I played the original release right before Elden Ring released and really found the enemy placement to be better paced.

[@HPRshredder]

@@ZbigniewKusnierz I actually played Dark Souls II on release as well! I would agree with you that some of the enemies had better placements. The one that stands out in my memory the most is the Heide Knight placement in the Forest of Fallen Giants. I played through the first version of the game and used a Mage character buffing the Moonlight Greatsword with Crystal Magic Weapon when that was still allowed. I didn’t end up getting the DLC until I re-bought the game on my old Xbox One though. I had played the base game on Xbox 360. Talking about this honestly has me wanting to play the game again. 🤔

[@TheUnapologeticGeek]

I remember when I first played this game. I found it so frustratingly obtuse and absurdly hard in the opening levels that I almost gave up on it, but when I got the hang of things and made it to the end, I felt like I was turning into a god! It’s a shame it never took off as a franchise like Metroid or Zelda.

[@HPRshredder]

It feels a lot different than most of the other Nintendo published titles -- that is for sure. It took me a while to get the hang of things, too. But once it clicks it is a satisfying game to overcome.

[@SiliconSlyWolf]

This was one of the games that I felt determined as a kid to one day beat when I was older. Finally did one day. The big snag I recall was the third dungeon, the fact that the hospital placement vs. where the boss was and some annoying eggplant men that were more difficult to dodge.

[@harriettubman2717]

What is that you have on top of the NES toploader at the beginning and end of the video?

[@HPRshredder]

It’s actually the AV Famicom which looks like the toploader but without the bump by the cartridge slot. The reason I clarify is that what you see on top is the RAM adapter for the Famicom Disk System which doesn’t fit into the toploader but does fit the AV Famicom because it’s flush and bumpless. It’s basically the way you connect the FDS to the Famicom.

[@harriettubman2717]

@@HPRshredder That explains why the console was flat on top like that. Thanks for clarifying, I'm new to your channel and really enjoying your videos!

[@HPRshredder]

Thanks for the comment and glad you’re enjoying! Got a new one just around the corner. Should be done in 1-2 weeks.

[@ImNess_Earthbound]

This game is so underrated glad the franchise lives on in smash bros

[@TonyTheTGR]

I think a Kid Icarus Roguelite would totally pop.

[@realsquirrelhours565]

Kid Icarus is certainly a bizarre game and one I've meant to go back to because I did have a fun time playing it once I "got" the game. It was a much more difficult experience picking this game up rather than Metroid or Zelda and it's really a shame that the game has that backwards curve because the opening is just so offputting. It really masks the potential the game has going for it. I have to agree that the music and the backgrounds in this game are gorgeous in that primitive, early NES sort of way, which was a great reward to forcing through the underworld stages. The other thing that I wasn't too big on about this game were the dungeons because of the eggplant wizards. Having to constantly worry about them while working through what're already sprawling, difficult dungeons was not exactly a fun experience, but once you know the dungeons, you know them well. It's definitely a game you have to give time rather than just putting it off immediately because there are awesome concepts laden through out, but the execution, especially early on, just doesn't do them justice. I haven't really played a game like it before or since and it's still the game I have ever played.

[@HPRshredder]

Yes, I fully agree about the Fortress stages. I liked aspects of them as you did, but as a whole I found them less fun than the regular platforming stages. The Eggplant Wizards definitely cause anxiety, but it’s such a hilarious enemy and idea it makes it easier to accept. Idk what it is about eggplants and NES games. Adventure Island. Ice Climber. And now Kid Icarus. Why? And why are they typically bad guys? 🤨

[@hawaiidkw1]

Adventure Island was made by Hudson Soft, so it's not strictly a Nintendo thing. Probably just cultural.

[@LionKimbro]

I have strong memories of loving the game, and I can't remember WHY I loved the game so much. On the surface, it doesn't look like it should be fun. And yet, it really really was. (Contrast: 聖剣伝説2, which sticks with me forever, and I play it through once at least every 2-3 years. I am now 47 years old.)

[@SDLearmonth]

Excellent video, production values, comfy factor high as always. Kid Icarus is a pretty odd game in Nintendo's history, a bit of a black sheep. There's also the Gameboy sequel which wasn't released in Japan, even more baffling to me. 🍆

[@cmaej28]

Kid Icarus is one of the few NES games I've beaten as a kid, in spite of my 4-year-old brain never understanding the hidden mechanics. I made it to Ganon in Legend of Zelda. I was a completionist and already had the meat for the Grumble, Grumble guy and instantly figured out what he needed. However, I did not know about the silver arrows, and kept going to Ganon's room trying to defeat him with just my sword. In Metroid, I was just stuck. I found and defeated Kraid, but never found Ridley. I knew he existed because I found the room to Tourian. EDIT: Forgot to mention Castlevania. I guess my brain blocked it out because he traumatized me so bad. Closest I got to defeating the Grim Reaper was killing him, and a stray scythe projectile killed me. The victory ball fell on Simon's corpse. Again, my 4-year-old brain thought the holy water was a crappy sub weapon. It just goes on the floor.

[@SamusGunship]

Great video. I do believe that you gave Kid Icarus a quite thorough effort to understand it. You say at the end, that sadly you did not connect with it, and I can understand that even though you did give it it's due effort to understand the game. You seem to understand it pretty well. I, for one, highly connect with Kid Icarus. It is one of my favorite video games ever, and certainly in my top 10 favorite NES games. It is absolutely a very unique and unusual game- there is no video game in existence that is anything like it. You mention that inverse difficulty curve. Kid Icarus is the most striking example of that, but almost all adventure NES games developed by Nintendo had such a difficulty curve if you think about it. Metroid started out hardest, and gets easier as you progress. The Legend of Zelda starts pretty hard and gets easier as you progress. Zelda II starts out hardest and gets easier as you progress. I absolutely love and agree with this strange difficulty curve in such games, and it is mostly Nintendo that would makes games with that type of curve. Though, there are some NES games by other developers such as Capcom and Konami that also have that interesting difficulty curve, particularly in adventure games where you can build up your character. Anyway, good review, as usual. I think you give each of these classic NES games their due. Based on your tastes, I actually think that you could eventually connect with Kid Icarus. I can report that it is very possible to love that game even more than you seem to right now. I actually love Kid Icarus even more than I did when I was a kid, because it deserves it. I'm waiting to see you give "Blaster Master" your level of attention and focus.

[@HPRshredder]

I’m glad you have been enjoying the videos! I appreciate the effort you put into your comments. I think you might like my video on Hinotori if you haven’t checked that one out yet. Other than that, Kid Icarus ages pretty well in the mind. When I ranked it in the Retro Odyssey Recap video I placed it solidly in “A” Tier.

[@SamusGunship]

@@HPRshredder I haven't checked out your Hinotori video yet, but I will. I've never heard of that game before. But I have been watching all your other NES game videos, and I think you are right on the money with your opinion of every single one of them. I'm looking forward to more of them. In order to have a solid proper opinion on any of these games, one has to dive quite deep, as you have been doing.

[@Taldorin]

I wonder how your opinion will change with time, for me it felt like a more refined game from metroids framework, less floaty. Just a bit short and sweet. I also did not know you had to kill 50 enemies to advance at the end or about the background score despite playing a lot of this!

[@HPRshredder]

My opinion will inevitably change the more games I play. I do think it’s interesting you find it more polished than Metroid. I feel like I’ve mostly heard the opposite. The movement and jumping are a little more controlled in this game though since in Metroid you have two different styles of jumps between the standing and running and they have different physics. So in-air you have more forgiving adjustments in Kid Icarus. Hmmm 🤔 I’m excited to do the second recap where I place all these games in the tier list. It’s going to be a lot harder.

[@Taldorin]

@@HPRshredder to explain myself yeah Metroid you had two kinds of jumps but it felt a lot more floaty and a little slidey like there was just a little ice on everything. I felt like i had a bit more control in kid icarus

[@Ar021]

This game needs the Super Metroid treatment

[@marcievania]

great video. i do wish you'd go over the updated releases some of these games get though. i understand getting the authentic retro experience is kinda the point, but this game has a 3DS port with some changes that would've been interesting for you to go over. i actually grew up playing that one

[@marcievania]

kinda the same for metroid but zero mission is like a whole new game so that one's fine to skip over. still would've been cool to hear about in the video though

[@HPRshredder]

I was actually talking about the 3D Classics version of Kid Icarus in the comments with someone else a few days ago. I think I'm going to pick it up because the backgrounds look so pretty. Only a few days left before the eShop closes RIP.

[@marcievania]

it's really cool. also has 3D which i know most people don't care for but i think it gives 2D sprites a lot of additional visual appeal, i've never played shovel knight without it liking the videos btw, i first found you a few days ago by being the only zoomer that likes metroid 1. hope they catch more eyes soon. maybe a video where you do take a quick look at a bunch of updated ports or remakes of games you've already covered would be neat 🧐

[@HPRshredder]

Yeah, I also always max out the 3D. I love the 3D effect. I have the Kirby game for NES on the 3DS and it does look incredibly sharp. I’m glad you’re enjoying these!

[@Unquestionable]

This was a game I would rent pretty often despite being awful at it, using the passwords in Nintendo Power to check out the various stages, very much didn't understand the mechanics. It was one of those titles that was pushed in other media (like comics and the Captain N cartoon) so it felt kind of like a core Nintendo property despite only getting one semi-follow up until 2012. Speaking of which loved the Gameboy version and this girl I had a crush on had it so gave me lots of excuses to talk to her. When the 3DS game hit I have to say it was a wonderful follow up and probably one of the best titles of that generation, even with the awkward controls.

[@HPRshredder]

I bought Uprising day 1. As a left-handed person - it was pretty unplayable for me. I ended up making it pretty far despite that, though. I regret not getting the 3D classics version of the original game. I love the 3D effect on the 3DS. I'd love to see a new entry someday. Preferably in the older style, but updated.

[@Unquestionable]

@@HPRshredder I did make sure to pick up that 3D classics version (and the Gameboy VC title) and still play it every so often, very much the high light of the 3D classics in my opinion.

[@DragoonMS]

"She's also a lot of fun in Smash...or *TO* Smash." I see what you did there...and I like it!! I never bothered playing the original Kid Icarus...or the Gameboy offering. Haven't had a chance to get into the 3DS offering, either. Outside of the Captain N cartoon & comics, I have little to no connection to Kid Icarus. (Wish they would've had Palutena in Captain N, gimme some reason to care...)

[@theholyghost]

This game was my jam back in the day.

[@xenos_n.]

I'd love to see you do a video on Zillion for the Sega Master System. It's such a an excellent underrated game that I think you would appreciate.

[@HPRshredder]

I'll check it out! I do plan to get into the SMS eventually.

[@MrCalverino]

Do you make lofi tracks? I've heard that piano sample at the beginning of the video on a few low fi tapes

[@HPRshredder]

I do not -- but the opening track is from Outmind. It's no longer on his bandcamp, but it is on his channel which you can find in the recommended channels section on my own channel page!

[@MrCalverino]

@@HPRshredder cool and dope ch btw 🥇

[@Jasiuuu]

Rewatchin this gem again lol

[@HPRshredder]

I appreciate it! Hope it was still good lol

[@NesNyt]

4 hours to beat. I speedun in in 36 minutes

[@ssjackson9349]

Great vid!

[@itsasecrettoeverybody]

Another very good and in deep review, you really grind those games like a machine before write those videos. XD I agree it is a very beautiful game, with cool concepts but kind hard to create a connection with it, Nintendo should give it a try and make a new game that explore those ideas better. With zelda going open world there is a void for a more traditional linear adventure game, a new reinterpretation of kid icarus could fit this void in a more action oriented way than the traditional zelda.

[@HPRshredder]

Honestly that’s a great point. With Zelda going back to its roots there is a hole for linear action adventure. Kid Icarus could fill that void perfectly. I wonder if they would feel like they had to do another game like Uprising or if they could let that go in favor of something more like the first two games.

[@TANKTREAD]

What about Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters for the GameBoy?

[@ecrtorres]

Kid Icarus is one of my favorite NES games of all time, loved to play that game as a kid. And I think it's a damn shame Nintendo doesn't show or have any interest in making new Kid Icarus games. Keeping the franchise on games like Smash Bros. is fine I guess, but I couldn't give less crap about Smash Bros, I would've love to see new Kid Icarus platform game on Switch (Or remaster Uprising, which was kind of a cool game)..

[@HPRshredder]

I hope to see a new one someday as well, and specifically a platformer rather than a followup to Uprising. If it gets a new entry though, it'll probably be Uprising 2

[@shane1489]

Ny Mom, Sister, and I would speed run this game back in 1989ish. I played it on emulator last year and struggled to get to the first dungeon.😂

[@derrickbeaubearic4100]

Bravo! 👏

[@timcheek84]

I really like how you play on original hardware... In my mind, there's something more "authentic" about playing games on the Famicom vs. the NES. Maybe this is because of localization and translations, but I love the art in the manuals, and just seeing how the games were meant to be played. Do you speak/read Japanese?

[@HPRshredder]

I can read hiragana and katakana, and some kanji. I have about three semesters of Japanese under my belt, and I still practice, but I don't really "know" the language. I only know the basics and I have a very limited vocabulary. Most of these games are perfectly fine to play without understanding any at all though. Only RPGs really require a deeper understanding of it.

[@NESADDICT]

This is a game I really want to beat eventually

[@jm505]

The Sacred Bow feels good but is actually quite a bummer in world 2, as the long range allows you to kill enemies that you otherwise couldn’t reach, leaving their hearts to expire (slowly) out if range without being obtainable. So I always got weapon that last.

[@HPRshredder]

That’s a pretty excellent point about the range hurting you in some ways.

[@TonyTheTGR]

Also, you REALLY need to play La Mulana 1 + 2 if you haven't. :D

[@Telecritter78]

Wow, Japan had *way* better NES commercials than we did.

[@SaanMigwell]

The US version also has a performance metric. If you don't score enough points prior to the upgrade man, he won't have the upgrade for you.

[@dreamawake2670]

Need a new version of this AAA style

[@andresortiz9558]

I've always wanted to get into Kid Icarus, but I never got Uprising and I couldn't get into the NES version.

[@HPRshredder]

There’s always Smash ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ but these videos also aim to supplement the experience to an extent for those interested. It goes over all the mechanics and stages and content. I wanted to get into uprising but as a left-handed individual it wasn’t quite comfortable. The game is gorgeous though.

[@andresortiz9558]

@@HPRshredder I feel you on the left handed struggle