Naruto: Clash of Ninja...who's buying this?

[Superperson]

I'm pretty sure most have been informed by now that the nearly 3 year old Naruto fighting game is finally making its way over here, being a Naruto fan and such I was considering buying this. But damnit if I don't feel cheated for shelling out 40 bucks for a game with only 8 characters to play with, and knowing in the back of my head that in Japan they've made there way already up to the 4th game in the series with a buttload of characters to choose from, so for me at the moment, i'm on the fence. I would just break down and buy the 4th one from lik-sang but with the FreeLoader included 80 bucks is alot of money...so i'm reluctant to say the least.
So is anyone out there going to actually buy this game or just give it a rent, or just wait out till the second release, if we get that.

[Strollymonster]

As someone who's been lucky enough to know someone that imported the 4th Naruto game, I can tell you you'd do better to import, wait for it to come out here, or just go on a letter-writing campaign to convince them to skip 2 and 3 and just bring out 4 as the sequel to this one.

The 4th is the best GCN game since RE4, bar none.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I own 4 in Japanese, so I won't be.

This game is ignorable, but from the 2nd on(which comes out later this year), its one of the best fighting series out there. The 4th is the best yet.

[Scorpio_G]

As someone who's been lucky enough to know someone that imported the 4th Naruto game, I can tell you you'd do better to import, wait for it to come out here, or just go on a letter-writing campaign to convince them to skip 2 and 3 and just bring out 4 as the sequel to this one.

The 4th is the best GCN game since RE4, bar none.

This man/woman speaks the truth.

ANYBODY can play this game. I am not great at fighting games. I play them but I can not compeate with others but with this game I'm the one kicking ass and taking names now. ( BTW I play this game every Friday night at our college's video game club.)

This game is like a level playing field. There isnt any character that's overpowered and each character has their own strengh and weaknesses. I heard that 1-3 isnt as stellar as 4 so if they take 4 tweak it a little and sell it I garantee them that they'll have a hit!

'Cause this game is AWESOME!:D

[Dark Fact]

They're calling this game Naruto: Clash of Ninja. I say they should be calling it Naruto: Cash of Ninja. Because, they want us to spend our hard-earned cash just to play a game where a small group of ninjas beat the everloving crap out of each other.

[Mog]

I pre-ordered 2&3 from play-asia, and didn't regret them. If you have the $80 to spend, GNT4 is a very good buy if it really is better than 2&3.

Though I will say this. The fighting engine is low tech so if you like games like Virtua Fighter, Street Fighter, and Tekken, you'll quickly grow tired of the simplicity. If you're not big on fighting games and have friends to play mulitplayer with then buy it. Hell, you should go back in time and pre-order it. Or at least make a note of it for the future.

[Web Head]

I haven't played any of the Naruto games yet, but I think I'll wait for the sequels. Only having 8 possible fighters doesn't really appeal to me (there should be 20 minimum). I'll just wait for the games that were released post-Chuunin Exam/Tsunade arc.

[GagaMan]

Why didn't the just grab the latest one and rename it as the first for over here? Because, what with the amount of time the Gamecube has left on he market, I doubt they'll get the other 3 out over here by the time the Rev has taken over. Plus the first one only has about 8 playable characters, which is awful for today's standards, even if the graphics are lovely.

[Conekiller]

I don't understand why they didn't just port over #2, sure it's lacking some characters, but it's cast list is much more robust (and no longer spoilerish) than the current one we're getting. I'll wait for at least #3 to come out here.

[Dark Fact]

I don't understand why they didn't just port over #2, sure it's lacking some characters, but it's cast list is much more robust (and no longer spoilerish) than the current one we're getting. I'll wait for at least #3 to come out here.
Because Viz doesn't want to have games that introduce the newer characters until they've made their formal debut in the TV series dub.

Which is also the reason why One Piece: Grand Battle 4 had a lot of characters cut out for the U.S. release to prevent them from being revealed until 4Kids catches up to the later arcs in the series.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

But there's only one character in 2(Orochimaru) who hasn't shown up yet in the dub, and he's only 2 or 3 episodes away from showing up.

The only potential spoiler is Sharingan Sasuke's Super(which doesn't show up until Episode 67), but they could just remove him(he's a hidden character anyways), and the game would be fine for release by next month).

[Nin-Nin69]

You could always just import the PS2 Naruto games. You know the ones with a better setup, hardcore combos, and well balanced characters? Oh wait I'm sorry they don't have 4 player so this game blows. Well thats what almost all of the Naruto fans say. :shrug:

[maximumzero]

All I can say is that you best be buying the game because if you don't, they may say "Oh, well, this Naruto game thing isn't selling too well." and then decide not to release the rest of the games.

It could happen.

[Scirel]

No Hinata = none of my money.

[Tash]

But there's only one character in 2(Orochimaru) who hasn't shown up yet in the dub, and he's only 2 or 3 episodes away from showing up.

The only potential spoiler is Sharingan Sasuke's Super(which doesn't show up until Episode 67), but they could just remove him(he's a hidden character anyways), and the game would be fine for release by next month).
Yeah, but even smaller things are spoilers. (we still havn't seen most of the character's skills at this point in the dub)

[Sketch]

Viz is going to milk the franchise by getting all 4 out in the US within two years. Two this year (confirmed) and two next year (speculated). But yeah... they probably should have at least gone with the 2nd game.

[Zero Kagayaki]

I'm Gettin GNT4 very soonn

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Viz is going to milk the franchise by getting all 4 out in the US within two years. Two this year (confirmed) and two next year (speculated). But yeah... they probably should have at least gone with the 2nd game.

The thing is, the first 2 both came out the same year in Japan, too. The gap between them is pretty small, so its okay.

Viz, at one episode a week, will just be reaching the point the third game is at by next fall, and they certainly won't have reached the fourth until 2008, since that one goes all the way through Episode 133.

[Funkatron]

3 was the best out of all of them. 4 is really 3.33333333: not that many improvements and the improvements they did add were little: Sound 5 as stage 2 only: crud. Changing Hinata's style yet not even touchign Neji and adding his 128 hit combo: crap. And no Drunken Rock Lee? What the HECK?!!?!?!?! And not only that, but the game LAAAAAAAGS. I think they just ran out of space and tried to squeeze too much out of the GC. They should have waited till the Revolution

Overall, I haven't played the first 2 but 3 is my favorite out of the last 2.

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I'm glad they didn't add Neji's 128 strikes, and we all knew they wouldn't, since it was filler.

The lack of Drunk Lee, Kiba's Garouga, Chouji's 3 pills, Shikamaru's Kage Kubi Shibari, Temari's Dai Kamaitachi and Kirikimai, Kankurou's Kuroari, Gaara's Desert Avalanche, and Jiraiya's Rasengan are all bummers though.

Still its better then 3 because it has all 3 had plus 9 new characters, the awesome 3 man cell stuff, and other improvements like the combo cancels.

[JohnCrichton]

The 4th is the best GCN game since RE4, bar none.

I've heard only legends... what is it about this 4th entry that actually makes it good and what makes the other Naruto games suck so bad?

[KuwabaraTheMan]

I've heard only legends... what is it about this 4th entry that actually makes it good and what makes the other Naruto games suck so bad?

There's nothing that sucks about the others(except 1), but since the 4th has everything 3 has and more, and 3 had everything 2 had and more, there's no reason to go for one of the older games.

4 has the most characters, all sorts of new features, and the team supers which own beyond belief.

[Sketch]

My friend picked up Clash of Ninja and we played it a bit. Having only Rock Lee to unlock is really lame. They probably should have made it so you needed to unlock Zabuza and Haku as well.

The gameplay is pretty good though. Better than Zatch Bell by far and a bit better than One Piece Grand Battle even. You can do some interesting combos and such. The backgrounds are IMO the best feature. They are very well made overall. The character designs are suitable but you can tell they're early GCN graphics.

Does the original play Wind at the end of single player mode (not story mode, just single player). Because there are Wind clips and a song that sounds a bit like Wind. So I want to know if that is something they did for the US release or did they not use Wind in the Japanese version as well? The good news is... No "RISE!!!" for the opening. Just a pretty simple one with clips from the show.

It's not a bad game but the small cast of characters wears it thin quickly.

You're right, they're going to be taking their sweet time with airing Naruto here on Toonami so Viz might not be able to get out 4 before the GCN bites it. Then again... They might still bring it out. Afterall, the Revolution is suppose to be able to play GCN games.

[Doopliss]

Am I the only one who thinks Clash of Ninja sounds a bit too..Engrish? :p

I'll admit, I've never seen the show. But I'm not a fan of most fighting games, so I don't think I'll pick this up.

[Ickis]

I'm pretty sure most have been informed by now that the nearly 3 year old Naruto fighting game is finally making its way over here, being a Naruto fan and such I was considering buying this. But damnit if I don't feel cheated for shelling out 40 bucks for a game with only 8 characters to play with, and knowing in the back of my head that in Japan they've made there way already up to the 4th game in the series with a buttload of characters to choose from, so for me at the moment, i'm on the fence. I would just break down and buy the 4th one from lik-sang but with the FreeLoader included 80 bucks is alot of money...so i'm reluctant to say the least.
So is anyone out there going to actually buy this game or just give it a rent, or just wait out till the second release, if we get that. Yeah,I find it stupid that it's taken them this long to release it over here and in Japan they're on the 4th in the series.I can understand if they're one game ahead but three?! Come on!

[Sketch]

True but remember they've had over 150 episodes. We're only up to 26. The only reason One Piece Grand Battle RUSH was use to the game here is because 4kids cut out several arcs so episode 90 was episode 58 here. Catch my drift?

[Nin-Nin69]

This has to be the fakest review for the game yet.

2/22/06
A GREAT GAME
"People might say its bad but they're wrong.I've played it and so far it's been a great game.It might not be like other Naruto games but I can tell you one thing it's the best game Ive played so far.This is from a 9 year old who's played problably 300 games
1) Put a 2 in front of that 9 and that's your real age.
2) There are no other games avaliable here in the states. How would you know how different this is from the PS2 game or the RPG's?
3) Those must've been 300 disapointing titles you glazed over.

[Mynd Hed]

My girlfriend, a self-identified Narutard, bought it. Let me tell you right now-- skip it. If you're THAT into Naruto, it might be worth a rent, but then, if you're THAT into Naruto, you'll probably cringe every three seconds over the name pronunciations just like my girlfriend does anyway (and besides, you've probably already imported the later games).
The graphics are very pretty cel-shaded fare a la the DBZ: Budokai series, but the controls are a button-mashing mess lacking any kind of depth or subtlety.
Not that there's anything wrong with button-mashing, but there are so many better options for fighting game newbies; the Soul Calibur series is very newbie-friendly as long as you're not playing against an experienced player who's a total dick and likes to crush newbies for the fun of it, there's Smash Brothers, Power Stone, and probably a half-dozen others that escape me at the moment.

Speaking of importing the later Naruto games, I haven't played around with imports on my Gamecube, what's everybody using to get the imports to play-- mods, boot discs, etc.? The only system I've used imports on is the Dreamcast, for which I use the Gameshark CDX which has been very good to me. But if the later Naruto games are that much better, they might make good gifts for the aforementioned Narutard girlfriend.

[Dekacloud]

1. Is there a story mode?
2. How good is Haku as a playable character?
3. If there is a story mode, how do they handle episode (s) 18-19?

[Nin-Nin69]

Look I'll be fair and give Naruto fans the benifit of the doubt that they love the NGC fighter more than the PS2 version. The main reasons usually are the 4 players and the feel of the game. Yet the PS2 version is always left in the dust when talking to the community in general. I fail to understand why when there is so much more to this.

The PS2 game has more development and stratigic methods of pulling off your moves. It follows not only the main story, but the movies. You get more of a manga feel to the game rather than a campy arcade feel. A bunch of everyone's favorite finishing moves or signature moves are left out for the NGC version. Characters are better balanced and you don't die within 1 combo rotation followed by a special move. Which is something that bugs me the most about Naruto 4 for NGC when a 1 combo rotation will take off 3/4th your health bar with most of the characters if you don't block. Where is the fun or challenge in that? Lets see who can block and dodge the most within 20 seconds! This is a situation that doesn't go in favor to newbies and they'll never get a real edge of the game when they're beaten so fast.

As I was saying. You can jump between different levels and pick up weapons while maneuvering with with better camera angles. Plus you can do all sorts of mini games to train and level up your characters in story mode. The 3rd installment will have you use your updated characters in story mode with your friends.

I'm going to hold out on any US releases until we can get the PS2 game with the sidescrollers, fighters, and RPG's for GBA and NDS.

[Kametsou]

I would like to buy this game when I get the right amount of money. The game looks really cool. Go Rock Lee!

[KuwabaraTheMan]

Look I'll be fair and give Naruto fans the benifit of the doubt that they love the NGC fighter more than the PS2 version. The main reasons usually are the 4 players and the feel of the game. Yet the PS2 version is always left in the dust when talking to the community in general. I fail to understand why when there is so much more to this.

Maybe because its rediculously easy to pay $15 for a freeloader disc, but most of us are scared to death at messing around with the insides of our PS2. I don't even trust myself to mess around with stuff I'm supposed to mess around with.

Not to mention importing is expensive, and most people(like myself), probably played the game at an anime convention or somewhere first. This means they have exposure to the Game Cube game, but not the PS2 one.

[Nin-Nin69]

Maybe because its rediculously easy to pay $15 for a freeloader disc, but most of us are scared to death at messing around with the insides of our PS2. I don't even trust myself to mess around with stuff I'm supposed to mess around with.

Not to mention importing is expensive, and most people(like myself), probably played the game at an anime convention or somewhere first. This means they have exposure to the Game Cube game, but not the PS2 one.

Yet they have people at Anime conventions who bring in their moded PS2's to play their favorite anime imports in these game rooms. Even there with both games back to back people will find the PS2 game to be inferior to the NGC version.

Heck I just got into a conversation today with a kid that is big on the NGC version and kept going back to the same three issues. No 4 player. The characters look less 3D (what?). And he cried that you shouldn't be able to block your special moves like in the NGC version. Sorry, but that last one I fully disagree with. If I can not only block, but parry or send back special moves in other popular fighting franchies, we should here.

[Strollymonster]

Yet they have people at Anime conventions who bring in their moded PS2's to play their favorite anime imports in these game rooms. Even there with both games back to back people will find the PS2 game to be inferior to the NGC version.

Heck I just got into a conversation today with a kid that is big on the NGC version and kept going back to the same three issues. No 4 player. The characters look less 3D (what?). And he cried that you shouldn't be able to block your special moves like in the NGC version. Sorry, but that last one I fully disagree with. If I can not only block, but parry or send back special moves in other popular fighting franchies, we should here.

Specials CAN be blocked...it's just a matter of being fast enough to interrupt them. Some are very hard, like Rock Lee's unleashed form, but for the most part, it's just a matter of reaction time.