Ninja Gaiden DS goes gold, Nintendo World Store to host launch party

Tecmo today announced that the highly anticipated Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword for the Nintendo DS has gone gold and that it will be shipping to retailers across North America on March 25th. The title is the first handheld installment in the popular series, which has sold over 2 million units worldwide. Players will fight enemy ninjas and battle various fiends while taking on the role of Master Ninja Ryu Hayabusa, and uncover all the mysteries of Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword in an all new storyline for the Nintendo DS. The portable experience promises to deliver the same excitement as its console counterpart.

Story

A young Ninja named Ryu Hayabusa, survivor of the Hayabusa clan and descendant of the Dragon Lineage, took up his family’s legendary birthright, the Dragon Sword,to face this threat alone. At the end of an intense battle, Ryu shattered the evil Dark Dragon Blade into countless shards with a blow from his Dragon Sword. Six months have passed since what is now known as the Dark Dragon Blade Incident.

Features

Innovative DS Stylus Functionality: Master your weapon the DS stylus. Smoothly maneuver (slide, tap, up/down) and fight through levels with the intuitive operation of the stylus.

Hold the DS Like a Book: Hold the DS with one hand like a book to assist in the operation of the stylus which allows players to view a wider range of cenes, including battle areas, maps and beautifully illustrated comic?]book style scenes.

Cast Ninpo, Ninja Magic, by Symbol Input: Using the DS Stylus, draw various symbols to quickly execute numerous types of Ninpo.

Visually stunning graphics and scenery: Experience a full-scale action game showcasing dynamic camera work and an artful blend of detailed 2D and 3D environments with 3D characters.

To celebrate the launch of Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword, the Nintendo World Store (located at Rockefeller Center in New York) and Tecmo will be hosting an in-store event on Wednesday, March 26th from 12 - 4PM. Participating guests will have a chance to test their ninja-stylus skills as they demo the game and producer / director Yosuke Hayashi is scheduled to make an appearance for photo opportunities and to sign autographs. Information on the store can be found at www.nintendoworldstore.com. Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword has been rated “T” (Teen) by the Entertainment Software Ratings Board (ESRB) and will carry a suggested retail price of US $34.99. More information on the title including screenshots and a trailer can be found at www.ninjagaidengame.com.

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