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Naruto Video Games: GameCube, Ninetendo DS And Naruto Sony Playstation Games
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Published: September 18, 2007
Though classic comic book heroes have enjoyed a renaissance in popular culture for the last few years, the most popular character is not who many may think. It is not a debate between Superman and Batman, either. The most popular current character is actually a Japanese creation called Naruto. The Naruto series premiered as a Japanese comic in 1999, and has subsequently branched out into books, television and video games.
The titular character, Naruto Uzumaki, is a combination of both a ninja and conventional superhero, with special powers transferred to him early in the story. A hit in Japan ever since its inception, Naruto has grown increasingly popular in North America and Europe over the last couple years. Japan quickly seized on the crossover potential into video games; the kinetic animation and richly detailed environment made Naruto video games popular in Japan years before they became a hit in other continents.
Though Naruto video games are available across several formats, they have become especially popular on Nintendo machines. "Clash of Ninja," a long-running Japanese fighting series, was adapted for the GameCube in 2006. The presentation is identical to the Tekken series, and the two-button fighting style gives players a classic-arcade kind of control to the action. The story mode, while using voice actors from the anime show, is relatively simple; the game's strengths are its simple playability and its multiplayer options. The GameCube itself has a cloudy future; the console has been eclipsed in popularity by the Nintendo Wii, and it is uncertain how much life the older platform has left. As such, "Clash of Ninja" is the only Naruto series currently available for the system.
The Nintendo DS, on the other hand, received an entirely different kind of game in 2007. "Naruto: Path of the Ninja," is a classic role-playing game, of the "Legend of Zelda" mode, with players embarking on long adventures that must be carefully managed. This style is especially well-suited for the portable system. The game story follows the animated series much more closely than its fighting-style counterparts, beginning as an origin story of Naruto meeting his friends and allies, and eventually dove-tailing into early action from the show. Storylines unique to the game woven into the fabric as well. Naruto fighting games have also been made available for the Nintendo DS.
Sony Playstation games are also available. "Ultimate Ninja," a fighting series similar to Nintendo's "Clash of Ninja," is available for the Playstation 2. Additional Sony Playstation games include the "Uzumaki Chronicles" series; currently none are available for the next-generation Playstation 3 console. As a response to Naruto's increasing popularity in North America, the franchise's first English-only game was recently released for the portable PSP system. "Ultimate Ninja Heroes" is a fighting game in the vein of the original "Ultimate Ninja," but takes advantage of the PSP's wireless capabilities. Players can battle each other in the same game, a feature previously unique to console systems.
Naruto video games are not currently adapted for next-generation systems, though the continued popularity of the series across various platforms ensures the franchise will come to newer systems such as the Xbox 360 and the Wii in time.
Sources:
Bozon, Mark. "Naruto: Clash of Ninja." IGN.com. 8 March 2006. IGN Entertainment. 17 Sept. 2007. http://cube.ign.com/articles/694/694508p1.html.
"Naruto: Path of the Ninja Hands-on." IGN.com. 23 Aug. 2007. IGN Entertainment. 17 Sept. 2007. http://ds.ign.com/articles/815/815323p1.html.
Lai, Marcus. " Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes a solid brawl for PSP." Punch Jump. 7 Sept. 2007. 17 Sept. 2007. http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=4794.
Mautner, Chris. "Popular 'Naruto' To Flood Market." The Patriot-News. 7 Sept. 2007. John A. Kirkpatrick. 17 Sept. 2007. http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/patriotnews/ index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1189024806119280.xml
West, Steve. "Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes Now Available." CB Games. 28 Aug. 2007. Cinema Blend. 17 Sept. 2007. http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Naruto-Ultimate-N inja-Heroes-Now-Available-6059.html.
Though Naruto video games are available across several formats, they have become especially popular on Nintendo machines. "Clash of Ninja," a long-running Japanese fighting series, was adapted for the GameCube in 2006. The presentation is identical to the Tekken series, and the two-button fighting style gives players a classic-arcade kind of control to the action. The story mode, while using voice actors from the anime show, is relatively simple; the game's strengths are its simple playability and its multiplayer options. The GameCube itself has a cloudy future; the console has been eclipsed in popularity by the Nintendo Wii, and it is uncertain how much life the older platform has left. As such, "Clash of Ninja" is the only Naruto series currently available for the system.
The Nintendo DS, on the other hand, received an entirely different kind of game in 2007. "Naruto: Path of the Ninja," is a classic role-playing game, of the "Legend of Zelda" mode, with players embarking on long adventures that must be carefully managed. This style is especially well-suited for the portable system. The game story follows the animated series much more closely than its fighting-style counterparts, beginning as an origin story of Naruto meeting his friends and allies, and eventually dove-tailing into early action from the show. Storylines unique to the game woven into the fabric as well. Naruto fighting games have also been made available for the Nintendo DS.
Sony Playstation games are also available. "Ultimate Ninja," a fighting series similar to Nintendo's "Clash of Ninja," is available for the Playstation 2. Additional Sony Playstation games include the "Uzumaki Chronicles" series; currently none are available for the next-generation Playstation 3 console. As a response to Naruto's increasing popularity in North America, the franchise's first English-only game was recently released for the portable PSP system. "Ultimate Ninja Heroes" is a fighting game in the vein of the original "Ultimate Ninja," but takes advantage of the PSP's wireless capabilities. Players can battle each other in the same game, a feature previously unique to console systems.
Naruto video games are not currently adapted for next-generation systems, though the continued popularity of the series across various platforms ensures the franchise will come to newer systems such as the Xbox 360 and the Wii in time.
Sources:
Bozon, Mark. "Naruto: Clash of Ninja." IGN.com. 8 March 2006. IGN Entertainment. 17 Sept. 2007. http://cube.ign.com/articles/694/694508p1.html.
"Naruto: Path of the Ninja Hands-on." IGN.com. 23 Aug. 2007. IGN Entertainment. 17 Sept. 2007. http://ds.ign.com/articles/815/815323p1.html.
Lai, Marcus. " Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes a solid brawl for PSP." Punch Jump. 7 Sept. 2007. 17 Sept. 2007. http://news.punchjump.com/article.php?id=4794.
Mautner, Chris. "Popular 'Naruto' To Flood Market." The Patriot-News. 7 Sept. 2007. John A. Kirkpatrick. 17 Sept. 2007. http://www.pennlive.com/entertainment/patriotnews/ index.ssf?/base/entertainment/1189024806119280.xml
West, Steve. "Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes Now Available." CB Games. 28 Aug. 2007. Cinema Blend. 17 Sept. 2007. http://www.cinemablend.com/games/Naruto-Ultimate-N inja-Heroes-Now-Available-6059.html.
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