Nintendo has released a video showcasing Kid Icarus: Uprising's Intensity system, which allows you to dynamically alter the game's difficulty level.
As you defeat enemies in the 3DS rail shooter, you'll collect hearts that function as something of an in-game currency. Between levels, you can gamble those hearts by dropping them into the "Fiend's Cauldron." The more hearts you wager, the more difficult the game becomes.At the highest difficulty level, "Intensity 9.0," things will get considerably more difficult, with huge swarms of enemies greeting you at every turn.
But there's a serious upside to the greater risk. If you beat a level at a high intensity mode, you'll be rewarded with considerably more hearts than at the standard difficulty. In addition, the reward weapons you get will carry more (and more powerful) stat bonuses. The feature should definitely provide added replayability to the game.
Kid Icarus: Uprising releases on March 23 for the Nintendo 3DS.