Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 Nintendo Wii Review

As if there was ever any doubt, this is Kaiju... As a fan of the Naruto fighting games, I'm pleased to offer this review of Revolution 3. Keep an eye out and you might see 'Kaiju' online. I'll probably be playing as Neji, Deidara, Kabuto, or Kiba. Blink and you'll miss me though.

Mission, start.

You are Neji Hyuga. To your right is Rock Lee- charging straight at you with the Leaf Hurricane ready for. To your left is Hinata Hyuga- her palms ready to test your own. Up above you is Naruto Uzumaki- fist pulled back, about to collide with you. With calculated hands you execute the 'Rotation'- immediately a sphere of chakra whirls around you and sends all three of your opponents slamming into opposite walls. You are playing Naruto Shippuden: Clash of Ninja Revolution 3 for the Nintendo Wii.

Revolution 3 gives you a huge roster of over 35 ninjas from the popular Naruto anime series. The storyline takes place during the 'Recue Gaara' arc from the second half of the Naruto timeline- Shippuden. Get ready- you've got quite the battle ahead.

The Objective?

The Clash of Ninja series is seen as the definitive Naruto fighting game experience. Unlike the super-jutsu friendly, 2-Player only Ultimate Ninja series, winning in Clash takes serious skill and dedication. At any time your three foes can turn their attention to you and unleash all that they have. Many times has the Neji Hyuga (my main) scenario above taken place. If your foes select you as the most difficult target, they'll bring not only throw their kunai and shuriken at you- you'll be looking at Rock Lee's opened gates and Deidara's explosive jutsus.

Knowing what your character is capable of, what your opponent is, and both your weaknesses is extremely important. In previous Clash games as well as the Ultimate games, personal match-ups were less of a factor. Naruto, Sakura, Kisame, Shikamaru, and other members of the cast were fairly interchangeable- rarely was it necessary to have a firm understanding of your opponents skills because you generally could side-step, hurl projectiles, or vanish if things got too heated.

Now many of those cheap defensive tactics have been balanced. Expert players will cherish the change while fans of cheap tactics and techniques will be appalled. With Revolution 3 for the Wii, the name of the game was 'balance'.

The Targets?

Each player selects a character, tweaks whatever options they desire, and finally choose a fitting stage- each of differing size and potential hazards. Combat revolves around six main features- each with advanced techniques and sub-options. You have basic attacks and combos, long distance combat (projectiles), special moves known as jutsu, ground and aerial grabs, counter-attacks, and transformations. Utilizing all your options comes down to character preference. Select a fighter that meets your style and you'll soar. Select someone that goes against your personal talents and you'll fail.

For example, Tenten. This female ninja from Neji's squad is a master of weaponry and long distance combat. She sets traps, summons weapons to increase her range and damage, and can be a serious hazard to battle from a distance. If you are an expert at long range combat- you'll love her. If not, she's a terrible choice.

On the opposite end of the spectrum is Rock Lee. This character has no longer range talent but is a master of taijutsu (close combat). For players that love to get in close and pummel opponents incessantly, he is a godsend. His final resort, his gate-opening ability, presents a fantastic (though risky) desperation move. It makes him extremely fast and strong, but his healthy gradually falls.

If you want to taste sweet success, I highly recommend trying out every character you unlock to see if their traits match up with your own. After extensive play, I discovered that Kiba, Deidara, Shino, and Itachi were all fantastic options for my style of play. Conversely, I struggled to use characters like Sakura and Kankuro- neither of which offered anything to my preferences.

The Standards?

Many people were disappointed by the jump from Clash of Ninja 2 for the GC, to Revolution 1 for the Wii. Some characters were dropped, the graphics engine wasn't as impressive as many hoped, and several game modes were missing. Thankfully, 2008's Revolution 2 did a much better job of advancing the series. The gesture system was implemented- allowing for chakra and power boosts as well as instant transformations. The game also beefed up the roster and returned the modes list to its former glory.

Fans won't be disappointed by Revolution 3. The game offers a wealth of modes- including online play! At the time, I'm unable to test Wifi, but the developers are certain fans will enjoy it. The new graphical additions are very impressive compared to previous efforts. They don't blow other great looking Wii games out of the water, but they do more than capture the appeal of the anime. The game comes with all sorts of new tweaks and possibilities for the combat. Want to shift health, chakra, or jutsu use? Go for it! Want to make a jutsu finisher necessary to end the game? You can! It's refreshing to have these features- especially for competitive players!

On the sound side, there's a certain lack of personality. We're hearing a lot of the battle tunes that we've heard for years. Naruto games aren't exactly known for their music, but it would nice if it didn't have such a forgettable soundtrack.

The Results?

The game offers some of the best 4-Player battles outside of Super Smash Brothers Brawl. The 3D engine is still as fun as ever and the character selection will more than impress fans. The Wifi mode has been much talked about and will probably light up Naruto fans right away. The game offers a number of control schemes- classic controller, Wiimote & nunchuck, Wiimote alone, GC, so-on. The motion controls add a lot to the experience- making it even more intuitive to assault your friends with the over-the-top ninja abilities. The interactive super jutus are the most fun by far. The game is also releasing at a reduced price of $40 for the regular package- or $50 for a deluxe edition that includes the Shippuden movie on DVD. Naruto fans and fighting game fans alike will appreciate this one! Strange creature, traitor to the world- this has been Kaiju.