More potential to discover

With the success of Castlevania and the Cyberpunk Edgerunners anime series, it is clear that game anime adaptations are worth investing in. They can heighten a franchise’s? standing among the mass audience and attract new fans to each game.

Castlevania and Cyberpunk Edgerunners elevated the worlds they were based on. They had unique art styles, engaging characters, and intriguing storylines that should inspire any game anime adaptation. Here are a fe??w we’d love to see follow in that same pattern.

Bloodborne

[caption id="attachment_369924" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via PlayStation[/caption]

The best live-action and anime adaptations take the source material and run with it. That’s what a studio should do with Bloodborne. It can take the gorgeous gothic world of Yharnam and layer it with a mysterious story loosely based on the game’s lore. It would be creepy, have a gripping art style, and be a huge win for Sony. Maybe it would even lead to a Bloodborne sequel at some point in the future.

Final Fantasy X

[caption id="attachment_369925" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Square Enix[/caption]

Final Fantasy XV saw a promotional anime mini-series based on the lead protagonists�friendship. However, we haven’t received a full-on anime series based on any of the franchise’s entries. That is absolutely bizarre, considering the grand source material. Final Fantasy X has one of the strongest narratives that a game anime adaptation could ask for. Each character has a great story arc, and the ro?mance between Tidu??s and Yuna would tantalize viewers until the very end.

Fire Emblem: Three Houses

[caption id="attachment_369926" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Fire Emblem: Three Houses would make a compelling anime series you’d want to catch every week. Each character is well-written, and there’s a compelling plot about three factions forged between former friends. There could be intense fight scenes that play out on the battlefield, making every spell and swing of the sword look stunning in animated form. A studio could also add additional scenes that bring more nuance to the original game’s plot. There’s a lot of potential for an anime based on a game as dramatic as Fire Emblem: Three Houses.

Kid Icarus

[caption id="attachment_370327" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Kid Icarus: Uprising is a thrill, despite its terrible control scheme on the 3DS. Part of what made the game’s fans toughen out the awkward controls is the script. The banter between Pit and Palutena is hilarious and would be perfect for a comedy. The action would be spectacular as Pit soars across the sky and shoots down foes. There were a few anime shorts to promote Kid Icarus: Uprising, but it would be outstanding to get a full show.

Kingdom Hearts

[caption id="attachment_370377" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Square Enix & Disney[/caption]

Even the most dedicated of fans would admit that the Kingdom Hearts lore is hard to follow. However, an anime based on the series could help with that. Rather than a full game, an anime recapping the events of the mobile games Unchained X, Union X, and Dark Road would be fantastic. The dramatic story of the Foretellers and other influential characters from those games is essential for future Kingdom Hearts games, as they’re positioned to be the next antagonists of the series. Rather than watching cutscenes from the now-defunct mobile game, it would be ?great to get an anime retelling to keep mainstream fans informed.

The Legend of Zelda

[caption id="attachment_370384" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

The Legend of Zelda is begging for an anime. You have engrossing characters, the gorgeous land of Hyrule, and a mighty antagonist for the hero to defeat. Breath of the Wild specifically would be fantastic for a game anime adaptation. You have the?? dra??matic story of keeping Hyrule safe from Ganondorf, the growing relationship between Link and Zelda, and mighty battles against the likes of Master Khoga and the Divine Beast encounters.

Metal Gear Solid

[caption id="attachment_370396" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Konami[/caption]

One of the greatest game series in the eyes of many is Metal Gear Solid. However, it is so difficult to get into nowadays. Almost every game in the series isn’t available natively on the PS4 and PS5. Also, the older titles on the PS1 and PS2 have awkward controls by modern standards. An anime series based on the espionage titles would be amazing, especially with how the narrative has been praised over the years. It would catch up potential fans who missed the Metal Gear Solid franchise in its prime and ideal??ly prepare th??em for a remake.

Metroid

[caption id="attachment_370379" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

The Metroid series is rich in lore and stunning sci-fi world design. It would lend itself to some beautiful animated scenes and grandiose battle scenes with Ridley and other aliens across the galaxy. With Metroid Prime 4 around the corner, an anime based on this cult-favorite series could bring Samus Aran into the limelight. If the Netflix adaptation of The Witcher could make Geralt a household name, it could work for Metroid.

A new Street Fighter anime

[caption id="attachment_370404" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Capcom[/caption]

With today’s animation styles and an energetic sequel on the horizon, a new Street Fighter anime would be perfect. It could give the characters more depth and get folks invested in the battles of Street Fighter 6. Additionally, the fight scenes would look spectacular and take inspiration from the splash effects from the latest game. Ideally, this anime could give us more backstory on the events of Street Fighter 6.

Xenoblade Chronicles

[caption id="attachment_370409" align="alignnone" width="1200"] Image via Nintendo[/caption]

Another Nintendo franchise that’s waiting for a game anime adaptation is Xenoblade Chronicles. Imagine seeing the stunning Gaur Plains brought to life as Shulk and the gang stroll around the environment. Furthermore, the engrossing story would capture anime fans who have never given the series a chance. The music could be adapted beautifully too. To quote Shulk, “I’m really feelin�it!�/p>

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Palutena!

Kid Icarus: Uprising is one of the most fun games I've ever played. Sure it was unwieldy, especially with the default control scheme, but it was ambitious as hell and basically a playable Saturday morning cartoon. It was worth it. Its director and Smash boss Masahiro Sakurai should be proud. The thing is, he co?nsider??s it to be so ambitious that it's probably not ever going to happen again.

Speaking to Edge magazine, Sakurai once again espouses that creating the game pushed both his team and the 3DS hardware to its limit,?? noting that it was "close to becoming the most difficult project in [his] entire career." He muses that the team couldn't push the 3DS as far as they wanted at the start because it started off early into the lifecycle of the system, and that he "only found out" that the Circle Pad Pro was going to be a thing when Nin??tendo announced it to all of us. Killer!

Sakurai says that although folks want a modern port (on Switch), he "doesn't think this will be possible." Welp! Good thing my 3DS copy is? still safe and sound? and I have multiple 3DS units to play it with just in case one breaks down one day. That's how deep I think when it comes to preserving this game.

Kid Icarus [Edge via Nintendo Everything]

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Love this game

The one or two times a year I get to talk about Kid Icarus: Uprising is usually when I get to tell you that it's criminally underrated. So I'll do it again: this game rocks. Chide??d at launch because of the hand-cramps it gave, I was able to experience it with and without a Circle Pad Pro attachment and my big hands adjusted.

Thankfully Nintendo is looking out for the little guy, constantly putting in references in Super Smash Bros., like this recent AR card tie-in. After six years since the launch of Uprising Nintendo tweeted out a new AR card, which is based on a victory pose in Smash Ultimate. If you scan it, it'll give you a quick rundown of the end of the gam??e and the pose itself.

Go ??ahead, try it! You can scan it directly from the gallery below.

3DS Palutena [Twitter] Thanks Inquisitive Ravenclaw!

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Yes, the folks in Japan really got a lot of Kid Icarus: Uprising soundtrack love. Not only did Club Nintendo put out a single-disc 'best of' compilation CD, but Sleigh Bells, the record label of Yasunori Mitsuda, is releasing a complete 3-disc collection of music from the game.

The problem? Sleigh Bells doesn't ship outside of Japan, and neither does Amazon Japan. Fortunately CD Japan has you covered and is taking special orders for the set, but of course ?this comes at a premium. The collection before shipping runs about $45 USD, and you're required to get? expedited EMS shipping which should set you back a bit of money.

If you want to plan a big order, this would be the time to do it. The Kid Icarus: Uprising soundtrack is set to be one of the best of the year featuring the talents of Motoi Sakuraba (Tales series, Star Ocean series, Dark Souls), Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage, Etrian Odyssey), Masafumi Takada (No More Heroes), Noriyuki Iwadare (Grandia series, Lunar series, Ace Attorney series), and Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Xenogears).

Did you enjoy Kid Icarus: Uprising's soundtrack enough?? to shell out over $50 for it? 

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_{[Header by Casval-Lem-Daikun]}

Club Nintendo of Japan offered purchasers of Kid Icarus: Uprising a 25-track sampler CD of the game's music for but a handful of points, and the rest of the world got squat. Annoying? ??Sure, but whatever. The Japanese get favorable treatment. Nothing new here.

But now according to this listing on Amazon Japan, there will be a full soundtrack release spanning three discs. The price? A reasonable ￥3570 (about $44). My anger? Righteous and seething. I mean, have you heard the music from the game!?

Son of a son of a bitch.

Kid Icarus: Uprising getting 3-disc soundtrack [GoNintendo]

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Okay, whether you loved or hated the ground combat in Kid Icarus: Uprising, I think we can all agree that the soundtrack was fantastic. Masahiro Sakurai took away an important lesson from Super Smash Bros. Brawl by recruiting some of the top names in Japan including Motoi Sakuraba (Tales series, Star Ocean series, Dark Souls), Yuzo Koshiro (Streets of Rage, Etrian Odyssey), Masafumi Takada (No More Heroes), Noriyuki Iwadare (Grandia series, Lunar series, Ace Attorney series), and Yasunori Mitsuda (Chrono Trigger, Xenogears).

Nintendo apparently recognizes the quality of the soundtrack and is offering a 25-track selection of music to Club Nintendo members in Japan. The CD will be available for 400 points or 250 to those who purchase the game. If you haven't heard the soundtrack in-game, I recommend heading over to the official website where you can hear nine samples.

As a fan of a lot of the music from Nintend?o's title??s over the years, these constant soundtrack releases from Club Nintendo in Japan make me really envious. Anyone with me in wishing they'd distribute these in other regions?

[via Andriasang] 

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Of all Nintendo's classic franchises, Kid Icarus is one that has sorely been lacking in love, with protagonist Pit's failing to make even a playable Super Smash Bros. appearance until Brawl rolled around in 2008. However, that all changed when the 3DS was officially announced and Kid Icarus: Uprising made itself known to the world.

With its unique control scheme and gameplay designed to show off the 3DS' always impressive visual trickery, Uprising ?tri??es to make good on Nintendo's promise of innovative handheld gameplay and graphics that can make jaws drop. However, to do that, you need a plastic stand that comes shipped with every copy of the game.

On that note, all I can say is that if your handheld game needs a static add-on in order to make it less unbearable to play ... you might have a problem.

Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)
Developer: Project Sora
Publisher: Nintendo
Released: March 23, 2012
MSRP: $39.99

Kid Icarus: Uprising does a lot of great things. Its lighthearted story full of camp characters, shameless self-references, and constant desire to break the fourth wall is entertaining and often amusing. The sheer wealth of content is impressive, with a full-fledged campaign, multiplayer options, and additional content. There's also a brilliant difficulty adjustment system, allowing you to make precise tweaks to the "intensity" of a level in exchange for more rewards. There's so much to love about Uprising, and that's why it's so distre??ssing that over 50 ??percent of it is actively unpleasant to play.

Each stage of the solo campaign is split into two rough halves: a flying section and an on-foot section. Both segments of the stage control about the same, using the analog nub to directly maneuver Pit, the stylus to move a targ??eting reticule onscreen, and the left trigger to handle attacks. Holding down the trigger will s??ee Pit spew a consistent payload of firepower, while pausing between shots sends out a more powerful attack.

Due to the awkward button layout, it's almost essential that the included stand be used, as it allows for far more comfortable play. However, due to the static position of the system, the 3D will likely need?? to be turned off completely. ?I find myself often repositioning the 3DS in my hands to keep the 3D focused, but when it's fixed in place on a desk, I have to stay hunched over to get it to look good. It's easier to just switch it off. 

The flying sections are rather enjoyable to play through, thanks to the more streamlined combat and automatic flight path so that players simply move to avoid enemy attacks. While repetitive after a while, the first half of each level is a simple rail shooter affair that marries fast-paced action to some truly stunning visuals, providing a rather inspired rollercoaster ride through Uprising's imaginative, colorful world. If the ??entire game had been like this, I'd have hailed it as one of the best handheld games of all time.

However, half the game is not like this, and I even suspect that more of the game?? is played on the ground than in the air. These sections are horrible, due to a control scheme that simply does not work for the type of third-person combat that Project Sora insisted on using.

As with flight, the nub moves Pit, the touchscreen aims, and the trigger fires. However, due to more direct control over Pit, Uprising attempts to squeeze more acti??ons out of the limited input, and the result is an absolute mess. The touchscreen controls the camera as well as the targeting, meaning players constantly have to stroke the screen in order to get a bead on targets or see where to go next. The nub not only moves Pit around at a stuttering pace, but also controls all of his dodging. If you want to dodge, you must move the nub quickly in a given direction, and you can keep it ?in place to make him run. If you just want him to walk, you must carefully slide the nub, otherwise he'll sprawl over the floor before sprinting off.

Now, keep in mind that the nub is rather sensitive and that heavy combat situations don't lend themselves well to precise, methodical movement. Also keep in mind that a vast number of levels feature very thin platforms with plenty of gaping chasms. While we're at it, you might like to know that Pit can only dodge or run for a few seconds before getting winded and stopping to have a breather, even if you accidentally dodged one too many times or if he keeps running when you just want him to walk. Oh, a??nd "walking" consists of this awful hopping motion that's about as unwieldy as a survival horror protagonist from two generations ago. Now, imagine how tempting it is to toss one's 3DS, with the cart still in it, under a train when all this collides in one metaphysical sphere of torment.

This is the overwhelming feeling that almost every stage in Uprising leaves me with.

The latter half of each level, and all but a handful of boss encounters, force this wretched control scheme on the player, and it severely hurts the entire affair. The only other option is to use the face buttons to move pit and the circle pad to aim, which is even more awkward (it's unintuitive to move with the buttons and if you change directions too fast, Pit will still dodge of his own accord). Meanwhile, t??he secondary circle pad peripheral is only functional for left-handed use. As Pit constantly flops around each stage like a wet fish, all I can do is marvel at the arrogance of a studio that was so committed to a failed idea that it would rather mold plastic stands to try and reduce the torture ra?ther than actually fix the underlying problem of a game that simply does not work on the platform it was designed for.

Every now and then, this miserable dance of disarray is broken up by vehicular sections that at least allow Pit to move with a sense of consistency, but they suffer from awful gliding physics that see him bump into walls more often than not. There are also a variety of power-ups that can be equipped, selected with the D-pad and performed by touching an icon with the stylus. However, many of them require precise aiming, which is ludicrous when you're being asked to use the stylus to aim and attack a fast-moving enemy. Things like that give me the impression that Project Sora just didn't care how the controls worked, ??it simply wanted to ??use them at any cost.

Outside of the campaign, there's a multiplayer mode consisting of team and free-for-all battles. These six-person bouts put players in the bodies of generic soldiers, all running, dodging, and flailing about while attempting to kill each other. Eventually, losing players get to take control of Pit or his obligatory opposite, Dark Pit, becoming a walking objecti??ve for the enemy team to neutralize. The online play is functional, but due to the use of the same unsavory input as the campaign, it's hardly a superior alternative.

Uprising comes packed with a selection of AR cards, nobly attempting to take advantage of this underutilized 3DS capability. I was really looking forward to seeing what the game did with th?ese cards, but the disappointing answer is that hardly anything was done at all, with functionality barely above that of the cards in the 3DS system's box. Each card will produce a character, monster, or weapon from the game that bounces around in a relatively cute fashion. If two cards are made to face each other, they can fight, but "fighting" consists of a few slash effects while two health bars deplete. That's it. One of them will lose while the winner continues its canned animation. The AR mode is worth using once then never again. 

If only someone had stopped and wondered if the need for a 3DS stand was a clear indication that the concept was broken, maybe things could have been different. The requirement for a p??eripheral does not fix the issue, it simply wallpapers over it. It's a jerry-rigged solution to a problem that needed complete elimination. Because of that, the game lets itself down, time and time again.

Kid Icarus: Uprising is equal parts tremendous and terrible, with a fine line clearly separating the two distinct territories. Unfortunately, since each stage ends on a sour note, the overall emotion one gains is that of bitter disappointment. It's a game that repeatedly starts strong and ends despicably, an?d as much as I want to adore it, I ended every session cursing its name. For its humor, its ambition, and its genuinely thrilling flight segments, it deserves a lot of credit. However, everything else it does? is a bitter pill to swallow and damages all the genuine good that has been accomplished.

Truly a shame.

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One of the hooks of the upcoming Kid Icarus: Uprising is the?? use of AR Cards to play special augmented reality minigames. The game itself will come w??ith six cards randomly drawn from a pool of 20, but there are still tons of others to obtain. How can you get your greedy hands on some of the more elusive cards?

The easiest way is to be a Club Nintendo member. While supplies last, members can visit the Kid Icarus: Uprising card giveaway page and order a pack that includes "Great Reaper," "Drill Arm," and a rare "Palutena." If you aren't a member -- and really, you ought to be if you want to have some kind of proof of your digital purch?ases -- sign-ups are always free.

In addition, Game Informer and Nintendo Power subscribers will receive exclusive cards of their own, as will the first 250 Kid Icarus: Uprising pur??chasers on launch day at the Nintendo World Store. Packs will also be distributed at various events throughout the year, such as WonderCon and PAX East. So fire up the collector's spirit within and start hunting, you rabid consumer monkeys!

The post Club Nintendo peeps and more get free Kid Icarus AR ?cards appeared first on Destructoid.

Get ready to start snacking on some Japanese treats, as there is going to some exclusive AR cards packaged in boxes of Kid Icarus: Uprising Choco Snacks. There are 20 different cards to collect, with one included in each pack. The candy itself looks like some type of chocolate puffed wheat thing, and I imagine the whole experience is pretty similar to s??ome intense Cocoa Puffs.

Pit will make his triumphant return on March 23rd in the US and Europe to the Nintendo 3DS, and the game will include six AR cards. This is the first I've heard of an alternate way to get more cards, and I'm not sure if they include the ones that ship with the release. I'm excited to see Nintendo expand use of the AR card technology, as it was one of the main things to grab my attention on the handheld. At ¥100 per box, I might have to get some of these imported over here. Crunching on some chocolatey goodne?ss has beat eating these Taco Bell boxes I've been suffering through in my quest for a Vita.

Kid Ica??rus Chocolate Snacks Include Uprising AR Cards [Andriasang]

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Still on the fence on whether or not you'll be getting Kid Icarus: Uprising for 3DS when it's released this March? The fact that it comes with a stand not enough for yo?u? How about a free download of the original NES classic, all gussied up in three ?dimensions?

Gamers who pre-order at GameStop, Best Buy, or Amazon will receive a bonus download code for the 3D Classics Kid Icarus. The download code will be delivered with the purchase of Kid Icarus: Uprising, and the offer is only  ?? good in the US only.

It's nice to see another NES title getting the 3D Classics treatment (and one that's actually worthy of the title "classic"). Will this sway you to pre-order the title? What other NES games are you ??hoping will eventually hit the 3DS eShop? SPECULATE!

Nintendo Unveils Kid Icarus:? Uprising ?Pre-Order Details [Nintendo World Report]

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Here's another tasty wad of Kid Icarus: Uprising screenshots for you. The main theme appears to be bosses, as many images feature huge, roaring monste?rs that will doubtless need taking down. Monsters are assholes like that. 

Despite being reveal??ed on the same day the 3DS launched, Uprising has taken quite some time to get to us. The wait will soon be over, however, with a March 22 release date creeping ever closer. Who's getting it?

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"I can't believe I'm actually flying!" These are some of the first words that Nintendo's, once forgotten hero, Pit utters in disbelief during the opening moments of Kid Icarus: Uprising -- his long awaited return to the forefront of videogames. Sadly, it would almost be more fitting if?? he had instead screamed, "I can't believe they finally made me a proper sequel and it's going to released in the next few months!"

Twenty years have passed since the little dude, in a toga, last landed a starring role in Nintendo's catalog (Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters on Game Boy in 1991) and fans have eagerly been awaiting his return. Super Smash Bros. Brawl whetted the appetite of some, while introducing the mythical warrior to a whole new generat?ion when he was added to the fighting roster, but it wasn't till the announcement of the 3DS that the Nintendo advocate was finally appeased.

It has felt like an eternity since that historic ??day, and though Nin?tendo has been fairly quiet in recent months, finally they are shedding some light on their first major release of 2012.

Kid Icarus: Uprising (3DS)
Developer: Project Sora
Publisher: Nintendo
Release: March 23, 2012 

I have to say, it felt a little surreal playing a near finished copy of Uprising earlier this week. While the game excited both fans and the press alike, all the way back in the Summer of 2010, it's sort of became Nintendo's version of Sony's Last Guardian -- a game that should now be titled the "Lost Guardian." Luckily, Nintendo fans have escaped the same fate with Kid Icarus: Uprising, and can finally take Pit on his much anticipated legendary adven??ture this March 23.

Without getting into too much the story, Uprising follows the events of the original NES game. The evil Medusa (who was destroyed by Pit in the first game) has been reborn and, like all evil villains, seeks to destroy mankind. This is where Pit comes in; he's a hero, so naturally it's up to him to save the world. ??It's a simple premise, but one that sets the stage for an adventure that hopefully is not as forgettable as his past endeavors.

Set in a world loosely based off Greek mythology, it only takes a fleeting moment to be captivated by the beauty that Kid Icarus: Uprising brings to the 3DS. There's a certain magic that Nintendo is known for and the team at Project Sora -- lead by Kirby and Super Smash Bros. designer Masahiro Sakurai -- has created a game that not only stands up to some of the companies most respected franchises visually, but also ushers in a new level o??f 3D fidelity that has yet?? to be witnessed on Nintendo's portable powerhouse.

It's kind of a shame that no video or screen can truly capture how gorgeous Uprising is -- as soaring the skies and blasting enemies (classic and new alike) is even more spectacular in 3D mode. From the lush vistas visited in the beginning levels to the spectacular, psychedelic-like flight am?ongst the stars -- battling space pirates -- it's hard not to be taken back by just how impressive the 3D visuals are in the game's flying sequences.

Where Uprising loses a little of its visual pop though, is in the land-based sections? of each chapter. Every chapter in the game is broken up into two parts: flight and ground. While the ground levels are impressive in their own rights, they fail to capture the exhilarating intensity of the flight sections for mainly two reasons: freedom and chaos.

Having freedom is never a bad thing, and in Uprising's case this still holds true for the most part. It's just that the each flight section is an on-rails shooter (akin to Panzer Dragoon or Sin and Punishment) and because of that, Uprising guides its players through amazing set piece after set piece. A literal ro??ller coaster of visual and shooting splendo??r, that is hard to replicate on the ground.

Chaos on the other hand, is the game's biggest visual detractor when it comes to the 3D department. In flight the chaos is controlled. The ground, on the other hand, opens up more complexity to the combat -- especially when the games difficulty, called intensity is turned up -- and (in my experience) causes the 3D's sweet spot to constantly shift with the frantic movement of one's hand. While I know, the 3D can be turned off, Uprising does such an amazing job with the immersive technology, it's hard not to want to play the game this wa?y throughout, regardless of how intense the action is.

Increasing a chapter's intensity is by far Uprising's biggest gameplay hook. Ranging on a scale from 0.0 to 9.0 (2.0 is the ??game's default level) and adjustable in increments of one tenths, players can alter the difficulty of any chapter ?in the attempt to earn more of the games currency; hearts. The higher the intensity, the higher the rewards in chapter -- both in terms of hearts awarded and weapons discovered.

For players who just want play Uprising for the story, they can (for a price of hearts) drop the intensity below 2.0. I was told it ?makes the game a cake walk, making it perfect for the casual player or those who want to better understand a chapter's layout. I had a chance to play the game at intensity we?ll beyond the 2.0 level and while I made it through the first chapter somewhat unscathed, I was easy fodder on later stages due to the increased and more relentless enemy AI. Those looking for a Nintendo game that will test all their reflexes should look no further.

So for those wondering how Uprising plays... well that is sort of a mixed bag. For the most part combat is relatively simple. The circle pad controls movement, the L button attacks, and the stylus aims. It ca??n be a little cramping, but for those who prefer to game at home, the stand announced for Japan is coming with the US ver??sion and does alleviate some of the hand-numbing issues.

During combat, depending on the proximity of an enemy (regardless of being in flight or on the ground)?? Pit's attacks will alter. Whe??n enemies are far, his weapons act like a gun -- providing ranged attacks -- but when up close, he instead changes his tactics to melee strikes. Holding down the L button creates a rapid fire shot -- highly useful on the smaller airborne enemies -- but when the reticule is left to build, a powerful charge blast can be released to decimate larger foes.

Knowing when and where to switch from ranged to close attacks, as well as when to charge an attack becomes ever important in the games later stages and when the intensity is turned up to insane levels. In my travels through Uprising I came across a few enemies that were more than a handful if I tried to battle them with the wrong style of attack. There's a want to try to just blast everything to bits, but surprisingly there is actually a lot of depth to Uprising's co??mbat, especially wh??en playing the ground game.

Using the stylus to control Pits movement on the ground does come with a slight adjustment period, but after a level or two it all becomes second nature. Flicks of the stylus control Pits head and the camera, while the circle pad handles overall movement. For those who played Metroid Prime Hunters on the DS, there is instant level of familiarity in this setup. On top of the standard move set, quick flicks of the circle pad afford Pit with some useful dashing abilities and, like the Smash Bros. series, when timed properly with an attack create a mu?ch stronger offensi??ve strike.

Helping to build Pits offense are nine different weapon types: blade, bow, cannon, arm, claws, palm, orbitar, club and staff. The blade is Pits standard, all-purpose weapon, but with the variety available there is a solution to be found for any of his problems. I got my hands on the lightning quick, melee focused claws; the tactile and powerful cannon; and the long ranged dual-blasting orbitars, b??ut it wasn't until I got Pit's paws on the cumbersome club that smiting fools turned into a "guilty pleasure" for me.

With the Black Club (pictured below) fully charged, I was able to launch devastating cannon balls that were great for clearing out enemies. Having such a powerful weapon makes Pit nearly unstoppable, but there is a price for this unbound strength. Due to its massive size, Pit's agility and stamina are greatly reduced throughout the level. Often after dashing, I found Pit out of gas and in need of a momen??t to recuperate -- leaving him vulnerable to attac??ks.

Choosing the right weapon for a chapter can be tricky at first -- as only after death can one be switched out for another. Thankfully, Uprising encourages multiple playthroughs, due to its intensity level re??wards and constantly improving weapon drops.

In my playthrough, I came across multiple variants of each type of weapon. Players will also find identical named weapons, but they will differ in their value and bonuses (i.e. 2X speed, or no fall back from enemy damage) making them unique in their own special way. When weapons start ??piling up they can be sold -- as well as purchased -- in what is called the Arms Alter. It's just one of the many ways to constantly keep upgrading Pit's arsenal.

Speaking of upgrades, weapons aren't the only way to improve Pit's prowess. Powers, which can be found during any given chapter, are perks that can give Pit the upper hand in his quest. There are a variety of powers ranging from the Sky Jump -- whic??h lets Pit jump high -- to the Mega Laser -- which as it sounds shoots a deadly blast that can help the angelic warrior out of a tight situation.

What makes Pit's powers extra unique is in how they are quipped. Similar to Resident Evil 4's items storage system, each power comes in the form of a puzzle piece (varying in? size and shape) and has to be carefully fitted in a confined equipment square. Up to four arrangements can be planned ahead of time, with one formation equipped at time. There is even an auto-fill that selects the overall best configuration for those who don't want to put too much effort into it. The auto-fill is fairly simple though, and does not allow a player, to say, choose an optimized offensive configuration for example.

I feel like I only scratched the surface with Kid Icarus: Uprising and to be honest I left a few things out. For example in some levels -- which I can't say which -- there are vehicles for Pit to pilot (though I can't tell you what they are like either). That being said, Uprising is one of the deepest games to hit the portable market in ??quite some time and should please gamers of all types.

Expect more to come in the next few months about Nintendo's much anticipated 3DS game t??hat is set for March 23. I, for one, am definitely excited to find out more.

The post Preview: Two hour?s of flight w??ith Kid Icarus: Uprising appeared first on Destructoid.

Masahiro Sakurai can't catch a break. The "angry eyes" curse that plagued the Kirby series seems to have followed him to Project Sora and rooted itself in Kid Icarus: Uprising. How dare he try to present a character who is cute and peppy rather?? than dark and brooding!

Take a look above. The image on the left is taken from the Japanese box art, the one on the right from the North American box art. Pit's eyebrows were already furrowed in the original picture, but I sup??pose that wasn't good enough for the American marketing department. An open mouth? He looks like he's having too much fun! Get rid of it!

These minor changes to perfectly serviceable box art will never cease to amaze me. I would love to sit in on one of those pla??nning sessions and find out exactly how these decisions come to be. I'm assuming copious amounts of Monster Energy and Jack Link's beef jerky are involved.

Kid Icarus: Uprising's box is getting the Ki?rby tr??eatment [Tiny Cartridge]

The post The return of Mr. Angry Eyes, Kid Icarus edition appeared first on Destructoid.

Here are thirteen delightful screens for Kid Icarus: Uprising, the game?? that's been in development for 10,000,000 years. The game's finally due out in Spring of 2012, and it's looking like it might be?? a hot one. 

I'm hoping the 3DS has a better year in 2012 than it had for most of 2011. The competition from Sony's PS Vita ought to spur the system into putting out more content, and games like Kid Icarus ought to gi?ve it a boost. Looks like next year will be an exciting one for portable fans, in any case.

The post Kid Icarus: Uprising gets thirteen lucky screens appeared first on Destructoid.

Nintendo has issued its early 2012 videogame release schedule, and believe it or not, there's some quality info lurking in there. The big release is undoubtedly Kid Icarus: Uprising -- it's going to be ava?ilabl??e for 3DS as of March 23, 2012.

There's also that Circle Pad Pro to worry about (or not). According to Nintendo, the optional add-on is coming to the United States on February 7. It's only being sold through GameStop, both at store locations and ?o?nline, for $19.99. Okay then!

Another fun surprise is that when Rhythm Heaven Fever releases for Wii on February 13, it'll retail for $29.99. Somewhere, Jonathan Holmes is freaking out. Speaking of the console, we've got Mario Party 9 as well, which is planned for Mar??ch 11. Be sure to take a look at what's on the way for the eShop.

Nintendo 3DS

• 2K Play Nicktoons MLB 3D March
• Capcom Resident Evil® Revelations Feb. 7
• Konami Digital
• Entertainment, Inc.
• METAL GEAR SOLID® 3D Snake Eater Q1
• Pro Evolution Soccer 2012 January
• NAMCO BANDAI
• Games America Inc.
• TEKKEN 3D Prime Edition™ February
• Tales of the Abyss® Feb. 14
• Nintendo Kid Icarus: Uprising March 23
• Published by SEGA® of America Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games™ Feb. 14
• SEGA® of America CRUSH™3D Q1
• Ubisoft NCIS The Video Game (Based on the TV Series) March 6
• Horses 3D March 6
• Funky Barn Q1
• Rayman® Origins Q1

Nintendo eShop

• Collecting Smiles Colors! 3D Q1
• Nicalis VVVVVV Q1
• NightSky Q1
• Nintendo Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword Q1
• Dillon's Rolling Western Q1
• Kirby's Block Ball™ Q1
• Renegade Kid Mutant Mudds Q1
• Shin'en Multimedia Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH Q1
• Jett Rocket Super Surf Q1
• WayForward Mighty Switch Force Q1
• Zen Studios Zen Pinball Q1

Wii

• 2K Sports MLB 2K12 March 6
• GameMill Entertainment Country Dance™ Special Edition Feb. 1
• Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. Karaoke Joysound Q1
• Nintendo Rhythm Heaven Fever Feb. 13
• PokéPark 2: Wonders Beyond Feb. 27
• Mario Party 9 March 11

WiiWare

• Nicalis La Mulana Q1

Nintendo DS Family

• 2K Sports MLB 2K12 March 6
• ATLUS Shin Megami Tensei®: Devil Survivor™ 2 February
• GameMill Entertainment Silverlicious™ March 20
• Xia Xia™ March 20
• Gogo's Crazy Bones™ March 20
• Mentor Interactive Chess for Kids Feb. 14
• NARABA: The Labyrinth of Light Feb. 21
• NARABA: The Mysterious Palace Feb. 21

Nintendo DSiWare

• Cosmigo Box Pusher Q1
• Cypronia Cake Ninja Q1

The post Dated: Kid Icarus, 3DS Circle Pad Pro, and more appeared first on Destructoid.

For the most part, the games I saw and played at the EB Games Expo were impressive. None ??really disappointed me or made me lose hope in a franchise. Some weren't for me, some made me want to pre-order that ve??ry same minute. 

But the one thing they all had in common is that none of them had a bizarre design decision that could potentially damage the experience for a large portion of the people playing it. All of that changed when I picked up a 3DS and started playing Kid Icarus: Uprising.

I'll be honest. I have not played either of the previous Kid Icarus games. However, I'm well aware of some of the reverence that Nintend?o fans have for the series and going into this demo I tried my best to disconnect myself from that, simply looking upon the third in the series as just another game.

The Nintendo booth at the EB Games Expo was expansive with a heavy emphasis on the 3DS. Four handhelds were running Uprising and it had been busy most of the morning. When I finally grabbed it, I seemed to be the only one; the Mario Kart 7 demo drawing most people away.

Protagonist Pit was ?already in the air. From a third-person perspective, the flight controls felt natural and easy with the 3DS' circle pad. Moving Pit through the sky was a breeze and when the floating enemies showed up, it was tons of fun to attack them through th??e clouds. The depth of the environments looked amazing in 3D.

At this point, I was excited to play more. The backdrop?s of landmass far below Pit were incredibly detailed and with the 3D slider turned all the way on, they became real, tangible locations. I was all the more surprised when Pit flew down in between buildings to fight some enemies on the ground.

All the action took place on the top screen of the 3DS. The bottom screen was reserved for story-based text conversations between Pit and the goddess of light, Palutena. While in the? air, a colossal Medusa appeared and I engaged in what seemed to be a short boss battle. Using Pit's barrel roll (yes, I did a barrel roll), I managed to avoid her attacks.

While I was doing so, in the midst of battle, I glanced down to the bottom screen to notice story text scrolling past. Pit and Palutena were talking to each other. Granted, it was just encouragement from Palutena and energetic battle? cries from Pit, but I completely missed it as I was too busy fighting Medusa.

When the game took over control and landed Pit in a courtyard, the 3D once again shined. Tiny as they were, I noticed alleyways and balconies on the nearby buildings just before wave after? wave of enemies headed my way. I could switch quite quickly between weapons, using a bow and a sword.

When the enemies hit, the screen filled with attacks and I had to be constantly on the move. Sidestepping attacks a?nd dishing out some of my own required pretty much all of my attention, otherwise Pit's life would be over.

Halfway through the battle I glanced down to the bottom screen to see Pit and Palutena talking ag?ain. The text scrolled across the screen and I immediately realised I had again missed quite a large amount of what they were saying. The top screen? during a battle afforded very little room for error and even glancing down for a few seconds proved costly.

Now, I consider myself a relatively fast reader but there was a problem with trying to keep up with anything the two main characters were saying while I was getting bombarded with projectiles. This wasn't simply encouraging remarks I was missing anymore either, Palutena was relating story points and directions about the enemies (possibly im?proving my chances in battle).

It was strange. I couldn't quite believe what I was seeing. The developers, Project Sora, had specifically inserted text on the bottom screen that was important to the story during a battle. Which seemed to be only time you couldn't really afford to look at it. I tried to be quicker in glancin??g at the text but then it became more about me fighting the game rather than Pit fighting monsters.

Perhaps speed readers will have no trouble with this feature. They glance for a split-second, absorb all the information and then go right back to the action. I certainly couldn't manage it every time. And as far as I know, a large portion of the people buying Kid Icarus: Uprising will be kids. K?ids who might not be able to keep up with th??e quick-paced conversations.

Finishing the demo, I was confused. Was this feature present througho??ut the entire game? And if it was, how would that impact the story and the overall game as you progress through it? Sure, you can say "Story in a Kid Icarus game? Who cares?" but wouldn't it be preferable to know why you're fighting in the first place? And not just fighting to stay alive so you can read the story?

The post Hands-on: Kid Icarus Uprising appeared first on Destructoid.

Along with the news that the Nintendo 3DS has dropped to just $169.99 comes some news on some of the upcoming Mario game releases for the US and Japan. First off, Super Mario 3DS has an official name and it's Super Mario 3D Land and it comes out this November. Kind of a nice throwback to the Super Mario Land games from the original Game Boy days, no?

Mario Kart 7 has also been given a release window and that's December. Hopefully we get a better name for this one. Kid Icarus: Uprising still doesn't have ??a specific release date but it's still on track for a Holiday rel?ease.

The post Super Mario 3DS and Mario Kart 7 out this holiday appeared first on Destructoid.

Kid Icarus: Uprising was just announced this morning. We all danced and cheered. Now it's time for the after party. We've got a metric sh*tload of lovely screens ready for your hungry stares. Look at them. Look at them!

Development studio Project Sora really blew our collective minds here. If this is what the the 3DS can pull off early in the har??dware's life, I can only imagine what the future holds. The game will unfortunately not be available for play on the show floor, but at least we've got screens! My God, look at the screens!

Are you looking? No, you are not! LOOK!

The post E3 10: Ogle these pics?? for Kid Icarus: Uprising on 3DS appeared first on Destructoid.