Tecmo Koei Europe have just sent around a notice that their upcoming PAL release of Ninja Gaiden 3 is due for release on the 23rd March 2012 to both Playstation 3 and XBox360 game consoles. Developed by Team Ninja, this game is the next installment in the series and will be available as both a standard edition along with a Collectors Edition which will be available for both consoles.
Ninja Gaiden 3 is set to take players “behind the mask” of the series dark hero Ryu Hayabusa, with an original story by Masato Kato. They hope to bring a new depth to the games fighting and swordsmanship gameplay, while remaining both challenging to those who desire it and accessible to infrequent or new players to the series – including all-new online multiplayer modes.
The conflict in NINJA GAIDEN 3 centers around a masked man whose motivations and goals only become clear as players fight through the unfolding story. Through the curse forced upon him by The Regent of the Mask manifested through his arm, Hayabusa finds himself changing—forever blurring the line between hero and villain. For the first time, players will see the world through Hayabusa’s torn eyes, and find out what drives him to fight, defend, and kill.
For the first time in the history of the franchise, online co-op and competitive multiplayer modes add a completely new dimension to the NINJA GAIDEN experience. Players can step into the shadowy world of the ninja and fight against all challengers to draw closer to the ultimate ninja, Ryu Hayabusa, or participate in two-player cooperative play. Up to eight players can battle in versus combat as well, including the ability to form teams for four-on-four matches—with the treacherous possibility of switching teams in the midst of a match. New challenges, characters, and missions await those who choose to join the Shadows of the World online!
The Collector’s Edition gives fans a chance to play all four characters in a DEAD OR ALIVE 5 demo stage, an exclusive NINJA GAIDEN 3 game art book, soundtrack CD, and a unique “Duel of the Masked” figure not available elsewhere. To accompany the release, Team NINJA has also released a new video vignette showcasing the DEAD OR ALIVE 5 demo stage and featuring the four playable fighters in the NINJA GAIDEN 3 Collector’s Edition.
