Naruto Shippuuden - Shinobi Retsuden 2

Naruto Shippuuden - Shinobi Retsuden 2,aka Naruto: Ninja Destiny 2 is a sequel to the first 3D fighter on the DS.This time,rather then being based on Naruto,the theme of the game changes to the future,a few years after the the serial.The new characters also appear in Naruto Shippuden,a new anime which is a continuance for the first series.The Shippuden series are being aired in Japan,and are supposed to get dubbed.For now,several episdoes can be found on YouTube.

Screenshot

Box Art Front

Box Art Back

The whole game runs on the same system as the first part.Graphics have been improved,new moves have been added,and new characters joined the roster.The game runs great,jutsus are more epic,more effects.

The one thing that really amazes in this game is the fact that free roam has been added,rather then the 2D look.You rotate the camera by pressing L or R. AI has also been improved,now they evade and block some of your attacks.The first level resembles a desert.Through your journey you get attacked by ninja assassins,which you must defeat.Character models have been improved also.

Controls stayed the same,with the first standard jutsu you can use being Rassengan.A clone joins in and both characters attack the enemy dealing quite a big amount of damage.The roam acts like a map,on which you have to go through to find various elements on each side,until you search the whole map and find where you need to go.Your health does not regenerate between battle,nor on the map.

Main Menu is in Japanese thus it might be hard for the few first times you play the game until you understand where everything is located. Face expressions have been changed during battle.

After the desert you get to play Guy,who is battling Kisame.Before every battle there is a short cut scene telling what is going on.Each level change you get to be a different character,and harness each power.

As for the character roster,you unlock more each time you pass a mode.The first available characters are the main ones.More you can unlock by beating Story mode once,or several times.You can clearly see the improvements once you play it.There are 34 in total.You start off with the main crew.

There are two ways to finish story mode.There is a split at the story,where you can go at two different ways,each way leads to a different story.You get new characters depending on the path you finish.After you finish story mode,which will entertain you for about 2 hours,or less,you unlock 3 new characters uncluding Survival Mode.Win 15 battles in survival mode to unlock more characters.

This is a great game.Unfortunately,it’s only available in Japan,from mid 2008.There is hope that it get’s translated for the rest of the world,but since the Shippuden anime still didn’t start in America,it may take a while until we get it.

You can get the list of all Shippuden episodes here,from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homecoming_(Naruto_episode)