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I’ve never considered taking on the immensely popular Naruto anime. However, after spending some time with Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, I feel compelled to at least give it a try. My interest was sparked by some fantastically tight story telling. For fighting game junkies, however, Naruto will likely not impress with its shallow fighting mechanics that lack in complexity and have a low learning curve. Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is the ultimate Naruto fan treat, and is extremely accessible (and welcoming) to franchise newcomers looking to dip their feet in one of the biggest anime fandoms of all time.
Naruto does an amazing job portraying the animated series in a video game fashion. The graphics are a sight to behold, beautifully representing the crazy cast of characters from the series in spades. The game feels like an anime come to life and is a joy to witness, especially while watching epic battles filled with flashy attacks. Characters are crisp and faithful to the series and will make you feel like you are watching the anime as you play.
In the adventure mode, you follow their fate taking part in fights and performing somewhat trivial sidequests. The mode is rich enough to make the story clear even for those who are not familiar with the setting although the emphasis really is on the “critical moments” of the show. At least the Naruto enthusiasts can relive the series at some parts. You should realize that the adventure mode in every fighting game is somewhat nothing more than a good way to tie together a whole bunch of different fights. The fun part here is that maybe you even care what will happen to the characters when you play the game.
Maybe you enjoy your time unlocking your characters in the Adventure mode, but the main pillar of the game is the fighting which very easy to pick up. One button equals one attack, one button equals block etc. The game gets a tone deeper when you learn to control your chakra (mana in most games). Chakra modifies your basic moves and unleashes the special ones so you’ll be combining basic tactics with your chakra usage to give your opponent some tough time. This is where the game really gets interesting. When you add variety of items you can use the hinder your opponents or enhance your performance, you’ll notice that you really are addicted to Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 because suddenly you’ll notice that the game is skill-based fighting experience of FUN!
The reason why fans love the Naruto games is because the online mode puts you in the shoes of your favorite Naruto characters and allows you to fight others. Here you can enjoy a vast selection of characters, which ensures that there is something for everyone. The only major change is the addition of tournament mode. Besides Free Battle mode and the other common modes found in previous Ninja Storm titles, players will notice the addition of Online Tournament. Through a bracket style tournament, players can now compete both online and offline. Using the characters unlocked from playing the story mode, there are over 70 characters and 15 support to master in the tournament. Since the Naruto games are all about the fighting, this mode is a welcome addition and greatly extends play time.
All in all Naruto has been a tough title to write about, as like many fighting style games it can become very repetitive and doesn't offer anything new other than the storyline. It is a definite must have for any hardcore Naruto fans and while it was just a basic fighting game with some pretty effects here and there, It was greatly enjoyed.
My overall rating for Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 (Try saying that 5 times really fast) is a whopping 4/5!
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