Naruto's First RPG Comes to the PS2

Naruto is the fastest growing anime in America, and number one in Japan. With such a successful franchise on hand, it was only a matter of time before the video games started coming out of the woodwork. The most popular gaming series thus far was Clash of The Ninja with three installments in the US a more in Japan. This is a typical, or not so typical fighting game where it's one on one you VS an opponent in a duel, however one Naruto game breaks away from the average dueling game and puts us in a sort of RPG world. That game is Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles.

You start the game as a ninja academy student named Naruto Uzumaki. You train yourself in some basic techniques and soon enough you're promoted through the ranks to become a Genin ninja. The in game tutorial getting from the beginning of the game to actually being able to run missions is a bit daunting. It takes a long time to master the moves and get on with the game, but the training pays off. There are so many combinations that you have to learn in order to survive that you may actually thank your teacher one day.

Game play is a little difficult at first, but you will pick it up quickly. You run around a full functioning 3D world where you confront enemy ninja by performing many different combination moves. Once mastered these moves can be quite fun and interesting to watch. It's one of the only games that allows you to move and act like a character in a way that mimics that character in every aspect. In the anime Naruto and his team do a lot of fighting and some of the moves they pull off are astounding, and this game does and amazing job of recreating that whole "Naruto" feel.

Another interesting feature is the fact that you can call upon the assistance of an ally in battle. These allies are many times some of your favorite characters, like Shikamaru, Sasuke, and Neji. Also you take on many enemies that you will find in the show. The story line is a bit scattered, and sometimes lame, especially in the beginning. In one mission Choji is your ally, and then turns on you because he's hungry. This will engage you in a long drawn out boss fight that seems totally unnecessary and fits no place in the storyline.

If you have ever played a Final Fantasy game then you know how important it is to train, and Naruto is no different. Training on opponents will advance Naruto in levels and make him stronger as the game progresses. There is also a grid where you can purchase and place moves that will add to your arsenal of powers and abilities. One such ability that gamers will most certainly enjoy is the power to unleash the pent up energy of the Nine Tailed fox spirit. This spirit was sealed inside Naruto as a child and in this game you can unleash its terrible force and power in amazing, blistering attacks. Changing into the Nine Tailed Fox is one of the best and most innovative parts of this game.

The graphics leave something to be desired, although I do understand that this game is based off a cartoon character. They are a bit blocky and bright for how I saw the world of Naruto to be. The movements of the characters are very smooth despite the blocky nature of the people, but the way they talk reminds you of watching an old Godzilla movie if you catch my drift. Hopefully in the future this series of games will take a lesion from its counterpart, Clash of the Ninja, in character and level design.

There are a few side missions in the game, but the best would have to be training with Konohamaru. In this side quest/mini game we find Naruto trying to teach the small boy how to properly perform hand signs required to perform jutsus. This is a game of speed as you hit corresponding buttons on the controller in an allotted amount of time. As you progress further into this mini game the hand signs become longer and more difficult as your time decreases. This game is very entertaining to be so simple and is great to play around with while you're stuck at a part in the game or just have some extra time to kill.

Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles is a great game for any fan of the Naruto anime, but the average gamer may not find the game to be all that interesting. Obviously this is a game geared towards children, but older gamers may also find a draw to the game especially if they enjoy the shows. It's a great first attempt at an RPG, but its limitations are in the options. True you can use an assortment of items and pick a variety of moves, but you are assigned partners and you're stuck playing as Naruto in a world where he is the only focus. It would be nice if in later installments if you could choose a team, and the story would include them as well as Naruto. Also some choice in the direction of the game would also be appreciated. To sum it up, Naruto Uzumaki chronicles is an awesome game, and made better if you, the player know and love the anime, but for those of us who have never seen the show or know little about the inner workings of the ninja world you may often be confused and find game play hard.