The Vita's got yet another new launch title, the latest addition to Tecmo Koei's incredibly popular Ninja Gaiden series. Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus certainly looks impressive, and we're not just talking about the graphics, which are some of the best we've seen on a portable game console. What I'm referring to is the gameplay.

In addition to the classic controls you can imagine, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus will make use of the Vita's gyroscopic sensors for tasks like aiming shurikens, while the rear touch panel will be used for Ninpo magic attacks. Players will also be able to swap between first and third person perspectives.

Not surprisingly, Ninja Gaiden Sigma Plus is a remake of Team Ninja's 2007 Ninja Gaiden Sigma. It'll feature pretty much the same storyline as the original, but it'll also bring to the table a host of new elements (not the least of which is all the new gameplay mechanics), including Ninja Challenges. Didn't think Ninja Gaiden Sigma was hard enough? Try going for one of the challenges. Basically, they're little achievements that involve beating a level in a certain fashion or with a particular degree of flair, like clearing a stage using only Shurikens or Ninpo, or getting through a mission without taking any damage.

Sigma Plus also features a new difficulty setting, known as Hero Mode. Designed for series' newcomers, it includes evasion assists, more powerful Ninpo techniques, and automatic guard, all in the interest of helping newcomers ease their way into the legendarily difficult franchise, enjoying the game's "rich story" without having to destroy themselves in the process. For series' veterans, Team Ninja's promised several modes beyond Normal and Hard, which will test the endurance of fans straight to their limits. 

"The Ninja Gaiden series lends itself to a great experience on this amazing new platform," Yosuke Hayashi, Studio Head of Team Ninja, said of the title. "We're confident that gamers, both fans and newcomers, will find 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 up a host of new and portable gameplay mechanics."

If you're a fan of challenging games, or you just have a thing for pain, give Sigma Plus a go when you pick up a Vita this February, it's looking like it'll be worth the buy. 

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