Ninja Gaiden 3

Ryu Hayabusa is no stranger to killing. In past games, he popped the heads off of ninjas like they were dandelions and danced in the ensuing blood geysers like they were spring showers. But how does that make Hayabusa feel? That's the question the Ninja Gaiden 3 launch trailer poses, which is a direction we definitely weren't expecting the series to go.

I'll be honest, I don't play a Ninja Gaiden game for exposition. The only thing I expect Hayabusa to feel after cutting down one of his enemies is wet from the back-spray of severed arteries. But I can't blame Yosuke Hayashi for trying to grow the series beyond its ultra-difficult hack and slash roots, so maybe he's on to something. See for yourself in the trailer below.

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Ninja Gaiden 3 will be available on March 20. In the meantime, check out these screens of the game, which prove there's still plenty of bloodletting to be had.