Kid Icarus: of Myths and Monsters - Gameplay

Gameplay

Kid Icarus: Of Myths and Monsters is an action platform game. It largely retains the gameplay of its predecessor, Kid Icarus for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The player controls the young angel Pit, whose main weapon is a bow with an unlimited supply of arrows. The game's two-dimensional levels contain collectable items and obstacles such as enemies and traps. Pit's objective is to reach the end of three stages – the underworld tower, the overworld and the sky world tower – each of which is separated into three areas and a labyrinthine fortress. Upon completing one of a stage's areas, the player has the option of saving their progress, and Pit's health bar may be expanded if he has defeated enough enemies.

Unlike in Kid Icarus, the game's levels scroll freely in all four directions, which enables the player to explore previously visited environments. As an additional control feature, Pit can flap his wings in mid-air to slow his descent. In each area, there are hidden doors that lead to eight different types of chambers. In shops and black markets, the player may buy items such as healing potions in exchange for hearts, which are left behind by destroyed monsters. Information centers provide hints, hot springs restore Pit's health, and bat chambers give the player an opportunity to earn extra hearts. Treasuries hold items that can be obtained in a game of chance. In the sacred chamber, the god Zeus presents Pit with additional physical strength depending on the number of enemies defeated. The sacred training center has Pit take part in a test of endurance. His success will be awarded with one of three weapons, which will become active if his health is high enough: the protective crystals shield Pit from enemies, and the fire arrows and long bow increase the vertical and horizontal range of the arrows, respectively. During the course of the game, the player must find and defeat guardian monsters in the fortresses to retrieve three sacred treasures – the Wings of Pegasus, the Silver Armor and the Light Arrows. These are special items, which grant Pit new abilities in the final stage, the sky palace.