Monday 18 October 2010

Game Review: Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2-Xbox 360, PS3



It’s clear from the off that Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 has been developed with its fanbase solely in mind and if-like me-you’re unfamiliar with this particular slice of manga/anime you may find the tale of a young boy’s journey to become the Ultimate Ninja, (or as it’s known in the context of the story, a Hokage), more than a little daunting. Never the less as far as fighting games go it’s a pretty solid affair, one that’s resplendent with beautifully drawn characters and environments and the kind of super slick, stylish animation found in many of today’s Japanese animated cinema.

Attack, jump, special moves and shurikens are consigned to each of the four main controller buttons making string attacks, juggles and combos easier to pull out of the bag. Whilst some may bulk at the simplistic control scheme there’s a good reason for why this approach has been adopted: fighting arenas in Ninja Storm 2 work in a full three dimensional plane that constantly shifts and turns depending on you’re location during combat. It’s an interesting take on the 3D fighter and one that works in considerable favour towards convincing the player that they’re in a living anime crammed with colourful explosions of power and dazzling pyrotechnics. Each of the characters can call upon ‘Chakra’ which, put simply, is a bond of elemental and physical energy that can be harnessed to unleash Jutsu (abilities) or Ultimate Jutsu (special finishers), all of which are quite magnificent in their execution and can turn the tide of battle in an heartbeat. Combining Chakra with simple attacks can also unleash powerful combos, allowing one to launch their opponent high into the air for a juggle attack before slamming them back down to the ground below.

What makes each fight so visually engaging is the camera frantically following the action frame by frame; from simple combo to spectacular finishing move it’s almost difficult to keep up with at times and it'll have your head in a spin. Unleash an Ultimate Jutsu and the camera will zoom in to capture your chosen fighters determination etched across their face and then just as quickly zoom out to show the entire arena before smoothly panning around as each fighter jumps back from a flurry of blows. The real skill involved in Ninja Storm 2 is being able to use the ever shifting three dimensional environments to your advantage, especially during team battles where you and your opponent can call upon others fighters to help out with guard, defensive and balance attacks. Constantly moving around the arena, using Chakra to quickly zigzag forward to then launch into the air at just the right moment to get behind ones opponent in a surprise move is a requisite for success. Done right it can be immensely satisfying and once mastered you’ll be able to give even the most challenging of players the run around, chipping away at their life force in a dazzling display of skill before taking them down with an audacious finishing move.


As well as a Free Battle mode, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 also allows you to take the combat online-the first in the series to do so- and, more interestingly, has an ‘Ultimate Adventure’ mode much like the story mode found in Tekken 6. However, unlike the former Cyber Connect 2’s offering doesn’t feel tacked on and is a much more fleshed out experience, one that goes a long way to explaining who Naruto is and some of the history behind the world and the characters therein. Beginning in a place known as Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto returns from a three year training stint and it’s here that you’re thrown into a brief introduction to the games key fighting mechanics, how to obtain, trade and buy items and how to explore and interact with the world Naruto inhabits. Encounters through the course of the adventure are played out the same as in the single player mode but with the added twist that boss fights are intertwined with QTEs and mini-puzzle games which add an extra dimension to the combat whilst also working as an excuse for the game to show off some of its stunning visuals.



Ultimate Adventure also allows you to unlock a huge array of extras and goodies for use in online play, VS and single player modes. Like with many of today’s beat em ups gamers expect more than just a simple Single Player and VS mode for their hard earned cash and so between Ultimate Adventure, Free Battle, VS, Online Battle and tons of hidden extras there’ certainly a lot of bang for your buck to be found here and as such you may quickly find yourself spending hours trying to discover and unlock all these hidden extras. It’s also worth noting that Ninja Storm 2 is infused with some fantastic audio. From the ‘whoosh’ of air as your fighter zip, flips and springs into combat; the deafening crack of lightening exploding forth from fingertips; and the thunder of the ground being ripped up through sheer force of will; there really is nothing quite like it in the fighting genre and will leave anime fans, new and old, breathless.


Still, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 won’t appeal to everyone outside of the core fanbase and with its strong leanings toward Japanese culture it could be off-putting for some audiences. It’s lack of depth, when compared to other fighters currently on the market, will almost certainly have beat ‘em up aficionados turn their collective noses up at it, and that it’s considered a ‘kids cartoon’ by many will undoubtedly see Ninja Storm 2 ignored by the older generation. Having said that, what it does do is not only offer up a unique spin on the traditional beat ‘em up, but it does it with a sense of style and razor sharp direction rarely seen in many of today’s video games. It’s not perfect, but its damn good fun and that alone is perhaps enough for Naruto to garner a few more fans outside of the land of the rising sun.

8/10

3 comments:

  1. Hey there bud, apologies in advance for being completely off topic. I came across your blog after seeing a forum post about the independant game store "Game On" in Cheltenham. I recently moved down here and I have been in on a couple of occasions but I had no idea it was run by gamers. I know this is a bit random but I dont suppose you are looking for any full time staff at your store? I am currently working as a software engineer but I am just not getting job satisfaction anymore so I am looking to do something in where my passion lies - gaming. If you are fully staffed no worries, I just thought I would try my luck. Like the blog btw, I have always wanted to try my hand at my own but I never find the time between work and play atm. I read a few blogs such as Keen and Graev, Common Sense Gamer, Tobold's MMORPG Blog. I think I may add yours to the list to get my console fix ^^

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  2. Hi there,

    I'm afraid I no longer work at Game On and the deputy director has also recently left due to the company no longer being able to pay him his full salary. As far as I'm aware the owner, Emma, (who isn't a gamer, more of a dabbler), isn't taking on any staff due to money constraints. Sadly, Game On's future, like pretty much every independent games retailer in the UK, isn't looking to bright.

    Best of luck finding something you can enjoy; such jobs are a rarity these days.

    On a brighter note, thanks for checking out my blog and if you're interested in writing you're own games related articles etc you might also want to check out the gaming website I write for, 7outof10, which can be found in my blog links. Our editor, Manny, is always looking for new staff and while it may not pay hard cash, (at this time), you might get a few free games out of it. At the very least it's a good way of expressing your passion for gaming.

    Cheers,

    Joseph.

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  3. Thanks for the reply. It is such a shame to hear that the store's future doesn't look too bright. It was a refreshing change to see a store like that when I looked around Cheltenham for the first time. Thanks for the tip on 7outof10, gives me another website to peruse in my daily grab of gaming news. I will certainly offer some articles if I ever find the time to dabble in a little games journalism.

    Cheers

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