Mini Ninjas infiltrates stores Sept. 8

Earlier this week, the online resume of a British actor indicated that IO Interactive may not be returning for the fifth installment in its notorious Hitman franchise. That being the case, it is altogether unclear what the once-Eidos-owned, now-Square-Enix-owned Danish development house will be working on once its current project, Mini Ninjas, concludes.

And that finale is rapidly approaching, as Eidos announced today that Mini Ninjas will be available for the Xbox 360, PlayStation 3, Wii, DS, and PC on September 8 in North America. The European and PAL region launches will follow that same week.

Mini Ninjas is a substantive break from IO's traditional bloody stealth fare, the likes of which can be found in the aforementioned Hitman franchise as well as 2007's Kane & Lynch. Instead, the E10+-rated action adventure deals in much lighter fare, as it follows the travails of Hiro, who ventures forth to defeat an army of evil samurai and restore harmony to the world.

As detailed in GameSpot's most recent hands-on with the game, Mini Ninjas tasks gamers with engaging in nonlethal fisticuffs, as well as stealth and magic, to rid the countryside of marauding samurai. Rather than collapsing in a heap of rent flesh and blood, defeated enemies revert back to their adorable animal forms and flee to greener pastures.

For more on Mini Ninjas, check out GameSpot's previous coverage.