Team Ninja's kill-o-rama Ninja Gaiden 3 has been given its grand public unveiling at E3, after dribbling out odds and ends through magazines and various press exclusivity arrangements.

Headed to Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 in "early 2012," Ninja Gaiden 3 aims to let fans of the series' plot into the head of series star Ryu Hayabusa, to "unravel layers of their hero as they see his motivations and learn about the man behind the mask." Right-o.

There's also good news for for those who care about destroying enemies in horrific ways. "Through new gameplay mechanics and presentation, players will feel what it's like to cut through an enemy's flesh and bone, along with the consequences that come with it," publisher Tecmo Koei says. That's more like it!

Ninja Gaiden 3 will also boast online multiplayer, with support for up to eight players in various mode. Both co-op and competitive play are promised, with "new challenges, characters, and missions" for virtual ninjas to enjoy.

Some sort of Ninja Gaiden 3 is also headed to Nintendo's newly-revealed Wii U console, under the codename Ninja Gaiden 3 Razor's Edge. That's genuinely all Tecmo Koei has to say about the game at this point.