Ninja Gaiden 3

Ninja Gaiden 3 continues where Team Ninja's development team left off in NGII, but with the shock of seeing the main character of Ryu Hayabusa unmasked. The title sees longtime Team Ninja mainstay Tomonobu Itagaki leaving the role of game director to the designer of the Ninja Gaiden Sigma series, Yosuke Hayashi.

The gamer, playing Ryu, must descend to the hell realm, forsaking his previous black leather costume for a newly designed metallic black outfit. Ryu is asked by the Japanese Self-Defense Force, in the form of the Ministry of External Affairs, to fight in London against a terrorist threat.

As with with previous titles in the series, Ninja Gaiden III is centred on fast-paced, high octane weapons-based combat that races the storyline from one uniquely designed location to the next. Unlike previous versions, this time the Dragon Sword is absorbed into Ryu's own right arm. With the PS3 version, you even get the option to use PlayStation Move in some of your hacking and slashing.

In terms of plot, the gamer learns more of Ryu's character in a race against the timeline laid down by the terrorists who demand his his surrender in seven days... or they will destroy the world.

There are new features including a slow-motion action and body-slicing cinematic called "Steel on Bone", plus the "Kunai Climb" move that sees using his Kunai to climb and to attack the enemy from above. Surprisingly for a Ninja Gaiden title there is also use of stealth to enable Ryu to sneak up on an enemy and kill them with a single strike.

Another change is that rather than make trips to The Muramasa store for upgrades, Ryu's weapons and abilities will be upgraded as time passes and experience grows. Some items can only be discovered as the plot progresses. Some items are only available after defeating certain enemies.

It's time to get your ninja on!