Until now, mini ninjas were good for just a few things — killing bugs, opening jars, stuff like that. Bigger jobs require bigger ninjas, of course.

But game developer IO Interactive has given the small sword-swingers something else to do. “Mini Ninjas,” debuting today, follows the feudal fighter Hiro and his acquaintances as they attempt to restore world harmony by subduing a bevy of maladjusted samurai.

At first glance, Hiro and his cohorts look too cute to be tough, but our story’s star has been trained in magic that helps him stop time and manipulate nature — definitely atypical ninja traits. His love interest, the musically inclined Suzume, possesses an “iron flute” that shoots darts.

Ouch! Talk about hitting the sharp notes.

“Mini Ninjas” is available on PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Nintendo’s Wii and DS, and PC. It’s rated E10+ mainly for flatulence jokes.