Naruto: Rise of Ninja Review

Believe it! An absurd blonde hair style and tattered orange clothing could signify only one thing: Naruto. Naruto: Rise of Ninja is an Xbox 360 exclusive video game that features the eccentric Naruto. This game comes from the same video game company that was responsible for games like Prince of Persia, Splinter Cell, and Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon. Since the game takes numerous aspects from the television show, the plot in the game parallels the television show. Gamers will have an opportunity to witness the Hidden Leaf Village and view scenery that is eerily reminiscent to the cartoon.

The gameplay in this game is a combination of both role playing and action. Players will comprehend how to talk to other civilians, bolster attributes, buy equipment and accessories, and accomplish mission objectives. At the beginning of the game, Naruto is somewhat of an outcast. He wants to become a Hokage, but Naruto fails miserably. In an effort to strengthen his self-esteem, he seeks to lend a helping hand to others in need of assistance. When you progress through the game, more and more pedestrians will admire your performance. There are two mission types in the game. One type is the core objectives that further the storyline, and the others are the optional side quests. The majority of the gameplay in the game entails platform jumping and fighting. Both the fighting and platform jumping elements in the game are done in a cohesive fashion. For instance, the combat emulates the Jutsu maneuvers that are prevalent in the cartoon. These techniques include summoning an attractive woman and cloning himself. The techniques varies depending on the characters on the screen. The fight sequences range from the rudimentary button presses to some fairly intricate button combinations that require timing. Moreover, there certain attacks that can only be performed based on the distance of the foes and the situation. This game has a well rounded fighting scheme that is engrossing.

The platform jumping segments in the game are also well balanced. Naruto: Rise of Ninja is a challenging game that does not treat gamers like they are a bunch of immature children. The game does have its arduous moments, but they can be easily overcome with perseverance. I felt like the game developers were paying an homage to previous games in this same genre. In addition to the main gameplay, there are some mini games to play. For example, Naruto can partake in a racing mini game that tests his running ability. All of the skills that you will master is given at just the most opportune time.

The game does a fantastic job of pacing you through the gameplay by keeping you interested throughout. There is the enormous gratification of defeating a boss and the disappointment of losing to an opponent. Naruto: Rise of Ninja does not skimp on the amount of content either. This game should take approximately fifteen hours to finish from start to end. There is some online multiplayer that incorporates a Tournament mode, and it even tracks statistics for players via Xbox Live. However, the Xbox Live online support is not the true bulk of the game. The graphics in the game does an accurate job of representing the tone of the cartoon. All of the architecture has a Japanese appearance to them, and the environments are representative of the television show. Cel-shading was used in this game as well as it was in games such as X-Men Legends and X-Men Legends 2. Gamers will actually feel like they are immersed in an episode of Naruto. It is just a breathe of fresh air to see something different from the typical next generation visuals the Xbox 360 has to offer.

The audio in the game is about as grandiose as the graphics. You will hear all the characters from the cartoon reprising their roles in this game, and the music added some personality the gameplay. Overall, Naruto: Rise of Ninja might not necessarily be for everyone. Nevertheless, avid enthusiasts of Naruto will be entertained.

Final Verdict: Naruto: Rise of Ninja is a good game.
8 out of 10