HAVING been on sale for almost one year now, the Nintendo 3DS’ library of games is growing fast. So far we’ve seen the big Nintendo crowd-pleasers, Mario Kart, Legend of Zeldaand Star Fox, but there are some fresh experiences on the way, too. Introducing Kid Icarus: Uprising, a brand new action adventure that hopes to appeal to a wide audience. The 3DS exclusive consists of air- based on-rails shooter sections, ala the aforementioned Star Foxgames, and third-person ground-based missions. And although it’s the follow-up to an ‘80s NES platformer and its ‘90s Game Boy sequel, Nintendo is billing it as ‘the biggest new 3DS franchise’. “With impressive 3D graphics, landscapes and beautiful manga- inspired character design, Kid Icarus is a definite must-have for any existing and new 3DS owner,” Nintendo’s UK product manager Danielle Robinson tells MCV. “As one of our triple-A titles for 2012, it is receiving full marketing support across all media streams and is a welcome addition to the 3DS software library, giving the platform diversity and making it something for everyone.”
CUSTOM CONTENT Uprising’s story begins with the return of the dark goddess Medusa. Protagonist Pit, with the help of goddess of light Palutena, must fight the forces of darkness by air and by land.
Gamers can use a wide variety of weapons in nine categories, from bows to claws, offering plenty of replay value. There are also vehicles to man including the Exo Tank, which can boost over jumps and ram enemies with its horn. The game also features a ‘Fiend’s Cauldron’ mode, which lets players change the intensity level for each chapter. As this level increases, players will be able to earn more in- game hearts which can be exchanged for powerful new weapons. If the gamer is defeated during the chapter, some hearts will be lost. With its unique accessory(see ‘Complete Control’), broad range of content, big marketing plan and six- player multiplayer, Kid Icarusis ready to make itself one of the first big new 3DS games of 2012.
42 March 16th 2012
Kid Icarus: Uprising
Nintendo’s retro classic gets an action-packed 3DS game. Dominic Sacco runs through its key features