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| | Title:
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja
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System:
Playstation 2
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Genre:
Fighting
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Publisher:
Bandai
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Developer:
CyberConnect2
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Release:
June 30, 2006
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Online:
No
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ESRB:
(RP) Rating Pending
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Based on the popular Japanese Manga that first debuted in Shonen Jump’s magazine back in 1999, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja brings all the action from the series into this cell-shaded fighter. Originally, after becoming one of the best-selling Manga series in Japan, Naruto went from the comic pages to the television screen. Debuting on the Cartoon Network in 2005, Naruto has gone on to capture enough attention to establish a fan-base for the Manga, TV show, and now popular video game series that’s finally making its debut in America.
Over-the-top Ninja
Naruto’s general story follows the likes of an over-the-top, egotistically ambitious Ninja named Uzumaki Naruto. Gifted (or cursed) with the Demon Fox spirit, Naruto can fight with an indefinite amount of ferocity, and an uncontainable anger. Under the tutelage of Master Iruka, Naruto must train to harness his skill with the rest of the ninja students. He also does so in hopes of becoming a ninja master of his own will.
Like most other anime heroes, Naruto is brave in a reckless way, and courageous with blatant arrogance. His quirky personality and doting drive to be the best (despite being one of the worst) ninja students, makes him one of the more unique video game characters; especially to pilot in an action, fighting genre.
A look worth keeping
Normally video games take the cell-shaded look into the visual territory of being obnoxious and very indulgent. However, like the cartoon, the game focuses on fast-paced battles with flashy skills, fancy moves, and a clean look. Developers CyberConnect2 has also brought back the smooth appearance and crisp colors for the characters and backgrounds in this game.
Unlike other cell-shaded disasters (much like the earlier DBZ games), Naruto: UN’s cell-shading appears to be aimed at mimicking the actual visuals of the manga. Giving the game less of an obnoxious appeal, and more of a solid gaming experience based on the show’s, and manga’s, action and excitement. The shading is also a neat feature, as it depicts the darker contours of the characters with shading marks that look like they’ve been drawn on by a pencil. CyberConnect2 has really put a creative edge on cell-shading. Compared to other titles using the graphical technique, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja seems to capture the right element for cell-shading.
Comic book battlegrounds
After picking one of the 14 playable characters, some of which must be unlocked, you can head onto the 2-and-a-half-D battle field to duke it out. In a neat way to entertain gamers, at the start of every match a short segment will ensue with the two fighters. They’ll taunt one another in the form of a 3D comic book page. Really, I can’t emphasize enough on the lighting and shading techniques used for the cells...this game really looks like an authentic manga come to life.
The actual battles are something else altogether. The fighting is like no other fighting game on the market, at this time. Think of Dragon Ball Z meeting Ninja Gaiden Black. The fighting is very fast, and players have a beefy amount of attacks to commence on their foes in many different ways. When you build up your specials in this game, unlike DBZ, Mortal Kombat, KOF, or Street Fighter, YOU, the player will actually have to continue the effects of the special. Instead of putting in the combination, sitting back in the chair, and watching the sparks fly, Naruto: UN has players’ participating in the specials. You’ll have to insert the correct button combination in a short mini-game between fighters, and whoever puts in the combination the fastest, executes their special. You can even continue the special with added moves if you’re quick enough to insert the rest of the combination. This game is very interactive, fast paced, and keeps players on their toes at all times.
Background battlegrounds
Backgrounds also play a huge part in the outcome of a battle. During hits, bumps, kicks and power moves, you’ll see all sorts of flashy effects, comic-book style words popping up and about, and items fall from out of backdrops. Like Yuu Yuu Hakusho, whoever gets the advantage will have the likely tendency to acquire fallen items, which perform many different effects (power up, etc.). Speaking of background interaction, players can use walls and objects as platforms or evasive maneuvers. You can run up a tree and flip off it to gain higher ground on another platform. You can also hop up on overhead objects, such as wires or building rooftops, to try to gain an advantage during a battle.
The one thing that really makes Naruto: Ultimate Ninja a real fight fest, is the ability to hop back into, and from, the backdrops. So while you’re kicking butt and taking names, and your opponent decides to run back on some trees and into the balcony of a house, don’t be afraid to take chase. You can hop back onto the rooftop and set him up for a big dropkick. All of this can be done with seamless interaction though...there are no load times between transitions and the camera work is superb, from what I’ve seen. There’s even the option to shift between different stages in the middle of a fight swiftly, without it having to load. How they managed to do that on the PS2's hardware is beyond me.
With unlockable audio, trading cards, characters, stages, and other hidden goodies, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja is shaping up to be a replayable fighting game that’s at least trying something different. You’ll definitely have to see it to appreciate it. You can look for it to hit American shelves come June 30, 2006.
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