The Number-One Ninja is Back in the PS2 Sequel “Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2”
By Louis Bedigian

“One of the features of the game that's pretty interesting is that you can learn moves from other characters.”

Last summer’s hit anime fighting game, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja, boasted Smash Bros.-inspired combat, outstanding cel-shaded effects, and months of replay value, courtesy of the game’s addictive multiplayer battles.

You’ll get the chance to be addicted once more in this year’s sequel, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2. Developed by CyberConnect 2, the studio responsible for the hit .hack series, Ultimate Ninja 2 continues the series with more of what you crave:

• 32 Playable Characters (including several favorites from the first)

• A New RPG Mode

• Chunin Exams

• New Mini-Games

During a recent conference call, Andrew Davis (Localization Specialist) told us about the secret techniques in the game. “In the Japanese version you had either button-pounding or analog stick twisting,” he said. “But we also liked the system [from] the first game where you [enter] buttons in a certain order. So we worked with the developers to put that into some of those techniques [in the American version].

“So now there’s a bit more variety – all three systems. I think that makes it more fun because, if you don’t have it memorized, you have to keep an eye out for which technique it’s going to be to get a jump on your opponent.”

Of all the challenges that occur during a game’s development, Andrew says that the localization process has been the most difficult. “The localization has been very…” he starts, then pauses briefly. “It’s been quite a bit to deal with. There are 9,000 different audio files. One of the features of the game that’s pretty interesting is that you can learn moves from other characters. So if you’re wandering around in RPG mode and meet other character[s], you might be able to challenge them and learn one of their signature moves.

“All these characters can be customized, and you can have strange things like Hatake using Naruto’s Sexy Ninjutsu. It’s kind of crazy. Of course we had to coordinate all these names and coordinate all these characters… It’s a lot to handle.”

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 offers a point system that allows players to upgrade their character's strength, defense, agility, chakra, and special abilities. Tell us more about this intriguing feature.

Andrew Davis: This is a feature where if you play a story battle or a mission battle, at the end you’ll be assigned points based on how well you did. You can collect these points, they’re sort of like experience points, and spend them to increase your characters’ strength, jumping ability, chakra usage, all kinds of things.

This game sounds like it's going to focus heavily on the single-player, mission-based aspects. Can you talk about some of the missions – the objectives, challenges, and other things players will have to overcome?

AD: All of the missions have certain limitations to them. You might have to not just win the battle but win without using any projectile weapons. Or you might have to win while your opponent is very strong and you are very weak. There will be different conditions. Some are easier than others.

There are seven mini-games – what are they? Be as specific as possible.

AD: We have things such as tree climbing where you race up a tree and dodge branches. There’s a pushup battle with Rock Lee where you have to press the button fast enough do pushups faster than he does. There’s also a slot machine in the Pan Zaku town.

Attacks are paramount in a Naruto game. What moves will he and his comrades/enemies be able to perform? I would assume there are new moves on the roster…?

AD: You might be excited to know that Naruto’s signature move makes an appearance in this game. You’ll be able to use that as one of the secret techniques. [Also], all the new characters have brand-new moves.

Dotou, the character that was cut from the game – was he removed because it was going to be a spoiler if fans hadn’t seen the movie yet?

AD: Yeah, it was along those lines. We work to make sure that the content of the game is close to the English release [of the anime]. Sometimes it causes problems when there are characters that haven’t [yet] appeared in the US.

Could you go into more detail about the RPG elements?

AD: There are story events that follow the anime. But at certain points you’ll be on your own to explore. You’ll get through some battles and they’ll say, “Okay, let’s take a look around!” or something. You can wander around and have more freedom. You can talk to characters and discover new techniques and learning events and take on missions to build your points, or just earn money. At that point you also have free reign to run around the environment and play the mini-games if you like.

When you’re exploring, do you encounter enemies and fight them on a separate screen – is in an RPG – or do you fight them right there, as in an action/RPG?

AD: It’s more like the exploration segments of an RPG, so you don’t actually get in battles unless you really want to. But then you can go to a mission list and it’ll say, “Find this person at this location.” When you go there you can fight.

Namco Bandai publishes two separate Naruto series – Ultimate Ninja and Uzumaki Chronicles. Will there be a crossover at some point?

AD: I think right now we’re trying to differentiate the two titles. For people who want the more 2D, one-on-one action battles, you play Ultimate Ninja. And for people who want the more third-person brawler you play Uzumaki Chronicles. They’re from two different developers. Ultimate Ninja 2 is by CyberConnect 2, who is also the developer on the .hack series.

Thanks to everyone at Namco Bandai and Kohnke Communications for having a wonderful conference call.