Namco Bandai announces Afro Samurai for next-gen consoles, on its way to Europe next year...

Afro Samurai will be swiping his way onto the Xbox 360 and PS3, Katana sword in hand, when the game of the bloody manga/anime series is released across Europe in 2009.

Atari will be publishing Namco Bandai's game of Takashi Okazaki's original manga in Europe. The manga was later developed into an anime series featuring the voice of Samuel L. Jackson and music by hip-hop producer RZA, both of whom will be lending their talents to the game as well.

"Dynamic cross-hatching visuals" will be used in the game to keep it true to its roots, giving the final product a "pen and ink hand-drawn look". Namco Bandai is also retaining the bloody swordplay of the anime by allowing Afro to "dismember enemies with ease" in a "blood-splattered masterpiece".

The game will follow the story of Afro Samurai avenging his father's death by confronting his killer, Justice. To get to Justice (who looks a bit like a cowboy version of Skeletor), first Afro must confront the evil fighter's army of assassins and henchmen.