Naruto: Clash of Ninja 2 review

Six months later and this game still kicks ass

GamesRadar+ Verdict

Pros

  • +

    Super-quick fighting

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    Looks like the show

  • +

    Hot multiplayer

Cons

  • -

    Basically the same game

  • -

    Lackluster presentation

  • -

    Kinda button-mashy

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People often rip on Madden for coming out every year with nothing but minor tweaks. Well, we feel inclined to mention that the first Clash of Ninja was released in March...of this year. It was an exceptionally energetic anime scrapper that looked just like the cartoon on which it's based upon and offered enough action for all styles of fighting fans. And here we have Ninja 2, essentially the same game with just a handful of enhancements. And you know what? They're more than enough.

First off, you're getting an updated roster of 20-plus fighters that mirrors the current slate of episodes on Cartoon Network. Ino, Gaara and Shikamaru are just three of the top-tier ninja-kids who you can control, plus bushy-browed Rock Lee, previously only available as an unlockable character in the first Ninja.

Then there are the multiplayer face-offs. The fleshed-out story mode in Ninja 2 recreates key moments from the series, and as any fan can attest, many of those moments involve several students teaming up on one unlucky aggressor. So, you get three-against-one fights (and all the different variations on this setup) in single-player and multiplayer modes. The Z button switches your current target, letting you hop from one person to the next or pound the same one until they're out.

Considering how crazy the fights can get just one-on-one, getting used to four characters flinging around in all directions can take some time.

More info

GenreFighting
DescriptionThe second bout of ninja-kid fighting comes to the US this fall - now with four-player fights and even more anime goodness.
Franchise nameNaruto
UK franchise nameNaruto
Platform"GameCube"
US censor rating"Teen"
UK censor rating""
Alternative names"Naruto: Clash of Ninja II"
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Brett Elston

A fomer Executive Editor at GamesRadar, Brett also contributed content to many other Future gaming publications including Nintendo Power, PC Gamer and Official Xbox Magazine. Brett has worked at Capcom in several senior roles, is an experienced podcaster, and now works as a Senior Manager of Content Communications at PlayStation SIE.