Savor each sword slash while you can, because you'll be throwing your last shuriken with Ninja Gaiden II.

Series maker Tomonobu Itagaki says that Ninja Gaiden II for the Xbox 360 will be the last game in the Ninja Gaiden series. CVG says that the Team Ninja boss is looking to move onto something "completely new."

"Personally I think we were able to create the definitive 3D game in this series so I'm not planning on making any other games in the series," said Itagaki. "So I hope fans treat this as a swan song for the franchise."

And by "new," I don't think that he's even considering anything with ninjas in it. Itagaki tells Kotaku:

"I think the Pacific theater of World War II is a interesting topic," he said. "I think it would be cool to work with an American developer and do a game based on the Pacific Theater."

He would also consider doing a "space" game. I'm fine with either, as long as you can still run on walls.

Are you saddened by this news?