Though I played plenty of Kid Icarus as a kid, it was overshadowed by NES games with a bit more oomph: your Marios, your Zeldas, your Metroids. (Well, there was only one NES Metroid but you get my point.) But now, whenever I revisit it, I appreciate the inviting, distinctly Nintendo charm and Greek mythology vibes, a hot topic these days days thanks to Supergiant’s super-successful roguelike Hades (and its sequel). But Hades features overtly sexy gods and their sexy sex lives; Nintendo, ever the family-friendly company, may want something that capitalizes on the appeal of a world of gods and adventure, but that’s squarely aimed at the younger set. That makes this precisely the moment for a big Kid Icarus comeback.
With its cherubic hero Pit and its charming take on a Greek-inspired land of myth, a Kid Icarus film could walk that line of being entertaining to both kids and their parents, with plenty of charm and humor the little ones can enjoy, but also moments of genuine thrills and peril. I mean look, the Eggplant Wizards, who literally turn you into an eggplant, scared the hell out of me as a kid. Hmm. “Eggplant Wizards” may play a bit differently today. Ah well, that’s a problem for Nintendo to deal with. In any case, Kid Icarus would be fantastic source material for an upbeat, crowd pleasing, comedic adventure film for the whole family that leans into Greek mythology in a lighthearted way but still fires the imaginations of children with its sense of magic and possibility. If the Zelda movie is going for a more grounded approach—and it sounds like it is—then let Kid Icarus fill the more breezy, kid-friendly fantasy adventure niche in Nintendo’s cinematic offerings. And put out a great new Kid Icarus game alongside it, too!—Carolyn Petit
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