Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact (PSP) - Impressions

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact, the current Naruto game by CyberConnect2 on the PSP. Naruto games by CyberConnect2 are action packed, over the top, fighting games with controls that are simplistic but with enough depth to keep both casual players and those willing to take it a step further around. That isn't quite the case here.

To be honest I was a little excited about this game. After seeing the trailer shown at TGS 2011, I was expecting this to be the portable version of Ultimate Ninja Storm while thinking that the horde mode shown would be just a game mode for the story mode. But that new "rush mode" system IS the whole game. When starting a level, you deal with a bunch of stupid grunts ala Dynasty Warriors. Thing is that the mindless grunts in Dynasty Warriors have more brains (and health) than the grunts in this Naruto game. Characters basically have one combo with barely a hand full of special moves and one ultmate move. Now while everything is gorgeously animated and highly over the top, you will be sick of it after just one mission with each characters, maybe even less.

Now it may sound as if I am hating on this game for not meeting my expectations which is true but I am slowly enjoying this game. The enemies are butt easy so the only real challenge is the actual boss fights which pits you against significant characters in the story. On normal (the game's default difficulty) it's a tad too easy and since the only other difficulty available at the start are 'Easy' and 'Normal', you're kinda stuck with that for the moment. I'm only at Chapter 2 (starts at Chapter 0) which isn't very far so I am hoping that the game has much more to offer since previous Ultimate Ninja / Narutimate Hero games have impressed me before but there is a glaring fault in this game that is haunting and will continue to haunt my playthrough and that is a lack of an auto-save feature. Seriously, how hard could that have been to include?

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u8RFoYpdjCU[/youtube]

Now this is a real ninja war - Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations gets a new trailer and it starts off with an awesome scene.

The trailer starts with a scene of the older Naruto and the younger Naruto in a sort of Cowboy showdown. The camera then pans out at the Naruto showing all the characters from each of their timelines behind them as if they are an army. Both sides then run towards each other to face off in an all out ninja war.

In my opinion, all games with time skips should have the significan characters from the previous timeline included with the modern roster of characters. They don't have be in the story but at least give us the option to play as them. CyberConnect2 did it once with Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Accel on the PS2 by including all the kid versions of the characters from the previous game included with the newer, older versions in the roster.

Now when CyberConnect2 showed off Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 and didn't include the characters from Ultimate Ninja Storm 1, I was certain that they'd pull off this marketing scheme sooner or later. At first I gave them the benefit of the doubt by thinking that "maybe it's a memory thing, maybe only X number of characters can fit on the disc blah blah blah" but as soon as Ninja Storm Generations was revealed it was no surprise.

I'm not saying I hate them for it. It's just that with any major anime that gets a fighting game and boasts a crazy amount of characters, it's better to wait for the 2nd or 3rd installment as the 1st game is meant to test the waters. Anime based games are sort of my guilty pleasure but as seen with the Dragon Ball Z series of games, you know that the universe already has this butt load of significant characters and yet you see a game with only half of that amount or that this saga was not included etc. Then wait for the sequel as it is most likely gonna have those missing characters or that missing story line.

The trailer says that it is going to include a bunch of new anime scenes that will further develop the characters in the Naruto universe and from what the trailer shows, they look very well animated, like what you would see in a Naruto OVA. Which is more than I can say for the not-so-nicely animated clips from Street Fighter IV and Dragon Ball Z: Ragin Blast 2. Those were filler quality at best.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is out on March 13, 2012 complete with it's long ass name and will be available on both the PS3 and Xbox 360. It's ninja time!

[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eK9CZelD72M[/youtube]

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact

Another Naruto game? But it looks the same as Ultimate Ninja storm! Ohohoho! That, however, is not the case. THIS particular Naruto game is for the Sony PSP.

CyberConnect2 has finally stepped up their game (even if it's just a little). The PSP will get a Naruto game that has the same style of gameplay as the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. It will be a 3rd person action brawler as opposed to a side scrolling fighter. I don't know about you but I'm excited for some of this portable ninja action! Kage bunshin no jutsu! *poof*

"Falcon kick!"

From the looks of things, I'm guessing the "story mode" will be having a lot of Dynasty Warrior-esque grunts. I just hope that doesn't take up majority of the game.

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lKqJWHi-_cw&w=560&h=349]

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations

Alright ninja fans. It's time to trade in your Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm because the next Naruto game from Bandai and CyberConnect 2 is here! From the looks of it, it seems that the roster from the first and second Ultimate Ninja Storm games are included as well as newer characters from the on going Naruto Shippuden anime. I simply love how CyberConnect2 captures the zany style of the anime and yet bring it's over-the-top-ness even further.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm has some of the best cellshaded graphics I have ever seen and even though the new game is essentially running on the same engine, it never ceases to amaze me. Rasengan!

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dcvG6adLTAg&w=560&h=349]

You can visit the game's website here.