The rest of Revolution 2’s upgrades come in the form of minor tweaks that are sure to please long-time players. In a move catering to impatient gamers and competitive players alike, Revolution 2 adds the option to turn stage obstacles off - likewise with the brief transition cutscenes that often take place mid-battle. No longer will annoyingly placed boxes and rock formations get in the way of your carefully planned combos. Cheap moves and techniques have been tuned out as well, so Revolution 2 should be a smoother, cleaner, and more enjoyable fighting experience for all (and one that anyone can enjoy regardless of controller preference – you can use the Classic Controller or the GameCube one in addition to the Wii Remote and Nunchuk set-up).

Outside of the multiplayer options that will most likely be the star of the show, Revolution 2 also features a brand-new original storyline for its single-player (sorry, no co-op) adventure mode. The story finds the Leaf Village, still on the mend from Orochimaru’s devastating attack, teaming up with its former rivals in the Sand Village to find out who’s behind a covert operation to take them out. You guide Naruto as he rounds up a posse to go knock heads and solve mysteries. This all takes place after Sasuke has left the Leaf Village, if you were wondering where it fits into the timeline.

As for where the game fits into the real world timeline of the year 2008, it’ll be hitting store shelves in late October. Fans of the Clash series and the franchise should have plenty to chew on when that time comes – from minor tweaks, like the option to remove obstacles, to the brand-new U.S.-only characters and the tag team mode, this one’s being built from the ground up for them.

Check out our preview of Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2 for the DS for more Naruto coverage.

Aug 12, 2008