bit-tech Shopping: D3 Publisher Naruto: Clash of Ninja for GameCube

Rating: 8

Time with product:

Strengths: Fast Fighting GameDeep Fighting Engine Great Multiplayer experience

Weaknesses: Short Single Player StoryLimited CharactersOnly 2 person multiplayer

Summary: The first North American Installment of the Clash of Ninja series. This is a fighting game with characters from the Naruto Anime Franchise. The story mode is very short covering up to the Zabuza Story arc. The characters are all different which is great since there are not many of them. There are not many unlockables so if you will be playing by yourself it can get stale quick. Multiplayer is where the game really shines. Each character has very different movesets and traits so mastering each one may prove to ba a challenge. The counter system really shines when fighting against a human oponent and the game can get very intense.The major cons the game has is the limited number of characters and limited number of special moves. The special moves are basically animations so these can get boring fast. Also there are more instalments of the series already out so the only reason to still buy this one is if you are a die hard fan and really has to have them all. All in all this is a great starting point to the franchise and a great fighting game. Although it has limited characters it is currently a very affordable game which is well worth its price.

Rating: 6

Time with product: 2

Strengths: Easy to pick up and play, lots of action, solid cel-shaded graphics, decent soundtrack

Weaknesses: Shallow game play, weak story and voice acting, short overall length, limited replay value

Summary: Anime and mange series for children usually get by on their character charms and fantasy powers, and Naruto had these in spades. Unfortunately, the developer decided to quickly dump the license into a standard fighting game, and Clash of Ninja is the result. Clash of Ninja isn't entirely a train wreck. The graphics and animation are quite good, and soundtrack is decent enough. The problem is that all eight playable characters have basically the same handful of moves. Once you've mastered one you've mastered them all, and the limited game play modes and unlockables mean you won't have much to come back for. Clash of Ninja was obviously developed for children, so kids and series fans will probably find something to like here. The game has also joined Nintendo's Players Choice value line, so the asking price is less than $20 new. Players unfamiliar with Naruto will probably want to go with a more mainstream fighting game.