No Ninja Gaiden until 2004

It's been 12 years since the last new Ninja Gaiden game, 1991's Ninja Gaiden III: The Ancient Ship of Doom, first swung its sword on the NES. Unfortunately, it looks like the next installment won't step out of the shadows until next year.

Although Tecmo has made no official announcement, informed sources have told GameSpot news that the Xbox-exclusive edition of Ninja Gaiden has been delayed until February 2004. The date-switch was confirmed by online game vendors, which quietly changed the release date earlier today.

When it is eventually released, Ninja Gaiden will be the series' debut on a current-generation console. First announced in May of 2002, the game combines puzzle-solving and exploration with the Ninja's favorite pastimes, silent death and swordplay. In a nod to Gaiden's old-school roots, the Xbox edition will include all three original NES Ninja Gaiden games as unlockable bonuses.