About this game
Kid Icarus (1986), released in Japan as 光神話 パルテナの鏡 (Palutena no Kagami), is a Famicom Disk System action-platformer developed by Nintendo R&D1 with Intelligent Systems. Set in Greek mythology, the game follows the angel Pit as he battles through underworld, overworld, and sky stages to rescue the goddess Palutena. Developed as a sister game to Metroid on the same engine, Kid Icarus blended vertical-scrolling platforming with light RPG progression elements, earning a devoted following that endured for decades before its revival.
Key Features
Kid Icarus is built around three distinct zone types: bottom-scrolling underworld stages, side-scrolling overworld stages, and forced-scrolling sky fortresses. Pit gains strength by collecting Hearts (currency), which are spent at shops and can be used to permanently upgrade health and attack power — an unusual RPG element for a 1986 Nintendo action game. Enemies can be defeated or avoided, but bosses at each zone's end require full combat. The Disk System version saves progress to disk; NES cartridge versions used a password system.
The Story Behind
Kid Icarus was developed simultaneously with Metroid at Nintendo R&D1 under Gunpei Yokoi — staff and code were shared between the two projects, which is why certain enemy designs (Komaytos) bear a striking resemblance to Metroids. Both games debuted on the Famicom Disk System in late 1986 and represent R&D1's exploration of atmospheric, non-linear game design. The game was finished just three days before its December 19 release date, with the team reportedly working through nights in an unheated building. Kid Icarus received no direct sequel until Kid Icarus: Uprising on Nintendo 3DS in 2012 — a 26-year gap that became legendary among fans.
Tricks & Tales
Komaytos — floating blob enemies in the underworld stages — are visually identical to Metroids, a direct result of the two games sharing development resources. The Eggplant Wizard enemy can curse Pit by turning his body into an eggplant, rendering him unable to attack; only a hospital room can cure the curse, creating one of the NES era's most memorable status effects. The original FDS release stores game saves on the disk itself; the password system used in the NES cartridge version encodes Pit's exact level, items, and health into a long alphanumeric string.
Collector's Guide
Region & Compatibility
The original 1986 Japanese version was a Famicom Disk System exclusive. Western NES versions used cartridges with a password system instead of disk saves. The FDS version is Japan-only and requires Famicom Disk System hardware.
Maintenance Tips
The FDS version saves to disk — the magnetic medium degrades over decades, so verify save functionality before relying on the disk for long play sessions. The FDS drive belt is the most common failure point in original hardware; replacement belts are available from retro gaming specialists. Store the disk card in its original case away from magnets and humidity.
Available in our shop
Hand-cleaned and tested units shipped worldwide from Toyohashi, Japan. HP direct purchase exclusive: we include a printed shop owner's note card with every order.
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