Naruto: Rise of a Ninja thoughts

[Sockpuppet]

Picked this up today. I put it in the 'will buy but probly take back bracket but after playing it some I think it might be a solid keeper.

I have only played about 20min (which isn't too much considering the cutscenes) but what I played I really enjoyed.

I have never seen an episode of Naruto so I have no idea how well it follows the story but it seems to be very much based on the series to a point my flat mate whose a big Naruto fan was telling me "oh you're about to get such and such" or what ever he was flapping on about which turned out to be spot on.

They also use actual clips from the anime to flesh out the story so it's a mish mash of the actual anime fleshed out with some real time.

The graphics are absolutely beyond gorgeous, it's one of the prettiest, most vibrant games I have ever played. It would have to be the best use of Cel Shading I've seen also. Crackdown's cel shaded look was gorgeous but this game is something else. Everything about it is beautiful to look at.

I've only had one action / fight sequence which was pretty cool but some thing I definitely am not that comfortable with at this point. I beat my opponent but being the first fight I got into in the game I certainly had my ass handed to me in a pretty serious way, had the opponent been any harder I'd have definitely struggled far more so than I did. It caught me by surprise how fast an opponent could block and counter me. I'm not going to say whether the fighting system is any good or not just yet because I certainly didn't have enough of a grasp on it to really decide. What I did notice though is that it's great to watch and has all the theatrical over the top moves you'd expect from an anime.

My flatmate has pretty much claimed the game for the next few hours so I'll give it more of a go later but it seems this game is a definite for Naruto fans and even myself whose never even watched an episode can suggest theres possibly a good enough game lurking behind the license to justify looking into it as a purchase in itself.

[taxman]

I have never seen the anime nor do i have any interest in this or any other anime. But i am looking for a good platformmer. Plus i am not a fan of fighting games(like virtua fighter),so if there is any fighting, i don't mind button mashing. Does this game fit tht bill? How good of an adventure game is this?

[Sockpuppet]

God I wish I had a digital camera so I could take some shots of this game. It stands very very high in my list of most beautiful looking games.

[Phaded]

The water effects are comparable to BioShock imo this shocked me somewhat . Anyway i'm currently at the beginning of the Chuunin Exams after getting the game early and it's great so far, got some acheivements .

[rikwakefield]

I've been looking forward to this one for a long time. Glad to hear it's not a flop.

[Sockpuppet]

I just learn't the 'Sexy Jutsu'

.........YA HOOOOOOOO!!! COME ON /me thrusts

Anyway my only quibble with the game so far stems from the controls, they can feel a little stiff making the platforming seem a little awkward. They aren't broken by a long shot but they could feel better. Some people may not even notice it but coming from a background of loving platform titles it is some thing that stands out to me.

The only other thing and I'm being picky here, is when talking to characters they don't sort of immediately stop what they are doing and talk, it's like they just keep walking but are talking at the same time. It's a lil weird and hard to explain but it's a very minor issue.

Outside of the character controls being a little stiffer than I'd like, I can't say I've found anything not to like the game for. It's charming, the ambient noises and music are great, the graphics actually put a smile on my face they are so vibrant and gorgeous to look at and the gameplay is sort of a free roaming Naruto GTA while running around town picking missions to do while helping out around the place. Had a few practice fights and WOW can they look impressive, especially when you really link a combo up, it looks awesome.

Very happy with this game, a real no brainer if your a fan I would imagine.

[Phaded]

The way the jutsu's are performed has real potential in my opinion, it's really good. One thing that bugged me slightly though is the fact that it states the "whole of Konoha village" is exploreable, yet there is no Uchiha or Hyuuga estate, though this doesn't matter all that much.

[Sockpuppet]

The way the jutsu's are performed has real potential in my opinion, it's really good. One thing that bugged me slightly though is the fact that it states the "whole of Konoha village" is exploreable, yet there is no Uchiha or Hyuuga estate, though this doesn't matter all that much.

I guess I'll have to pretend I know what I'm missing out on /me is Naruto n00b

I assume later on you must learn some wall running skill, or a double jump because I can see Ancient coins in places I have no hope of getting right now.

[Dasimpse]

What can i say im absolutely blow away. Im in naruto heaven. Ive been watching the series since it aired in japan and this is a trip down memory lane. You play the parts of the story ive enjoyed to watch years ago. The graphics are unbelievable, the best cell shading graphics ive ever seen, textures on buildings are phenominal, foliage...and the water! I didnt think it would look this good!

Im just blown away, the fighting mechanic is top, the jutsu's!!! this game is amazing...Im going back on it!!!

i am as blown away as i was with ratchet and clank! but obviousley this is cell shading and not looking like a pre rendered movie, this looks like a cartoon, almost identically.

[mberg42]

Im pretty much in the same boat as the TC..Even after I bought it I was questioning whether it was a good buy. Then after playing it Im freaking loving it. So refreashing.

[Phaded]

I guess I'll have to pretend I know what I'm missing out on /me is Naruto n00b

I assume later on you must learn some wall running skill, or a double jump because I can see Ancient coins in places I have no hope of getting right now.

Yes you learn Chakra Concentration which lets you run up walls with feet patterns on them, you also get double jump and sprint and jump, which launches you quite far. It's surprising that i thought i explored practically all of the town already but i'm still finding like new rooftops and stuff to go to.

At the moment i'm doing all the mini quests for the acheivements before i go onto the Chuunin Exams, stuff like Konohamaru Hide and Seek and Racing. I'm also running around trying to find the pervert people that you can get with the Sexy Jutsu, i've found about 6 or 7 and there's 20 to find overall, it's bloody hard .

[Metal Militia]

Wow, I'd forgotten about this game and didn't realise it was so close. Comes out tomorrow here in UK but I've just got R&C on pre-order for next week. Just checked out some screens and it does look very nice. I'm very impressed with what they can do with cel-shading these days, the characters in Eternal Sonata look great too. I'll definitely be looking into this one in the near future. I loves me some platform-adventurin'.

[NarutoRamen]

Yeah man, I love this game. Bought it yesterday and played it last night. I put in a good 2hr 8min into it...LOL I learned Sexy Jutsu Level 2 and now I'm just about to get a mission from Kakashi.

Anyways, the graphics are amazing. In the beginning I was kind of mad at the lack of double jump but learned that it is a skill you acquire.

I'm not completely used to the fighting system but that will come with time. I can't wait to learn some more jutsus!

[Vampirtc]

I kinda liked the game. Since I've seen all Naruto series I already know what is gonna happen. I hate English synchronization too. Wouldn't mind if the game would be less childish.

[NarutoRamen]

Btw...anyone know when Ubisoft is going to let us download the Japanese Voices?

[Behemoko]

I want to get this so bad, but I would feel like the biggest loser walking up to the counter with this thing in hand at Best Buy.. I feel wierd enough buying awesome looking or M rated games, but this game screams out loser to non gamers IMO.

[Phaded]

Who cares what other people think? your likely to never see them again anyway. The rule only counts for condom's and porn.

[NarutoRamen]

I want to get this so bad, but I would feel like the biggest loser walking up to the counter with this thing in hand at Best Buy.. I feel wierd enough buying awesome looking or M rated games, but this game screams out loser to non gamers IMO.

I'd rather be a loser and play a fun game, then be a scaredy cat...LOL

[rikwakefield]

Who cares what other people think?

+rep for speaking very wise words

I'd rather be a loser and play a fun game, then be a scaredy cat...LOL

+rep for saying "scaredy cat" - I haven't heard that for such a long time.

[NarutoRamen]

+rep for saying "scaredy cat" - I haven't heard that for such a long time.

Yeah, what can I say, I got lots of lil' cousins who were yelling that last night for Halloween. LOL

[Phaded]

Btw was just playing Naruto when the 360 froze, i hope to god this isn't a sign of impending doom as i've only had the console a week .

[NarutoRamen]

^^I hope nothing happened to your 360. If my system dies 1 more ****ing time, I'm gonna ****ing throw at Steve Ballmer. LOL

[Behemoko]

Who cares what other people think? your likely to never see them again anyway. The rule only counts for condom's and porn.

Funny you should ask.

Answer to question #1: Me

Answer to question #2: An old high school friend works there, so yes, I am.

Answer to question #3: Buying porn isn't as bad, because they work at a porn store, so they can't judge. Except for the creepy woman who watched me step for step as if I was going to stuff my shirt with dildos or something.. THAT was creepy. Also, I went there with a friend and bought it for s**ts and giggles, I do not just go to porn stores for a fix. Second time we went though, it was a different person, and this guy carded us, and he didn't have an ID on him, so he went and sat in the car. That time was also creepy because I realized that the first time we must have looked like a gay couple.. Doh!

___________________________________________

You, my friend, make a very bad therepist.

To stay on topic, I am determined to get this game one way or another, I used to pay my friends to buy me anime or just about any game not rated "M", but I refuse to do that nowadays. I will find a way though.

[Phaded]

Decided to let my 360 cool down for a bit, might just clear the HD cache tomorrow see if that does anything.

[:mn:]

Yeah im a major naruto fan and this game is great