Preview: Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

Back in 2008, Cyberconnect 2 delivered the Naruto game that fans had always been longing for. A true, next gen shinobi showdown that encapsulated everything the anime TV show had to offer, including epic scale battles, incredible graphics that could rival the tv show itself, our favourite brand of ninjas, and fast paced, fluid and awesome gameplay that did the series justice, despite its extreme simplicity. Many of us knew that a sequel simply had to be made, but it took till December 21, 2009 for Cyberconnect2 to officially announce it. With the release date drawing near, let’s take a look at everything on offer in this sequel.

Name: Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2
Genre: Fighting
Players: 1-2
Multiplayer: Online (1-2 players)
Platforms: PS3, Xbox360
Developers: Cyberconnect2
Publishers: Namco Bandai Games
Release Date: 15-19 October 2010

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 will take players through the Shippuden story arc of the anime TV show, confirmed to be going right up to the Pain saga, which means its covering about 175 episodes. It’s unconfirmed at this point, however, whether the game will feature events past that point and, if so, how far forward, but it’s definitely a full Shippuden package. The story mode will be split into three, deep parts, and players will follow the story from the perspective of Naruto, Sasuke and Jiraiya as they progress through it.

Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 will feature a massive roster of over 40 playable characters, including Tekken 6′s Lars Alexandersson. Lars will appear in his costume from Tekken 6 designed by Naruto creator Masashi Kishimoto. The list of all confirmed characters can be found at the end of this preview. Furthermore, the game will have 23 interactive and destructible stages to fight it out in – and, again, the list of confirmed stages will be at the end.

Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 retains many of the elements from the previous game, including, of course, the core gameplay itself. Players will pick their favourite ninja and fight it out with their opponents, in fully 3D and open environments, equipped with all the combos and jutsus of the character, as well as Ultimate Jutsu, partners to help out in battle and Awakening Modes to turn the tide of battle when you’re in danger. As in the previous game, characters gain new combos and jutsus when entering Awakening mode, but this time around certain characters will have multiple Awakening modes. In this sequel, you’ll not only be able to unlock new jutsus for characters, but also new Ultimate Jutsu as the story progresses. So far, with regards to new moves and gameplay changes, Chakra Backwards Dashing has been added and certain characters can enhance their own jutsus based on the duration of their charge. For example, Naruto’s standard Rasengan jutsu turns into Great Ball Rasengan if charged fully.

Support characters are making a return, except the system has been upgraded for the sequel. There are two types of support characters, namely offensive and defensive. A new feature, the “Drive Gauge”, will allow players to unleash devastating team jutsu in conjunction with their support characters – depending on how full the gauge is of course. The gauge will also have other uses in gameplay, such as when it’s full, a defensive support character will automatically protect the player from harm.

Other gameplay changes include health being reduced from three bars to two and Ultimate Jutsus being shorter than before and taking place in real-time as opposed to in a cinematic style. This change to Ultimate Jutsus will keep the pace of battles fast and will also prevent lagging in online fights. Jutsu clashes from the first game will appear again. Free roaming will also make a return, and the game will feature a 1:1 recreation of Konoha, the Hidden Leaf Village. Players will also be able to roam outside the Village through forests, deserts, The Hidden Sand Village, unique Naruto environments and so on. Epic scale boss battles, this time containing multiple parts depending on the fight, quick-time events and cutscenes are all on the cards for this sequel.

Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 will feature online play, which is something the original game lacked. In addition to standard offline play with two players, you’ll be able to head online and take the fight to players around the globe. Online modes are kept to the basics, featuring unranked Player Matches and Ranked Matches, while online functionality includes a Ranking System. Player Matches are basically for fun and to improve your skill without casuing change to your rank. It consists of Quick Match, Custom Match, where you define the match settings, and Create Match, which has you host a match and have challengers come to you. Ranked Matches are where you challenge players around the world to improve your global ranking and become the true ultimate ninja. The Ranking System is simply the place where you compare your skills and strengths with other players online, and keep tabs of your progress as you climb up the ranks.

Graphically, Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 looks as phenominal as ever, with anime-style visuals, animation and special effects so good, it’s scary. Judging from the time we spent with the demo of the game, the animation is still as fluid as ever, the controls are still as smooth and the game is still an absolute dream to play. At this point in time, Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is shaping up to be graphically extraordinary, and delivers a similar standard on both the PlayStation 3 and Xbox360. However, critical comparisons between the two versions led to the revelation that the PS3 version of the game has sharper textures, more depth in colour and, overall, slightly better visuals – although the difference between the two versions isn’t large at all, so there isn’t much cause for concern. Let it be noted that Cyberconnect 2 are more at home with the PS3 since the original Ultimate Ninja Storm was developed exclusively for it.

I’ll be honest, I am quite a big fan of Naruto. That means I fit the criteria to love this sequel even more than I did the original game. While it will probably suffer from the same issues as the first did with gameplay, regarding its extreme simplicity, many aspects of the game look to have been vamped up, with regards to the boss battles, the single player experience and the overall gameplay itself. Online play is certainly a welcome addition as well. Still, your interest in this title will most likely stem from the fact that you’re a fan of the anime, and that’s all you need to be in order to be extremely excited for this game. If not, you could possibly still find enjoyment out of it as it’s easy to learn and a lot of fun to play. At the very least, though, you can enjoy it by drooling over its jaw dropping visuals.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 will be released on October 15, 2010 on PlayStation 3 and Xbox360 – and I, for one, can’t wait for it.

Additional Information

Confirmed Characters List

• Naruto Uzumaki (Four-Tailed Mode; Sage Mode)
• Kakashi Hatake (Sharingan Mode)
• Sakura Haruno (Herculean Mode)
• Sai
• Yamato
• Might Guy (Eight Gates Mode)
• Tenten (Ninja Tool Summon Mode)
• Rock Lee (Eight Gates Mode)
• Neji Hyūga (Byakugan Mode)
• Asuma Sarutobi (Flying Swallow Mode)
• Ino Yamanaka (Covered with Flowers Mode)
• Shikamaru Nara (Shadow Imitation Mode)
• Chōji Akimichi
• Hinata Hyūga (Twin Lion Fist Mode)
• Shino Aburame (Beetle Mode)
• Kiba Inuzuka (Fang Mode)
• Tsunade
• Jiraiya (Sage Mode)
• Minato Namikaze
• Chiyo (With Mother and Father)
• Gaara (Kazekage Mode)
• Temari
• Kankurō (Sanshōuo Mode)
• Itachi Uchiha (Mangekyō Sharingan; Susanoo)
• Kisame Hoshigaki
• Deidara
• Sasori (With Third Kazekage; True Form)
• Hidan (Jashin Ritual Mode)
• Kakuzu (Four Hearts Mode)
• Pain (All six paths playable: Animal Path, Asura Path, Deva Path, Human Path, Naraka Path, Outer Path)
• Konan (Angel Mode)
• Sasuke Uchiha (Curse Mark Stage 2; Mangekyō Sharingan)
• Suigetsu Hōzuki
• Karin
• Jūgo (Curse Mark Mode)
• Orochimaru
• Kabuto Yakushi
• Lars Alexandersson
• Killer Bee (Full Eight-Tails Mode)

Confirmed Stages List

• Training Field
• Hidden Leaf Village (Normal, Destroyed)
• Hidden Leaf Ruined Land
• Hidden Leaf Forest (Day, Evening)
• Forest Of Death
• Hidden Sand Gate
• Hidden Sand Village
• Akatsuki Hideout
• 5 Seal Barrier Cliff
• Forest Of Dead Trees
• Forest Of Quiet Movement (Day, Evening, Night)
• Hidden Rain Village (Upper, Lower)
• The Uchiha Hideout
• Site Of Planetary Devastion
• Valley of the End
• Grassy Waves Prairie
• Orochimaru’s Hideout
• Mount Myōboku

Trophy List

Due to the possibility of some Trophy’s containing spoilers, you’ll have to read them at your own risk. Click the blue button below to expand the list.

Open

-A Perfect Storm Master
You got all the trophies

-Prologue Complete
You’ve completed the prologue

-Chapter 1 complete
You have completed Chapter 1

-Chapter 2 complete
You have completed Chapter 2

-Chapter 3 Complete
You have completed Chapter 3

-Chapter 4 complete
You have completed Chapter 4

-Chapter 5 complete
You have completed Chapter 5

-Chapter 6 Complete
You have completed Chapter 6

-Final chapter Complete
You have completed the final chapter

-Naruto’s Friends
You can now use peers from Naruto’s generation

-Naruto’s teacher
You can now use ***ashi, Yamato, Gai, and Asuma

-Friends from Suna-Gakure
You can now use Gaara, Kankuro, Temari and Chiyo

-The legendary San-Nin
You can now use Jiraya, Tsunade, and Orochimaru

-Furtive Akatsuki
You can now use all members of the Akatsuki

-Hebi is on the way
You can now use Sasuke, Suigetsu, Karin and Jugo

-Assassin from Tekken 6
You can now use Lars

-Steal Bell expert
You have the S-Rank in the ‘steal bell-lesson’ will

-Village guards
You got the S-Rank on ‘Sand and Art Explosion’

-Spared the Puppet Jutsu
You got the S-Rank on ‘Sakura’

-Unstoppable rampage
You get the S ranking in ‘Forbidden Rage

-Difference in growing up
You get the S ranking on ‘final battle between friends’

-Return of the fourth Ho-Kage
You get the S ranking in ‘Storm and Stress’

-Overflowing hatred
You get the S-Rank on ‘The two Uchiha’

-Overwhelming hermit
You get the S ranking in ‘fight of the hermit of God’

-Vision of a new wind
You get the S ranking on ‘tremor’

-Cursed doll wipe out!
You’ve brought back all the cursed dolls

-Squeak!
You got back all Pearl Tontons.

-Test passed!
You have completed all 10 tests

-Master of the Orders
You have completed all jobs

-Post-Ninja
You have completed all Correspondence Events

-All friends are here!
You have seen friendship events for each

-Nothing escapes you
You have collected 500 items

-Money makes the world
999 999 Ryo saved.

-Points Tycoon
You have accumulated 999 999 Forward points

-I love ninja tools!
You get all the battle-Items

-Roaring business in the country store!
You have collected all the collection items

-First processing
A ninja info card processed

-News Ninja shocked!
You have collected all Messengers.

-Review completed!
You have collected all the memories

-Story Collector
100% of the stories found

-Thanks for all your time!
Your entire season played over 30 hours

-On the way to the Ninja!
You have won 10 times in network battles

-Clever Ninja
You have won 50 times in network battles

-Fragment completion
You have completed the fragment

All Ninjas assemble!
You can now use all the characters

-The inconspicuous detail
You’ve seen all Secret factors

-Also known as …
You got 50 tracks

-All events managed
You have completed all events

-Card collector
You have collected all the ninja info cards

-What should I call myself?
You have received all titles.