HOHOHOHOHO NARUTO. Now most of you must be thinking: "Oh, it's just a Naruto gam-" NO, IT'S NOT. Well it is, but don't knock it just because it is (for you Naruto haters out there). This is a good fighting game regardless of what it was based off of/created from. DON'T KNOCK IT 'TIL YOU TRY IT.
Console: Sony PlayStation 3
Release Date: November 4, 2008 (US); November 7, 2008 (EU)
Publisher: Namco Bandai Games
Developer: CyberConnect2
Players: Single-Player (Two-player Versus Mode)
ESRB Rating: Teen
Storyline
The storyline is exactly like the anime's story starting from the first episode until the 135th. You start out as Naruto (BIG SHOCKER!) and start your journey of becoming a Hokage (similar to the president/prime minister). Though the plot is fairly simple, it's very engaging and will keep you wondering what will happen next for those of you who like storylines in games. Aside from the main story, there are also side missions which have their own little mini-stories, provided you choose to do them.
Graphics
Graphics are as simple as a 3D anime. The game tries to stick as close to the anime as possible, and as such turns the 2D animation of Naruto into a 3D cel-shaded world. There's one central area where you'll be going after every mission and it is
huge. If it had caves and everything, it could probably be a dungeon for the Legend of Zelda, size-wise. There are tons of buildings and NPC's and they're all beautifully done, of course using the cel-shaded graphics.
Game Play
Game play for the most part is pretty simple with a few mix-ups every now and then. For most of the game, you'll be doing the standard one-on-one battle in a 3D environment. Battles are pretty straightforward, you have your basic commands: run, jump, throw (projectiles), chakra, and attack. During combat, you also are allowed to use four items which are able to be placed onto the D-pad which boost one of your stats, decrease your opponent's, or attack your opponent. Attacking items can be helpful at keeping opponents at bay while you recover chakra or charge up a powerful special chakra attack; items are very important in playing against hard opponents. For the rest of the game, you'll be doing missions which range from playing a game of hide-and-seek to dashing through the forest and running up trees.
Two other interesting features include the Storm Gauge and Awakening Mode. The Storm Gauge has three flames which gradually increase as you land more and more combos on your opponent. Each flame lit gives you a boost to your ultimate jutsu and when all the flames are lit, you start to glow red and have an automatic chakra regeneration as well as an increase in your attributes. This effect usually doesn't last too long, though it is obviously very beneficial during its time. Awakening Mode can be activated after you lose a certain amount of HP, some characters needing to be near death with others at full HP. Another way to activate [and stay in] Awakening Mode is to select Awakening Mode when choosing your character, though only a few have this option. Once activated, players will have increased attributes as well as access to completely unique move sets for some characters including Naruto and Sasuke.
Longevity
Longevity is something that's more than meets the eye. This game has five arcs corresponding to the anime with forty-nine story missions (not including the last mission which I can't make any sense out of). The story missions, as you progress through the story, require more and more Mission XP given from regular missions ranked from D-ranked to S-ranked. There are fifty-five missions in total (depending on the downloadable content you get), most with bonus conditions and some being ridiculously hard such as trying to win with Shikamaru, near impossible.
Sound
Sound is okay, not too special though. The background music has an Asian sort of style to it, though it wasn't hardcore Asian. Besides that, there weren't too many sounds aside from the fighting, obviously, with its grunts and screams.
Overall
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm is a pretty engaging game if you get into it and can last you quite a while with its never-ending storyline.
Linear Mode
