E3 2011: Ninja Gaiden 3 slicing up early 2012

LOS ANGELES--Earlier today at Nintendo's E3 2011 media briefing, Ninja Gaiden: Razor's Edge emerged for the just-announced Wii U. That game didn't get a release date, but Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 gamers eager to play Ninja Gaiden 3 now have a more specific release window to zone in on.

As Tecmo Koei promised in February, the company talked further about Ninja Gaiden 3 at E3 2011 today. The publisher narrowed the release window for the title, saying it will now arrive in early 2012. Previously, the game was pegged to debut sometime in 2012.

This latest installment in the series developed by Team Ninja casts players again as "super ninja" Hayabusa. Through the game, players will learn what motivates him to "fight, defend, and kill."

First unveiled at TGS 2010, Ninja Gaiden 3 will feature close-combat fighting, online multiplayer, and both cooperative and multiplayer experiences. For more on the title, check out GameSpot's most recent preview of Ninja Gaiden 3.