Happy now?

Ninja Gaiden III is so easy that our own blade-wielding beast Christopher Ingram managed to play through the game with his eyes closed. Or so we’re told.

That’s not exactly a glowing endorsement for a franchise that prides itself on its difficulty, and so publisher Tecmo Koei has taken steps to rectify that issue.

Now available for free from the PlayStation Store is Ultimate Ninja Mode – an addition so challenging that it makes you cry before you even pass the menu screen. You’ll be able to grab the extra difficulty tier at no cost until 24th May.

If you really want to challenge yourself, Tecmo Koei’s also released a batch of new ninja trials. These can be purchased individually or as part of a set for $9.99. But is this a case study example of too little, too late?