Really, the current popularity of Afro Samurai isn’t much of a surprise, even for a show that airs in the dead of night to more specific audience.  For one thing, it’s still riding high on the residual popularity of anime, and then it goes on to push the envelope with an excessive amount of violence and still charm viewers with the immutable cool that is Samuel L. Jackson.  However, what’s fun to watch must now also prove to be fun to play.  The debut title for Surge – Namco Bandai’s new western label aimed at delivering games palatable to our specific, presumably blood-drenched taste – it was today announced that the Afro Samurai game has shipped for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 and should be available in stores across North America soon.  Like the TV show, the game follows the titular Afro Samurai, giving players the chance to become the number one warrior as they quest to avenge the murder of his father.  A hack-and-slash, Afro Samurai appears to mirror its source material closely, right down the cel-shaded graphics to show off all that gore and with music from The RZA.  For more information on Afro Samurai, be sure to check out the official press release below:

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (January 27, 2009) – SURGE™, a cutting edge studio and publisher created by NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that Afro Samurai^® has shipped to North American retailers for the Xbox 360^® video game and entertainment system from Microsoft and PLAYSTATION^®3 computer entertainment system.  A merciless action adventure game centered on revenge, Afro Samurai brings together the creative best from the worlds of Hollywood and hip-hop music to deliver an unparalleled entertainment experience.

“Afro Samurai exemplifies our corporate vision of developing sophisticated and immersive gaming experiences complete with intense action and in-depth story lines,” said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations at NAMCO BANDAI Games America, Inc. “Combining the visual flair of Japanese esthetics with world-class Hollywood talent, Afro Samurai is the definition of a high-style videogame.”

Based on the acclaimed animated series starring and executive-produced by Samuel L. Jackson, Afro Samurai follows a lone warrior who walks the earth in search of his father’s murderer while ascending into the timeless mysticism of the Samurai code. Staying true to the soul of the original series, Afro Samurai not only features familiar faces, but also additional content and background for fans of the series and newcomers alike. From the gritty musical beats of The RZA that punctuate the game’s soundtrack to the iconic voiceover of Samuel L. Jackson, the game is a non-stop, action-packed adventure with style to spare.

Graphically innovative, Afro Samurai’s dynamic cross-hatch visuals give the game a truly unique look and feel as Afro wages a brutal war against anyone standing in his way. Featuring an unrivalled combat system, players can dismember enemies with surgical precision using vigorous slices of the blade. Make a statement by cleaving an opponent in two from skull to sandals or perform cosmetic surgery, samurai style, by lopping off the nose of an adversary. Afro Samurai lets the player feel the swagger and swordsmanship of the ultimate hip-hop warrior.

Afro Samurai is rated “M” for mature by the ESRB and carries a suggested MSRP of $59.99.