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GF Rating
7
Good
Abover average platformer... Horrible Fighter.
posted by kokoru (INDIANAPOLIS, IN) Aug 2, 2008
Member since May 2008
3 out of 5 gamers (60%) found this review helpful
Naruto: Rise of the Ninja is a surprisingly well made game by Ubisoft.
As a platformer it definitely does everything right. The control on the over world is spot on, and the use of the animes world and lore is represented perfectly up to that point. Speaking of which I seen Naruto about 2 years ago in Japanese and what it did best was remind me why I liked it so much... Sadly silly things that added flavor to the series and more serious moments have been removed or toned down due to it being based on the kids version (Cartoon Network version) which isn't to bad, but kinda sad because the story was mature.
Running, Jumping, Grabbing ledges, and learning new moves (or new uses of existing moves) that allow you to go to areas you couldn't get to gave the game a very Banjo Kazooie/Mario/Metroid feeling. Back tracking wasn't necessary but made the over all experience more fun and the little side quests were a bit repetitive but still enjoyable.
What keeps this game from getting a much better score was the fighting engine (combat system). There are no explanations for how to be "good" unless you learn little tricks through the story mode but the first time I tried arcade mode I got torn apart without a first date. Even after I eventually learned how to fight a bit better I still have to say that the A.I was either to good or the combat was too hard, albeit simplistic.
My score of 7 is actually as a non Naruto fan, because as I said earlier the platforming aspects of the game are really good, but the combat sucks...
However if you ARE a Naruto fan, I think you will stick around as long as I did to find that beneath a sloppy fighter there is a very enjoyable game in there that takes a little adjusting to get used to!
As a platformer it definitely does everything right. The control on the over world is spot on, and the use of the animes world and lore is represented perfectly up to that point. Speaking of which I seen Naruto about 2 years ago in Japanese and what it did best was remind me why I liked it so much... Sadly silly things that added flavor to the series and more serious moments have been removed or toned down due to it being based on the kids version (Cartoon Network version) which isn't to bad, but kinda sad because the story was mature.
Running, Jumping, Grabbing ledges, and learning new moves (or new uses of existing moves) that allow you to go to areas you couldn't get to gave the game a very Banjo Kazooie/Mario/Metroid feeling. Back tracking wasn't necessary but made the over all experience more fun and the little side quests were a bit repetitive but still enjoyable.
What keeps this game from getting a much better score was the fighting engine (combat system). There are no explanations for how to be "good" unless you learn little tricks through the story mode but the first time I tried arcade mode I got torn apart without a first date. Even after I eventually learned how to fight a bit better I still have to say that the A.I was either to good or the combat was too hard, albeit simplistic.
My score of 7 is actually as a non Naruto fan, because as I said earlier the platforming aspects of the game are really good, but the combat sucks...
However if you ARE a Naruto fan, I think you will stick around as long as I did to find that beneath a sloppy fighter there is a very enjoyable game in there that takes a little adjusting to get used to!
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GF Rating
8
Very Good
rock you like a [leaf] hurricane...
posted by foolmanchu (BRISTOL, WI) Dec 6, 2007
Member since Dec 2006
2 out of 4 gamers (50%) found this review helpful
ARE YOU A FAN BOY!? ARE YOU!? if you are, you dont even need a review cuz we all know your gonna rent this game anyways. if your like me, and never even watch the show on cartoon network(but hear ur geeky anime fan friends talk about it)then you might wanta read on.
1.you dont need to be a huge fan to enjoy this(but it will help). luckily for those of us who dont live in the freakin leaf village and know the whole story of Naruto Uzumaki, this game goes through the majority of the story to date, from the first episode to the [barely] recent ones.
2.if your color blind (you shouldnt play video games...but)you will HATE this game. i've seen cell shaded games before, but this game really pulls it off well. the bright vibrant colors and graphics will make you feel like you are watching an episode of the show.
3.ever had one of those daydreams while you were driving where you were running with amazing agility and speed, or maybe running on the paralell power lines, or even jumping from tree to tree to building to street and back again, but then you swerved to avoid hitting oncomming traffic? well, now you can do that in a game where there arent any cars to hit you (kill joys). the gameplay in this is good. i'll have to admit i played uzamaki chronicles for the ps2 and then bashed my head on the wall and though it was a waste of time(i coulda had a V8 instead!) but this game is nothing like that. it actually makes you want to like naruto and his anoying catch phrase. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO BELIEVE NARUTO!? WHAT!?
anyways...if your a fan, buy this game. the multiplayer has a good amount of replay value. if your just curious about the game, rent it. you will most likely not regret it. im sure that if the story doesnt appeal to you, at least running up walls, walking on water, turning into a naked girl(for whatever reason), beating the crape out of your teachers (take THAT!....sir!), and defying god (as if the above dont do that already) by cloning yourself, will.
1.you dont need to be a huge fan to enjoy this(but it will help). luckily for those of us who dont live in the freakin leaf village and know the whole story of Naruto Uzumaki, this game goes through the majority of the story to date, from the first episode to the [barely] recent ones.
2.if your color blind (you shouldnt play video games...but)you will HATE this game. i've seen cell shaded games before, but this game really pulls it off well. the bright vibrant colors and graphics will make you feel like you are watching an episode of the show.
3.ever had one of those daydreams while you were driving where you were running with amazing agility and speed, or maybe running on the paralell power lines, or even jumping from tree to tree to building to street and back again, but then you swerved to avoid hitting oncomming traffic? well, now you can do that in a game where there arent any cars to hit you (kill joys). the gameplay in this is good. i'll have to admit i played uzamaki chronicles for the ps2 and then bashed my head on the wall and though it was a waste of time(i coulda had a V8 instead!) but this game is nothing like that. it actually makes you want to like naruto and his anoying catch phrase. WHAT DO YOU WANT ME TO BELIEVE NARUTO!? WHAT!?
anyways...if your a fan, buy this game. the multiplayer has a good amount of replay value. if your just curious about the game, rent it. you will most likely not regret it. im sure that if the story doesnt appeal to you, at least running up walls, walking on water, turning into a naked girl(for whatever reason), beating the crape out of your teachers (take THAT!....sir!), and defying god (as if the above dont do that already) by cloning yourself, will.
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GF Rating
7
Good
Mediocre - Belive it!
posted by Deadend (WATERFORD, MI) Jan 12, 2008
Member since Mar 2005
1 out of 2 gamers (50%) found this review helpful
First off, the game looks great. It looks quite like the anime, which is what can be expected. The framerate is generally blazing fast and running around Konaha is great fun, once you get the sprint ability. The game feels a bit like Assassins Creed Jr. execpt it has more variety to missions. Even though it all comes down to fighting.
Fighting is where the game sucks. At best it's better than the last Naruto fighting games. Which means it's still far from great. The AI can be cheap to the point of making you want to punch someone. The rage-mode mechanic is terrible, as the instant you activate the AI decides to jump around nonstop and be impossible to hit, or pound on you with a combo that lasts an hour or 2. Then they get a rage mode too, and ruin your face.
The combat is just boring, although its flashy looking when it goes off well, but you never get to see yourself perform big attacks because the AI finds a way to inturpt without fail. I have been been grabbed in the middle of a punch, it feels like most AI moves take priority over player moves and the game just feels bad.
But it's short, and when you win, you feel happy. Worth renting, not worth keeping.
Oh, the storyline is also heavily choppy. If you don't know how it goes, it's confusing if you try and care about the characters. The game could have easily been 20 hours long with diversions, character development and maybe more than 4-5 areas. The idea of a free-roaming-fighting- RGP- ish game is quite appealing, but the game makes Jade Empire look like Baldurs Gate 2 with Throne of Bhaal included.
Fighting is where the game sucks. At best it's better than the last Naruto fighting games. Which means it's still far from great. The AI can be cheap to the point of making you want to punch someone. The rage-mode mechanic is terrible, as the instant you activate the AI decides to jump around nonstop and be impossible to hit, or pound on you with a combo that lasts an hour or 2. Then they get a rage mode too, and ruin your face.
The combat is just boring, although its flashy looking when it goes off well, but you never get to see yourself perform big attacks because the AI finds a way to inturpt without fail. I have been been grabbed in the middle of a punch, it feels like most AI moves take priority over player moves and the game just feels bad.
But it's short, and when you win, you feel happy. Worth renting, not worth keeping.
Oh, the storyline is also heavily choppy. If you don't know how it goes, it's confusing if you try and care about the characters. The game could have easily been 20 hours long with diversions, character development and maybe more than 4-5 areas. The idea of a free-roaming-fighting- RGP- ish game is quite appealing, but the game makes Jade Empire look like Baldurs Gate 2 with Throne of Bhaal included.
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