What is the 3DS?

The rumours had been round for ages, but that didn’t stop everyone’s jaws dropping the moment Nintendo officially unveiled the 3D follow-up to its DS handheld. Especially as it doesn’t require cumbersome 3D glasses to enjoy its startling effects, and even offers 3D picture-taking and movie-watching!

Featuring the traditional dual-screen, the top 3.5-inch gaming display is designed to produced crisp 3D images, while the bottom 3D-less display works as the touch panel. The sleek little machine also promises improved graphics capabilities over previous DS models, as well as incorporating new motion-sensor controls, which Nintendo is confident will lead to "interesting new gaming ideas from developers".

What else can it do?

While the 3D visuals were enough to get fists punching the air in excitement, Nintendo also proudly showed off its new built-in camera with two camera lenses, enabling you to take photographs in 3D! Plus, it also carries the potential of watching 3D films on the machine, with Nintendo demoing trailers from upcoming 3D movies from Disney, Dreamworks and Disney. Better than those silly little screens on backs of airplane seats, eh?

To complete the announcement, Nintendo revealed a tantalising list of third-party publishers currently working on titles for the forthcoming system. This included an exclusive Metal Gear Solid adventure, DJ Hero 3D and high-speed racing game Ridge Racer.

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Your new Nintendo 3DS system comes with everything you need to jump into the action right away! As well as your brand new Nintendo 3DS, you'll find:

• Nintendo 3DS charging cradle - Keep your Nintendo 3DS in its new cradle whenever you're at home and not playing, and you'll always be charged up and ready to discover new things when you carry your system around with you.
• SD Memory Card (2 GB) - Keep your music, downloaded games and software at hand by saving them on the included SD Memory Card.
• Nintendo 3DS AC adapter - The power supply for your system.
• Nintendo 3DS stylus - A brand new telescopic stylus that fits snugly into your system.
• AR Cards (x6) - Enter the exciting world of Augmented Reality games with these packaged AR Cards.
• Quick Start Guide
• Nintendo 3DS Operations Manual
• Parental Controls Leaflet

One of the most beloved franchises in Nintendo’s long history makes its glorious return in spectacular 3D! Pit of Kid Icarus fame is back in a new game designed specifically for the Nintendo 3DS system, by Masahiro Sakurai, creator of the Kirby and Super Smash Bros. franchises, and his development team at Project Sora. .

When you purchase Kid Icarus you will receive an Exclusive Code which will allow you to download “Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters” from the Nintendo e-Shop.

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Kid Icarus: Uprising is a fast-paced and action-packed blend of aerial and ground-based shooting built on elegantly intuitive and streamlined play control. This follow-up to the original Kid Icarus – released for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987 – has been at the top of gamers’ wish lists for years.

Boasting gameplay that is easy to pick up but incredibly deep, the game is sure to satisfy novice gamers as well as fans who have been clamouring for a new instalment in the franchise.

The hero, Pit, teams up with Palutena, the goddess of light, who bestows on him the miracle of flight for limited stretches. With this gift, Pit soars through the skies, shooting down swarms of enemies, then alights and engages in frantic ground-based battles against Medusa’s underworld army.

Find and collect numerous weapons and items that offer bonuses and ability boosts. Players can choose weapons before they send Pit into battle, giving them countless layers of strategies in each level.

Players can choose between a basic Blade, basic Claws and a basic Orbitar weapon. Blades are well-balanced, Claws have limited reach but increase running speed and the Orbitars can shoot two shots that grow in power over distance.

This copy of Kid Icarus: Uprising includes a free 3DS Stand (3DS Console Sold separately)

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Features:

• Pit is unable to fly on his own, but upon receiving the “Power of Flight” from Palutena, he can soar swiftly through the skies for about five minutes at a time. After each stage’s initial air battle, Pit enters into ground-based skirmishes.
• While Pit is battling in the air, the action unfolds like a dynamic guided shooter. Yet when he’s facing enemies on land, it handles like a third-person shooter. Throughout the sprawling adventure, players gather numerous distinctive weapons and collect treasures.
• Beyond the deep single-player adventure, Kid Icarus: Uprising also offers a thrilling and unique take on multiplayer battles. Two teams battle against each other, whittling away their point totals as each team member is defeated. When one team loses all its points, the last member defeated is revived as the powerful Angel Pit. If the other team can track him down and defeat him, they will win the match, introducing a new ebb-and-flow dynamic to multiplayer battles.
• The game includes AR Card compatibility. Using the built-in 3D camera on the Nintendo 3DS system, the game recognizes countless specially designed AR Cards, with animated game characters popping up in 3D on the game screen and even battling each other when two cards face off.
• The game’s simple, intuitive play control has players hold the system in their left hand, while the right hand uses the stylus on the touch screen for targeting. Their left thumb on the Circle Pad controls Pit’s movements, and the L Button fires ranged weapons and unleashes melee attacks. The controls are simple enough to be grasped quickly, but offer layers of depth and strategy for advanced manoeuvres. A special control option for left-handed players is also being prepared.