Cool new retro mode unveiled in Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z

Tecmo Koei and Keiji Inafune’s Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z has a cool surprise for us. Not only will we get a hyper-violent beat-em-up spinoff of Ninja Gaiden, but also a mode that harkens back to the series’ roots.

This new Ninja Gaiden Z mode transforms the game into a retro side-scroller, complete with an 8-bit UI and cutscenes. The game looks to still be running in the same engine, as the combat is still in 3D. There’s also a score system in place to bring the whole vintage theme home. With this extra mode and the Beck costume from Mighty No. 9, it looks like Team NINJA isn’t skimping on content.

Yaiba: Ninja Gaiden Z will be coming to PS3, Xbox 360, and Steam on March 4th, 2014.