Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 Review

Publisher: Namco Bandai
Developer: Namco Bandai
Platforms: PS3, Xbox 360
Genre: Fighting, Adventure
Players: Single Player
Purchase from: Amazon, Gamestop

The Scoop: Namco bandai conducts a great, but not perfect storm of ninjas. Yes naruto fan’s the trademark orange jumpsuit ninja is back with his second installment Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2! The sequel comes equipped with more fighter’s, better graphics, a RPG style story mode, and a brand new online mode! Who said that it couldn’t get any better?

The Setup: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 follows the story of a now older Naruto Uzumaki. For those of you who are not familiar with the anime Naruto and Naruto Shippuden, Naruto chronicles Naruto on his quest to become hokage (basically president) of the hidden leaf village. But before he can even think of accomplishing that, he must first learn what it means to be a true ninja. Luckily he has his comrade’s and sensei along the way for the journey. This is all you need to know story wise to enjoy the cell shaded beauty that is Ultimate Ninja storm 2.

The main story is broken up into chapter’s. The action comes from “Free Battles”. You have the choice to use various projectiles and stat boosters that last a limited time in battle. These items of course may only be used a certain number of times before they cannot be used again. Combat revolves around mashing the circle button in different directions to pull off combos and pressing the triangle button to use special attacks that use “chakra”. You can manually charge your chakra bar by holding down triangle. The controls sound simple yet there a blast to actually play.

What’s Hot: As I mentioned above, the controls are simple enough for a casual player, but strategic enough for the most hardcore fighting gamer.Seeing all this actually unfold in cell-shaded graphics is a true beauty to watch. The story mode is mixed with components of exploration and RPG. While the story mode is not very engaging the boss battles at the end of every chapter will give you your moneys worth. The boss battles themselves are broken up into QTE’s (quick time events) that result in the player pressing a particular button or input combanation that pops up on screen. Succesfully pulling these off will not only take off a chunk of the bosses health off, but reward you with minor health every time you enter the buttons correctly. The cell-shaded graphics shine their best in these cinematic QTE’s.

"That looks painful, bandaid?"

What’s Not: While the combat is engaging thats just about the only thing that compliments the game itself. The story mode isn’t necessarily horrible but the cheap voice acting and RPG setup feels unescessary and forced. Because of the fact its a drag to hear that the only way to unlock characters to enjoy free batlle is by playing the story. Unless your willing to grind points in free battle mode to enjoy the one thing that gives the most fun out of the game. Give or take you have to endure the rough edges to get the gold.

Final Verdict: If your willing to brave a tedious, anime cliched full story mode to enjoy your many exciting ninja endeavours (online and off), you have what it takes to play one of the most memorable fighting games. Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2.