The Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series, known in Japan as the Naruto: Narutimate Hero (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト－ ナルティメットヒーロー, Naruto: Narutimetto Hīrō) series, is a series of 3-D fighting games developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Namco Bandai. Although most of the series is available exclusively for Sony's video game systems, recent instalments of the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm franchise have also appeared on Microsoft platforms (Xbox 360, and PC/Steam).
Gameplay
In the Ultimate Ninja series line, the player controls one of the many characters seen within the Naruto anime and manga. The simple goal is to fight the opposing character and to win by reducing their health to zero. The catch to this goal is the vast amount of weapons that appear to the characters as the battle progresses (along with items which could potentially heal the player or the opponent). Along with the various weapons available to the characters, they also have their various special abilities taken straight from the series (Naruto Uzumaki's Rasengan or Sasuke Uchiha's Chidori, for example). To use these attacks, however, the player must have the required chakra as indicated by the "chakra bars" located under the players health. Using the technique drains the chakra bar (which can be regained through various methods, including special, character specific methods for some characters). These special techniques are not performed in real-time, however; once successfully executed, a cinematic takes place, where the player either has to fill a bar to a specific level or hit buttons illustrated in the corner of the screen faster than their opponent to assure the attack is at its full strength. All characters can use the Body Replacement Technique, although some characters use different versions (two variants of Body Replacement exist; one which evades normal attacks, and another which begins a tug-of-war like minigame after juggling an opponent). Also, some characters have specific transformations available to them (such as Sasuke's Cursed Seal of Heaven with the right amount of chakra or, in the later games, by successfully executing their special technique). The first 2 games of the Ultimate Ninja series let players execute 3 different secret technique attacks using three different chakra levels (red, purple, and blue, in order of weakest to strongest), 2 different signature techniques, and a wide variety of kicks, punches, and throws. However, in Ultimate Ninja 3, players are only allowed to use one secret technique attack, besides the other attacks and techniques. To compensate for this, players will be allowed to select the secret technique of their choice before each battle, but not all secret techniques will be made available at the start of the game. Different secret techniques must be obtained through story mode and completing missions.
Games
| Title | System | Japanese release | English
release |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultimate Ninja | |||
| Naruto: Ultimate Ninja | PlayStation 2 | October 23, 2003 | June 26, 2006 |
| Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 | PlayStation 2 | September 30, 2004 | June 12, 2007 |
| Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 3 | PlayStation 2 | December 22, 2005 | March 25, 2008 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja 4 | PlayStation 2 | April 5, 2007 | March 24, 2009 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja 5 | PlayStation 2 | December 20, 2007 | November 27, 2009 |
| Ultimate Ninja Heroes | |||
| Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes | PlayStation Portable | August 28, 2007 | |
| Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress | PlayStation
Portable |
March 30, 2006 | June 24, 2008 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 | PlayStation
Portable |
December 10, 2009 | May 11, 2010 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Impact | PlayStation
Portable |
October 20, 2011 | October 18, 2011 |
| Ultimate Ninja Storm | |||
| Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm | PlayStation 3 | January 15, 2009 | November 4, 2008 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | October 21, 2010 | October 14, 2010 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360 | February 23, 2012 | March 13, 2012 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows | April 18, 2013 | March 5, 2013 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution | PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, Windows | September 11, 2014 | September 12, 2014 |
| Naruto Shippūden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 | PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Windows | February 4, 2016 | February 5, 2016 |
| Others | |||
| Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Blazing | iOS, Android | ||