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Naruto strikes the Gamecube again though it largely feels like Naruto 1.5. This feeling is augmented by the fact that the first game was released a mere six months ago. Although the game is light on improvements, the first game had solid gameplay so fans may be content to just have more of the same.
The main gameplay mode in Clash of Ninja 2 is the game’s story mode. The game dives right into the story so you may want to do some background reading if this will be your first Naruto game. In the game, you play as Naruto after he graduated from Ninja Academy, the difficulties he’s facing with the Chunin Exam while having to confront two enemies: Zabuza and Haku. Aside from the story mode, the game includes survival, time attack and exhibition matches. If you want to bulk up before you try any of these modes, you can train in the game’s training mode. It will really help you build better combos, which will come in handy later on.
Clash of Ninja 2 allows you to play as Naruto and some of his friends. Playing the game’s many single-player modes will unlock cash which you can use to increase your characters’ abilities. While not the deepest customization system, it is a neat addition to the established Naruto gameplay. The game’s combat system primarily relies on the Gamecube’s A and B buttons because it’s a very button-mashing friendly game. You’ll use the X and Y buttons to perform special attacks and throws, respectively. The game’s different characters are somewhat different although the game doesn’t change a whole lot even if you change characters.
Clash of the Ninja 2 includes multiplayer support for up to four players. The multiplayer mode isn’t especially complex since you’re just tasked with defeating the other enemies in a brawl of sorts. If you don’t have four players, you can play the game by yourself against AI opponents or fight against a mixture of AI and real opponents. The game’s combat engine was designed for one-on-one fighting but the four-player fights are quite playable nonetheless. This sort of four-person brawl actually appears in the story mode as well, giving you some practice for the multiplayer mode
Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2 won’t win any awards for technical excellence but the game nails down the art style of the show very well. This is a flashy game where unbelievable and exaggerated moves are the norm. The cel-shaded character models are pretty good though the animation system is a bit stiff since your character’s move arsenal is quite limited. The arenas don’t have quite the same spark but look pretty good nonetheless.
The flashy visuals are perfectly complemented by equally flashy music. The background music in the game is pretty good and powerful, maybe too much so for some. The sound effects are pretty good though the voice acting in the game sounds like it was ripped directly from the show. There is a lot in the game and it really helps play up the license quite well.
Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2 has enough new upgrades to please fans of the original. Although it probably won’t bring in many new fans, Naruto loyal will find a lot to like in the game. -- Michael Taylor, PGNx Media
---- Oct 25, 2006
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