Kid Icarus Uprising: everything you need to know

Nintendo not only revealed the Kid Icarus Uprising release date today but they also revealed loads more information about the weapons, Pit's powers, the multiplayer game and the items. To get you up to speed, here's everything you need to know about Kid Icarus Uprising.

Release Date

Kid Icarus Uprising will be released in the UK on March 23rd, the same day as the US. It will be released in Japan on March 22.

The Story

Medusa, The Queen of the Underworld, and her Underworld Army has returned and it's up to Pit guided by Palutena, goddess of light and guardian of the human race, to fight the forces of darkness by battling Medusa's minions in the air and on the land. This is Pit's first starring role in a game since 1992's Game Boy game Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters which was the follow up to NES classic Kid Icarus.

Gameplay and Controls

You play as Pit in the new action game directed by Smash Bros creator Masahiro Sakurai. He has been granted the power of flight by Palutena but this power only lasts for five minutes, at which point Pit drops to the ground to fight on land.

While Palutena controls your flight path for you, you use the Circle Pad to dodge attacks while aiming your target with the stylus and pressing the R trigger to fire.

It's a similar story on the ground as you use the Circle Pad to move forward, backwards and strafe but if you want to turn around you have to swipe the stylus on the touch screen. Again you use the stylus to target enemies and the R trigger to shoot.

Circle Pad Pro and 3DS Stand

If you're left-handed you might want to buy the Circle Pad Pro which is compatible with Kid Icarus Uprising. The 3DS peripheral adds an extra Circle Pad to your 3DS, meaning you'll be able to move Pit with your right hand and target with your left.

Kid Icarus Uprising also comes with a free 3DS stand. Seeing as you 'll only be vale to hold the 3DS in one hand while playing, the stand will provide a sturdy option.

Weapons

Pit has nine different categories of weapons ranging from Divine Bows to Shot Claws. You can buy more powerful versions of each weapon with hearts (see the different types of blade) or find them in Treasure Boxes (see items).

Strike Blade

A balanced, user-friendly weapon that combines close-quarters combat with ranged proficiency. Here are the different types of Strike blades.

First Blade

Described as the perfect beginner's weapon, this blade has a good balance of usability and strength.

Burst Blade

With its dispersed shots, this has a wider strike range than the First Blade. Its dispersed shots are less powerful but the Burst Blade can be very useful when Pit is surrounded by enemies.