At any given time while outside of the village you can and will be attacked by rogue bandits; this is when combat is initiated and the second form of the game comes into play. In combat mode, the game is no longer free roaming and is very familiar to the one on one fighting genre that most have come to know and love. The combat controls aren't as complex as other fighter games but very fun regardless. You have two attack buttons; a grab, jump button and a throwing knife button.

Though you will be familiar with the fighting format, it is the jutsu attacks which will take some getting use to. In order to perform a trademarked jutsu attack, you must hold the left trigger button while pressing the correct direction with the analog sticks in order to form the perfect hand signals. If done correctly you will launch an amazing attack that is unique to the character. Learning to quickly perform each jutsu sign is both tough and entertaining. Not to mention you will feel extremely rewarded when you successfully pull of a special attack. Of course there are penalties for not successfully using your chakra; Naruto, for instance, will accidentally cut the cheese, so to speak.

If the single player story mode isn't enough, and I don't see why it wouldn't be, you can play versus mode against a friend or take it online to challenge the world. You have a variety of options when in versus mode, including quick match, where you can find someone abruptly to challenge, and customs match, where you play based on the game options you select.

By the end of the day, well, you'll wish the day had not ended because this game is great! The beautifully rendered graphics are amazing and keep you in awe. The voiceovers match their counterparts and make you feel like your watching the TV series. The controls are tight and responses, except for the occasional platforming sections where things can get unnecessarily difficult due to some jumping issues. Yet, I can honestly say Ubisoft has done a remarkable job of bringing Naruto, a popular anime, to life and bringing a source unique gameplay that breaks the mold for this particular genre. I honestly believe that even someone who isn't a fan of the series will take joy in this game. So do yourself a favor and get your Naruto Rise of a Ninja copy today!

By Jwan Jordan
CCC Freelance Writer

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