Character File: Pit

The cover for the Japanese Famicom Disk System version of "Kid Icarus."

First appearance: "Kid Icarus" (Famicom Disk System/NES, 1986/87)

For many of us gamers in the 1980s, "Kid Icarus" played second fiddle to "Metroid," which featured Nintendo's bounty-hunting heroine Samus Aran. But "KI" was actually similar to "Metroid" in gameplay, with the hero being an Icarus/Cupid hybrid named Pit (and I'll bet you thought his name was actually "Kid Icarus"). In his gaming debut, the "little angel" used his magical bow to defeat Medusa in the Underworld. Pit's first adventure can be found in several "best game" lists.

But then he disappeared. Where did he go?

Well those of you (like me) who remember the cartoon "Captain N: The Game Master" remember Pit was a character on the show, and in fact named - you guessed it - Kid Icarus! He also appeared in the Captain N comic book series. Then after a long hiatus as a major playable character, Pit made his triumphant return in 2008's "Super Smash Bros. Brawl" for the Nintendo Wii. The original "Kid Icarus" is also available through the Wii Virtual Console.

Otherwise, he's made cameos in other games such as "Tetris," "Super Smash Bros. Melee," "WarioWare: Twisted!" and "WarioWare: Smooth Moves."