Moments after completing his last adventure, titular character, Naruto, is ambushed by a gang of ninjas led by a puppet that looks like a giant iguana.
Thus begins Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles 2, a random, exclamation point-filled game, in a franchise that consistently sets new benchmarks in randomness and exclamation point usage.
As expected, the game follows Naruto and company as they hunt down a magical spirit orb, first to protect it, then to destroy it in order to keep it out of the hands of the aforementioned puppet gang.
Story, the game's main mode is divided into missions that are presented as episodes of the TV show. This presentation is one of the game's strongest assets if you're a fan of the series. The mission set-up, along with the game's cel-shaded visuals and over-the-top facial expressions and voice acting match the style and tone of the show perfectly. Fans disappointed with the more realistic style of the previous Uzumaki Chronicles will be satisfied.
Under the game's candy-coated shell is a respectable amount of depth, at least for a game based on a Cartoon Network show, based on a manga. It's possible to switch characters at anytime during gameplay and there's a fair amount of character customization as well. Individual stats can be increased like health and defense and status-modifying items also can be equipped to characters.
It's too bad that, given the level of character customization, combat is passable at best. While every character in the ever-growing cast has their own attacks and magic, they are all limited to a measly four combos. This makes the combat extremely repetitive; especially given that most of the game is spent fighting.
What's more, when the game doesn't have you mashing buttons to accomplish one of the few available combos, it has you trying to decipher its vague mission objectives, which are usually limited to arrows pointing in a general direction on the ground.
To supplement the Story Mode, developer Cavia, added a Survival Mode and Two-Player Battle Mode. Unfortunately the shortcomings of the Story Mode are the main focus of these modes and as a result, both modes feel tacked-on and mind-numbing.
It's too bad Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2 turned out the way that it did. It has some solid customization and there's plenty for fans of the series in terms of presentation and style. If only Cavia had spent more time on the combat, pared down the bloated and indistinguishable character list and some clear mission objectives, what is an average game could have been something more.
Graphics: 7.0
Sound: 6.0
Gameplay: 4.0
First Play: 5.0
Last Play: 4.0
Overall: 5.0
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