I think it's bit in between and then something I'm worried about.
Now, it's great to see KI surge so high after it's inclusion in Brawl, especially to it's long-time fans since the 2 first games. But I think I've noticed something bit worrisome with all the saturation of love given to this series in SSB4 after what Uprising had established to it.
Much like SmashShadow said, Kid Icarus has received quite a lot of content during representation, enough to sometimes actually edging in to overshadow the Big N's flagship franchise Mario, (in case of Smash Run).
I can only think this is due biasment towards Sakurai's last work- but looking now how apparent it has now which has made Kid Icarus to have what I basically see as complete center spotlight of interest enforced by the developer team, especially considering that before 2010, KI was just one of those cult classic franchises that was finally remembered. (Kinda like what Little Mac's doing now.)
However, I see this can become pretty detrimental, perhaps even destructive to the series' development.
According to the
E3 interview with Sakurai, Uprising started as a 3D shooter project that used progression from air fights to land fights. It was looked to have a franchise going with it, but a good match had to be found. At one point, Star Fox was considered, but KI proved more suitable due Pit being more flexible to the gameplay due not being restricted on an aircraft. In anycase, KI getting a new game was a gradual progress.
Going on, after all the crazy hype and promotion Uprising received, it'd be natural that people would want to see the series get a sequel or a new game, definitely not short of what Uprising brought (because it'd be easily slammed as an inferior game).
But Sakurai had already stated to not work on a sequel to Uprising.
Right now, Nintendo's first party teams have to yet show any interest on developing a new KI since 1992. They perhaps could with what Uprising's hype and exposure had done, but I'm 100% sure it'll never reach the same reception as Uprising has, especially if we get something along the lines of a "standard" Kid Icarus-game. IMO Uprising set so many tropes to the series which were quite perfect by Sakurai and his team, yet might be difficult to bring on the next games without either never reaching the same quality, or being excluded as a whole. However, I still see KI not easily getting a new game developed for a while - and if it does, it'll never be hitting the "OOT" that is Uprising.
With SSB4 basically putting Kid Icarus to the center of it due it being the setting of latest work Sakurai did, it's going to put too much pressure to the series itself, along with overshadowing needlessly other franchises in Smash. Since Smash has such huge following, it's quite big deal - Kid Icarus is now such golden-coated elephant on the room with so much love it's getting, that it's no wonder it might easily created one of the more active fanbases compared to others in Smash-fandom and beyond.
Lastly, how much can we have Kid Icarus before we forget completely what it used to be? It's now looking quite likely that might soon fall to the dormancy that is "beloved franchise never getting love for years to come with fanbases whining" ala F-Zero or so worth - especially due how Nintendo's seemingly ignoring it. (It took Sakurai of all people to make new KI).
So yeah. I think making Kid Icarus getting so much biased representation from Sakurai due Uprising was a really, really bad choice- I'm now afraid it's future will be looking bleak due being given so much sparkles to work along with a game that is difficult to top. It's making me so sad too, as I love this series a lot for what it is, and how far it has come.
Like, I bet it's gonna feel weird and empty to most of it's fans (old and new) in later years if it'll get ignored by Nintendo, combined with the pressure from Uprising's critical acclaim.
