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Naruto: Ultimate Ninja

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File:Narutoultnin.jpg
The English cover to Naruto: Ultimate Ninja.

The Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series (known in Japan as Naruto: Narutimate Hero) is a series of 3-D fighting games based on the popular manga and anime series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. They were developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Namco Bandai. The games are available only on Sony's PlayStation 2, PlayStation 3 and PlayStation Portable. Five games (with two currently exclusives to Japan) are present on the PlayStation 2 and two are on PSP with one announced for release on the PlayStation 3.


Gameplay

File:UltimateNinja2Gameplay.jpg
Kakashi Hatake facing Sasuke Uchiha in Ultimate Ninja 2.

In the Ultimate Ninja Series line, the player controls one of the many characters seen within the Naruto anime and manga. The simple goal is to fight the opposing character and to win by reducing their health to zero. The catch to this goal is the vast amount of weapons that appear to the characters as the battle progresses (along with items which could potentially heal the player or the opponent). Along with the various weapons available to the characters, they also have their various special abilities taken straight from the series (Naruto Uzumaki's Rasengan or Sasuke Uchiha's Chidori, for example). To use these attacks, however, the player must have the required chakra as indicated by the "chakra bars" located under the players health. Using the technique drains the chakra bar (which can be regained through various methods, including special, character specific methods for some characters). These special techniques are not performed in real-time, however; once successfully executed, a cinematic takes place, where the player either has to fill a bar to a specific level or hit buttons illustrated in the corner of the screen faster than their opponent to assure the attack is at its full strength. All characters can use the substitution jutsu, although some characters use different versions (two variants of Substitution exist; one which evades normal attacks, and another which begins a tug-of-war like minigame after juggling an opponent). Also, some characters have specific transformations available to them (such as Sasuke's Curse Mark of Heaven with the right amount of chakra or, in the later games, by successfully executing their special technique). The first few games of the Ultimate Ninja series let players execute 3 different secret technique attacks using three different Chakra levels (red, purple, and blue, in order of weakest to strongest), 2 different signature techniques, and a wide variety of kicks, punches, and throws. However, in Ultimate Ninja 3, players are only allowed to use one secret technique attack, besides the other attacks and techniques. To compensate for this, players will be allowed to select the secret technique of their choice before each battle, but not all secret techniques will be made available at the start of the game. Different secret techniques must be obtained through story mode and completing missions.

PlayStation 2

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja (known in Japan as Naruto: Narutimate Hero (NARUTO-ナルト- ナルティメットヒーロー) is the first installment of the Ultimate Ninja series. It is now a Greatest Hits title. The game was released on October 23 2003 in Japan, June 26 2006 in North America, November 17 2006 in Australia, and November 30 2006 in Europe.

There are special techniques and jutsus that can be used. It also features several items, like shuriken and kunai. There are many multi-layered stages from around the Naruto universe, including the Hidden Leaf Village, the Chunin Exam arena, and the Forest of Death. In the original Japanese version, there were only 12 characters; however, NamcoBandai has added the ability to select both Curse Mark Sasuke and Nine-Tailed Naruto as bonus characters. Although both of these characters were already in the Japanese version as transformations, NamcoBandai chose to distinguish these four variations into their own playable characters. Due to this, both Naruto and Sasuke have lost their ability to transform into their stronger modes during battle. This is much like the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 transformation system. The game also features an arcade style story mode. The Story Mode consists of up to six battles divided by some dialogue in a manga style display, one of many homages to its source material.

Critical reception has been positive. But fans criticized the game and gameplay, especially the graphics. G4's X-Play gave Ultimate Ninja a three out of five for a creative comicbook feel and stylish cel-shaded graphics, but complained that the controls are too simple, and that the English voices are "slightly questionable."[1] Both IGN and GameSpot say that the game is easy, yet fun, to play, and praise the anime/manga-inspired graphics.[2][3]

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2, known in Japan as Naruto: Narutimate Hero 2 (NARUTO-ナルト- ナルティメットヒーロー2), is the second installment of the fighting game series Naruto: Ultimate Ninja. Like some other Naruto games in Japan, this one was available in two covers: one featuring Naruto Uzumaki along with several different characters in the background, and the other with Sasuke Uchiha and several other characters. The game was released on September 30 2004 in Japan, June 13 2007 in North America, and October 19 2007 in Europe.[4]

Ultimate Ninja 2 features a similar gameplay experience to Ultimate Ninja, featuring many of the same gameplay elements and geography and mini games in the story mode. The game also features an RPG-esque story mode, the first half from the series, the second being an added story arc that takes place after the Tsunade Decision arc.

There is a total of 32 characters to choose from (33 in the Japanese version with the inclusion of Doto Kazahana). Some characters have also been fused together, so the player must use a certain special jutsu to activate them, such as Sasuke with his Curse Mark of Heaven, although the separate character of Nine-Tailed Naruto remains, this version of Naruto using his Level 3 Ultimate from the first Ultimate Ninja game.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3

Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3, known as in Japan as Naruto: Narutimate Hero 3 (NARUTO-ナルト- ナルティメットヒーロー3), is the third installment of the fighting game series Naruto Ultimate Ninja. This game was released in Japan on December 22 2005 in North America on March 25 2008, and in England September 26 2008 (Though has only been found in select few stores) and was realeased in Australia and New Zealand on September 18 2008. This game features the third largest roster in the Ultimate Ninja series, with 42 characters, and follows the storyline up to and including the Sasuke Retrieval Arc. The player can use equippable jutsu like the second game. When two jutsu of the same strength clash, the game cuts to a jutsu clash, in which the player or players must press a button repeatedly, until either jutsu wins out over the other. In this installment, the player is to both induce temporary transformations (like Sasuke's curse mark and Rock Lee's Gate of Life) through special jutsu, and other, more permanent ones, that last the entire rest of the fight (like Nine-Tailed Naruto or the Second State curse mark). The game also expands on the previous game's RPG mode, and is the first in the series to use CGI cutscenes. The player also has the ability to summon other characters, such as Gamabunta.

Naruto Hurricane Chronicles: Ultimate Ninja Revolution

Naruto Hurricane Chronicles: Ultimate Ninja Revolution, known in Japan as Naruto Shippūden: Narutimate Accel, was released in Japan on April 5, 2007, and will be released in North America on February 9, 2009. By the count of 52 character as the count of the time-skip version and pre-time-skip version and counting transformations and awakenings.

Naruto Shippūden: Narutimate Accel 2

Naruto Shippūden: Narutimate Accel 2 is the second installment of the accel series.

PlayStation 3

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm

PlayStation Portable

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is a North American and European-exclusive fighting game.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is essentially an edited version of Naruto: Narutimate Portable, which also happens to be a scaled down version of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3.

Story Mode, Kabuto, Shizune, The Third Hokage, and two stages were removed in this release, while Naruto & Sasuke's secret techniques were modified to prevent spoilers (as the English dub had not reached the Sasuke Retrieval arc yet). To compensate for these removals, the game now has a 3-on-3 battle system, similar to The King of Fighters; where the first team to defeat all 3 members of the other team wins. The game features 20 characters, 8 Stages, and several new features, such as a three-on-three fighting system, wireless two-player battles, and "Hidden Team Skills", which grant special abilities to a certain combination of characters.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: Phantom Fortress

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: Phantom Fortress (Naruto: Narutimate Portable: Mugenjou no Maki in Japan) was released in North America on June 24, 2008 and was released in Europe on July 8, 2008. In this Naruto game, you can equip skills and items to four characters of your choice. This release is the full non-modified version of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes, and contains the three characters that were removed, which includes The Third Hokage, Shizune and Kabuto. Both removed stages and the game's Story Mode are now present as well. Additionally, movesets have been updated. Gamers can also select the characters to use Japanese or English voices. Jiraiya and Naruto can use Rasengan, Kakashi can use lightning blade and Sasuke can use Chidori without the use of a secret technique.

While some characters retain their old techniques, others, such as Neji, have theirs upgraded. The game contains an original storyline involving moving up a haunted castle in the sky to the 99th floor. Each floor has several "blank" rooms where the users place randomly generated scrolls to determine the type of action that will take place in the room. The scrolls include Battle (a player vs. CPU fight) and five mini game scrolls: Tree Climbing (Naruto dashes up a tree and dodges broken branches), Shadow Possession (style button pressing), Amusement (slot machines), Riddle (answer Naruto trivia) and Clone (the shell game where you try to follow the real clone). Non-blank rooms include Treasure Rooms, Healing Rooms and Drama rooms (where the story progresses and cut scenes take place). Other game modes include Vs. CPU and ad hoc wireless battle mode where you can fight against a friend using only one UMD (but two PSPs).

Playable characters

Gaara, Hinata, Kakashi, Neji, Naruto, Orochimaru, Rock Lee, Sakura, Sasuke, and Shikamaru are the only characters who have appeared in every game.

Character 1 2 3 Revo. Accel 2 Heroes 1 Heroes 2 Storm
Anko Mitarashi Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Asuma Sarutobi Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Chiyo Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Chiyo with Puppets Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Choji Akimichi Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Super Choji Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
TS Choji Akimichi Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Deidara Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN
Doto Kazahana Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
First Hokage Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Gaara Green tickY[6] Green tickY[7] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Possessed Gaara Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
TS Gaara Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Haku Green tickY[8] Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN
Hinata Hyuga Green tickY[8] Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Byakugan Hinata Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY
TS Hinata Hyuga Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Ino Yamanaka Red XN Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
TS Ino Yamanaka Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Itachi Uchiha Red XN Green tickY[10] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Jiraiya Red XN Green tickY[11] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Jirobo Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Second State Jirobo Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Kabuto Yakushi Red XN Green tickY[11] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY
Kakashi Hatake Green tickY[8] Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[12] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
ANBU Kakashi Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
Kankuro Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
TS Kankuro Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Kiba Inuzuka Red XN Green tickY[11] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
TS Kiba Inuzuka Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Kidomaru Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Second State Kidomaru Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Kimimaro Kaguya Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Second State Kimimaro Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Kisame Hoshigaki Red XN Green tickY[10] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Konohamaru Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN
Kurenai Yuhi Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Might Guy Red XN Green tickY[11] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Neji Hyuga Green tickY[6] Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
TS Neji Hyuga Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Naruto Uzumaki Green tickY[6] Green tickY[7] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Nine-Tailed Naruto Uzumaki Red XN[6] Red XN[7] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY
The Green Beast Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
TS Naruto Uzumaki Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
TS Nine-Tailed Naruto Uzumaki Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
Four-Tailed Naruto Uzumaki Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Orochimaru Green tickY[8] Green tickY[11] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Sealed Orochimaru Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN
Rock Lee Green tickY[6] Green tickY[7] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Drunk Lee Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
TS Rock Lee Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Sai Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Sakon Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Second State Sakon Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Sakura Haruno Green tickY[8] Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
TS Sakura Haruno Red XN Red XN[9] Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Sasori in Hiruko Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Sasori with Kazekage Puppet Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN
True Form Sasori Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN
Sasuke Uchiha Green tickY[6] Green tickY[7] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Second State Sasuke Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY
TS Sasuke Uchiha Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Second Hokage Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Shino Aburame Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
TS Shino Aburame Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Shizune Red XN Green tickY[10] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Green tickY Green tickY
Shikamaru Nara Green tickY[6] Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
TS Shikamaru Nara Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN
Tayuya Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Green tickY
Second State Tayuya Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Third Hokage Red XN Green tickY[11] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Green tickY Green tickY
Temari Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Green tickY
TS Temari Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN
Tenten Red XN Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
TS Tenten Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Tsunade Red XN Green tickY[10] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY
Yamato Red XN Red XN Red XN Red XN Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
The Yellow Flash Red XN Red XN Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY Red XN Red XN Red XN
Zabuza Momochi Green tickY[8] Green tickY[9] Green tickY Green tickY Green tickY[5] Red XN Red XN Red XN

Notes:

1. TS is an abbreviation for Time-Skip and signifies a characters form after the two-and-a half year skip between the first part of the manga and the second part.
2. Doto Kazahana was in the Japanese version of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 but not in the US/PAL version.
3. Orochimaru receives an overhaul in Accel 2, to the point that he no longer uses the Grass Long Sword. Other characters are also occasionally updated as the plot progresses.

See also

References

  1. ^ "X-Play's review of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja". Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  2. ^ "IGN's review of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja". Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  3. ^ "GameSpot's review of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja". Retrieved 2007-07-07.
  4. ^ "IGN release date for Ultimate Ninja 2". Retrieved 2007-04-10.
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t Weekly Shonen Jump reveals many playable characters for Accel 2.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g Naruto: Ultimate Ninja English instruction manual. Namco Bandai. 2006. p. 26.
  7. ^ a b c d e Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 English instruction manual. Namco Bandai. 2007. pp. 1–10.
  8. ^ a b c d e f Naruto: Ultimate Ninja English instruction manual. Namco Bandai. 2006. p. 27.
  9. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 English instruction manual. Namco Bandai. 2007. pp. 11–20.
  10. ^ a b c d Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 English instruction manual. Namco Bandai. 2007. pp. 31–34.
  11. ^ a b c d e f Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 English instruction manual. Namco Bandai. 2007. pp. 21–30.
  12. ^ Spencer (2007-09-01). "Naruto Shippūden: Narutimate Accel 2 confirmed for this year". Siliconera. Retrieved 2007-09-07. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help)