Tecmo Koei have finally announced a date for their PS Vita Ninja Gaiden title, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus. Ryu Hayabusa will be hitting Sony’s slick dual touchpad based handheld upon its European February 22nd launch, as if you needed another reason to pick up the Vita!

Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is a refined and revamped version of the stellar PS3 remake of the Xbox original Ninja Gaiden. Sigma Plus will used all the features from the PS Vita to create an exciting new way to play. There will also be multiple difficulties to ease in those new to the series, or to put up a challenge for the hardened fans who know what to expect!

Hero mode, being the easiest, allows for combat to be easier and ‘flashy’ whilst also giving you an automatic guard and evasion assists. Ninpo techniques are also easier to execute thanks to simpler controls, all in all Hero mode lets newcomers enjoy all aspects of the game and the story without punishing them for not being quite up to typical Ninja Gaiden standards. If you’re more tempted by the harder difficulties, then you will be in for a challenge, with even more difficulties available for serious ninjas. The mission mode from the Sigma series returns once more, and this time it is bigger and badder than before! Each sub-mission now comes with a variety of difficulties and unique mission content too, one example being able to use only projectile weapons!

Studio Head of Team Ninja, Yosuke Hayashi, is “confident that gamers, both our fans and those new to the series, will find Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus to be a thrilling and challenging experience that lives up to the spirit of what the series is best known for while offering a host of new and portable gameplay mechanics.”

Below are a smattering of new screenshots and assets for Ryu’s newest outing. Personally we can’t wait for February 22nd to roll around!