Naruto Shippuden Clash of Ninja III Revolution (Review) WII

Naruto Shippuden Clash of Ninja III is the long-awaited game in the series that fans have been waiting for. Developer Tomy promised a balanced one-on-one fighter with a single player story mode and a slew of options that will keep fighting game purists who are not fans of the series coming back for more. This game will no doubt be popular amongst fans of anime animation, anime hentai videos and the manga comic genre.

Naruto offers a healthy roster of forty selectable characters and online gameplay via Wii wireless connectivity. Fans of the Anime series will be happy with the story mode and its strong focus on story-line. Story mode has you playing from character to character, accomplishing certain conditions like executing special moves on your opponent. These conditions must be met before you can progress to the next match. Cut scenes round-out the game between battles, but if you are not familiar with the Anime series they will make very little sense. Fans of the series will feel right at home.

Gameplay is straight-forward and fairly simple. There are two buttons for attacks, an ability to side-step your opponent’s blows, and fling or plant paper bomb projectiles on the ground. The Wii Remote’s directional pad activates your character’s specific finishers or teleporter moves. The Nunchuck controls player movement and the ability to side-step impending enemy attacks.

Options are a necessity in fighting games and Naruto is one game that is rich in those. Feel like challenging a friend or the CPU without experiencing story mode? This is possible in Exhibition mode. Score Attack mode sees how many points you can rack up in ten consecutive matches. In Kumite Mode, battle a multitude of ninjas until your energy is depleted. You can even see how long you can out last the competition in Survival Mode.

Currency called Ryo is earned during fights. This currency is used to unlock new fighters, stages for versus mode, a fourth difficulty setting, and other worthwhile goodies.

Naruto’s battles take place in colorful cell-shaded environments that compliment the characters. The only drawback to these environments are their size. They are small, cramped, and feel a bit sparse. Small crates and rocks are present and can be used as shields when side-stepping, but no other objects are present. During two team expeditions, the playfield feels really cramped. Fans of the series may find this small drawback forgivable, but other players may find it a bit restrictive.

The combat system is very easy to learn. Combos require very little technical knowledge to execute and most specials are just a button press away. Fans of the Anime series will enjoy the animated sequences when a super attack is executed. A full animated sequence is played showcasing the character’s signature moves. There are plenty of combos, technical moves, and even a technical landing ability to give Naruto more of a competitive edge over other Wii fighters. Technical gamers familiar with the Tekken series may be turned off by the simple controls, but if technical controls mean little to you – and for some they do — then you have little to worry about.

Wi-Fi Battle Mode is a rarity in Wii titles. This feature allows you to challenge Naruto gamers from all across the world. Share your Wii friend code to battle friends or battle someone you don’t know. You can even add your opponent to a rival list so you can battle them again later. Tomy did a fantastic job by adding this feature. Hopefully future titles by Tomy will support this feature.

Naruto Shippuden Clash of Ninja III is a worthy addition to the Nintendo Wii’s library. Its Anime / Manga roots, easy-to-learn gameplay, multiple options, and online Wi-Fi battles give the game a distinctive edge over previous Wii offerings. You owe it to yourself to check this out even if you’re not a fan of the Anime series or its protagonist Naruto. Fans of the series should look no further however; they will feel right at home.

Score 9 out of 10

Mike ‘STGuy1040′ Pittaro

Platform: Nintendo Wii
Developer: Tomy