It was recently announced that the Nintendo Switch will be getting some sequels to 3DS games. When I saw this, I was pleasantly surprised, and couldn't help but think what other games from the 3DS era might be deserving of a follow-up on the Switch or the Switch 2. There is one game that seems like an easy candidate for a sequel, and I'm honestly a little surprised we haven't seen one yet given the positive reception to the first game.

I recently lamented what I saw as the loss of handheld consoles in the Switch 2 announcement. While the Switch is a handheld, I felt like it hadn't put out enough of the type of handheld games that I missed from Nintendo's handheld-only consoles, like the 3DS, DS, and Game Boy series. Well, I'm happy to it that I was wrong about the Switch not being a worthy successor in the handheld market now that the console will be getting some sequels to old 3DS games, and I know what I'd like to see next.

Kid Icarus: Uprising Is One Of The Best 3DS Games

Kid Icarus: Uprising Reinvented The Series

Kid Icarus: Uprising was a bit of a surprise hit for the 3DS when it launched in 2012. At the time, it had been 21 years since the previous game in the series, Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters, had been released on the Game Boy, and everyone was unsure what to expect out of the revival of the seemingly long-dead franchise. However, it was quickly apparent that Kid Icarus: Uprising was a major transformation from the old-school platformers it was based on, and that this change was a big improvement.

The gameplay of Kid Icarus: Uprising is split between flying sections that play similar to a rail shooter like Starfox, and grounded combat levels where players have free control over Pit. While I've never been crazy about rail shooters, and consequently didn't love the flying sections of this game, the ground combat surprised me with how fun it was. You can get a variety of different weapons for Pit to use, and you can switch between melee and ranged attacks while dodging around enemies in exciting, fast-paced battles.

I think one of the main reasons why older video game franchises die off is that they fail to deviate from their established formulas. Kid Icarus: Uprising made the best of the series' 21-year hiatus and came back with a fully re-invented style of game that took advantage of the updated hardware. Now that it's been 13 years since the previous Kid Icarus game, I think it's time that we had a follow-up on the Nintendo Switch.

A Kid Icarus: Uprising Sequel Would Be Perfect On Switch

Kid Icarus: Uprising's Mechanics Would Be Perfect For A Switch Upgrade

Although the 3DS was impressive compared to previous Nintendo handhelds, it still wasn't quite up to snuff with something like the Switch. While the Switch doesn't have the processing power of home consoles like the PS5 or Xbox Series X/S, games like The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild prove that the system can put out some impressively big games. Although I don't think a Kid Icarus: Uprising sequel should go full open-world like the newer Zelda games, I do think something on a larger scale like those would be perfect.

Keeping the same fast pace and basic mechanics as Kid Icarus: Uprising's existing ground-combat levels but updating them for the Switch could be a lot of fun. Imagine a Kid Icarus game with similarly tight controls to something like FromSoftware's Soulsborne series, without the punishing difficulty. I think creating a large interconnected map to explore, similar to a Dark Souls game, would be a good way to push Kid Icarus: Uprising's innovations further. This could also help get rid of some of the less-fun aspects of the previous game.

I may be biased here, but I think ditching the rail shooter sections altogether would be for the best. Giving Pit the ability to fly during normal exploration would create a new dynamic for this type of action game, and would allow levels to be designed in interesting ways to accommodate this extra mobility. If Pit's flight was incorporated into the normal gameplay, there would be no need for dedicated flying levels, and the experience could flow more smoothly while staying focused on the more engaging gameplay sections.

Getting a new Kid Icarus game that feels like a significant step forward from the last one would be a perfect follow-up to Kid Icarus: Uprising. It could cement the franchise as one that isn't afraid to reinvent itself in exciting ways, and would get more players excited about subsequent releases. Pit could even go from being seen as that angel guy in Super Smash Bros. to a Nintendo mainstay like Link or Samus.

Nintendo Switch Is Finally Embracing 3DS Cult Classics

Nintendo Switch Is Getting Sequels To Multiple 3DS Titles

The idea of a 3DS game like Kid Icarus: Uprising getting a sequel seems far more likely now that the Switch is getting multiple follow-ups to titles from the handheld console. It was recently announced that 3DS titles Tomodachi Life and Fantasy Life would be getting sequels on the Switch. Longer-running series like Professor Layton and Rhythm Heaven, whose latest entries were on the 3DS, are also getting sequels on the Nintendo Switch. It seems like it would be a good time for Kid Icarus to these ranks and also get a new game on the Switch.

In general, it's nice to see Nintendo releasing new entries in series like Rhythm Heaven and Professor Layton, which originated on handheld consoles, on the Switch. This has me hopeful that we could see something like a new Ace Attorney game that isn't a spin-off or just a compilation of existing titles. As a hybrid console, the Switch is uniquely positioned to either continue series from the handheld consoles, or turn them into something that feels more suited to a home console.

While I wouldn't say I regret getting a Nintendo Switch, it is easily the platform that I pay the least attention to. If I want a AAA game, I'll play it on PC or PlayStation, and it's been a while since Nintendo released an exclusive that I was really excited about. My hope is that Nintendo continues to revive old franchises like Kid Icarus for the Switch, and I'll have more of a reason to pick it back up again.