What we know:

Ninja Gaiden 3 is the latest installment in the hack and slash series developed by Team Ninja and published by Tecmo Koei.

The upcoming game will be the first title that hasn’t been made under the supervision of former Team Ninja boss Tomonobu Itagaki, as the design duties have been taken over by Yosuke Hayashi, the developer who oversaw the Sigma spinoff titles.

That isn’t the only change, as the new game will show off a more human side of its protagonist, Ryu Hayabusa, while featuring grittier gameplay that is more realistic and less over the top. As such, instead of outlandish decapitations or dismemberment, the game will now feature tougher enemies that, at least according to screenshots released up until now, will meet some gruesome deaths.

Changes have also been made to several mechanics, such as the save game one or the Ninpo magic attacks, but Team Ninja has yet to thoroughly detail them.

In terms of story, Ryu Hayabusa will go on a global adventure after a mysterious assassin that must be stopped before he can cause a new world war. Throughout the adventure, players will learn more about the Japanese warrior, alongside his backstory, and even get a chance to see what lies beneath his mask.

For the first time in the series, there’s also a multiplayer mode that received an over the top video earlier this year. In it, players will have to use all of their ninja abilities and take down opponents through regular attacks as well as plenty of other special moves, even becoming invisible for a few moments.

Why it matters:

Ninja Gaiden games have earned a cult following for their tough nature and, while this new game will have a lower difficulty Hero mode, there’s still enough of a challenge for fans to experience.

Throw in this grittier story, plus the multiplayer mode, and there are more than enough reasons to try out Ninja Gaiden 3 when it’s released on March 20, in the U.S., and March 23, in Europe, for the PS3 and Xbox 360.