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Naruto fends off Akatsuki Rising on PSP

Namco Bandai bringing latest installment in blond ninja's Shippuden adventures to Sony's portable this fall.

Sony's PSP is already having a good year. Even if rumors of the UMD-less PSP2 don't pan out, the system has a number of high-profile titles headed its way, including installments in the Little Big Planet, Rock Band, Assassin's Creed, MotorStorm, Persona, and Dante's Inferno franchises, to name a few. And, according to Sony, some of the biggest announcements concerning the portable are slated for next month during the Electronic Entertainment Expo.

There's nothing quite like a kick to the face.

There's nothing quite like a kick to the face.

As part of its 2009 press event, Namco Bandai said that it too would be heavily supporting the PSP, announcing that Soulcalibur: Broken Destiny and Tekken 6 will arrive for the handheld this summer and fall, respectively. Adding one more to that pile, the publisher has also revealed that Naruto Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising will also be released for the PSP this fall.

Based on Naruto's adventures in Viz Media's Shippuden animated series, Legends: Akatsuki Rising sees the titular fighter and a number of his companions embark on a quest to find Gaara, better known as the fifth Kazekage. To accomplish this goal, Naruto must defeat the Akatsuki criminal organization.

Following a mission-based structure, Legends: Akatsuki Rising offers gamers access to more than 10 characters from the animated series. Namco Bandai describes combat as a "fast-paced tactical" affair, with players timing their jutsu attacks to maximize their damage output as well as launching combined assaults as part of a three-man squad.

Legends: Akatsuki Rising features a number of modes, accommodating both two-player cooperative and competitive action. Original mode plays out as the basic storyline adventure, which sees Naruto setting out on his aforementioned quest. In Scenario mode, players can increase their characters' abilities by undertaking various side-mission quests. Akatsuki mode lets players assume the role of a member of the titular criminal organization. Lastly, Versus mode lets players duke it out against friends via ad hoc local wireless play.

For more on Namco Bandai's lineup, check out GameSpot's full coverage of the 2009 Namco Bandai event.

47 Comments

  • 6795896

    Posted Dec 5, 2010 5:53 pm GMT

    This game was awesome and fun!

  • wdrodrigues

    Posted Oct 21, 2009 12:27 am GMT

    Game's Awesome! I've basically finished it!

  • jerome25

    Posted Oct 16, 2009 7:56 pm GMT

    this is my favorite!! 1.dissidia final fantasy 2 naruto shippuden legends: akatsuki 3soulcalibur broken destiny!!

  • hellgod102

    Posted Sep 26, 2009 8:31 am GMT

    OMG it looks so awesome I can't wait for it to come out i'm geting it for sure.

  • atrofiado

    Posted Sep 15, 2009 2:42 pm GMT

    hope it doesn't give us a kick in the face also

  • tsudokisharinga

    Posted Sep 4, 2009 1:14 pm GMT

    This game will be very cool.

  • Rock_Hound22

    Posted Aug 16, 2009 6:09 pm GMT

    i wonder if ultimate ninja 2 will work on the psp go like this game. if they both can't work, im not getting a psp go

  • luisfer17

    Posted Jul 25, 2009 11:54 am GMT

    Nice tittle for the psp, also nice variety of akatsuki player although i wish we could see tobi and the six pain, as well as a updated sasuke and naruto.

  • Thangil

    Posted Jul 20, 2009 1:24 am GMT

    Nothing beats a subbed version!
    Hate the dubbed ones, cant stand the annoying english voices.
    And zaxafreon its Jiraya.
    Love the Japanese voices, cant stand to watch Anime in any other language! ;D
    Best wishes to all from Swe

  • RaikirBLaZE

    Posted Jul 18, 2009 11:10 am GMT

    OMFG 10 Characters!!! I pissed my pants.
    The Akastsuki option is pretty cool, even though im sure the guys I want to play as wont be in here. I dont like Sasori, Deidara. Hidan an Kakuzu would be cool but they are too far in. But seriously, I think we could get a little more. I know it say "more than 10" but that's probably 11.

    @ zaxafreon: noob...i havent watched Naruto in a while either but id take subbed anyday. i dont remember what year it was when i last watched a dubbed version.

  • miko1511

    Posted May 31, 2009 3:33 pm GMT

    Does any know date when it's out

  • ChidoriBoyU

    Posted May 25, 2009 5:40 am GMT

    if the new naruto game's gameplay is like naruto uzumaki chronicles 1 or 2 (as it seems) then the game is gonna suck big time

  • saber_lily

    Posted May 24, 2009 7:05 am GMT

    all of the games are very popular

  • jokerman_28

    Posted May 18, 2009 9:50 am GMT

    i like this. hope the gameplay is like Ultimate Ninja Storm like in the PS3

  • zaxafreon

    Posted May 17, 2009 12:32 pm GMT

    gnbfd Posted Apr 30, 2009 8:54 pm GMT "you know what would make this better? If CN didn't cancel the anime dub. I hate watching it with subs. I stopped watching them because I knew the dub was close to Shippuden. I now have no clue what the **** has been going on in Naruto in the past 6 months"
    The naruto in the jap is quite anoying but u can live with it but the dub naruto is somthin else...
    Also other character in dub voices dont reflect there character like jiary(is tht how you spell it?) who in the manga is in his 50s sounds like someone in his 20s in the dub. Also hearing word you cant understand creating mystery for stuff like nejis kaiten is compleltely ruined by the stupid translation of it being rotation which really ruins the whole effect in the stupid dub!

  • Rahsilfer

    Posted May 13, 2009 12:42 am GMT

    Been waiting for so long...FINALLY!!

  • tpeeple1

    Posted May 12, 2009 6:57 pm GMT

    This is gonna be a huge year for the psp.

  • atrofiado

    Posted May 6, 2009 8:30 am GMT

    such a great year this is!! And Sony tells that there are more news? I'm gonna have a heart-attack.

  • riku19

    Posted May 4, 2009 3:26 pm GMT

    naruto is cool and all, but DISSIDIA just rules come on!

  • megadisc

    Posted May 3, 2009 9:25 pm GMT

    i love naruto
    and you cant do anything about it.

  • ficha13

    Posted May 3, 2009 2:48 am GMT

    yay! first tekken 6, now naruto! hope it's like the one on the xbox 360!

  • Xcommand

    Posted May 2, 2009 11:20 pm GMT

    cooperative?...so that means this is an advanture game?..a must buy for me!!!

  • spicyramen08

    Posted May 1, 2009 9:41 pm GMT

    I agree with Virtual Erkan... I upgraded to the newest 3000 PSP version this year and I'm so glad. I've been recollecting my favorite games and I absolutely love Namco Bandai games.

  • Genesis_123

    Posted May 1, 2009 6:23 pm GMT

    wouldn't it be awesome to fight the tailed beasts in akatsuki mode? If they did i would buy this in a heartbeat

  • Virtual_Erkan

    Posted May 1, 2009 11:45 am GMT

    It is true that PSP is having such a great year

  • zexxthefox

    Posted May 1, 2009 9:06 am GMT

    looks good

  • cdog21

    Posted May 1, 2009 7:42 am GMT

    It looks like Sony is stepping up their game this year.

  • EviLDim4

    Posted May 1, 2009 4:40 am GMT

    i only ask for Hidan in this Game so Please Namco Bandai

  • SPD_WeBmAsTaH

    Posted May 1, 2009 12:03 am GMT

    Nice I'll look into it.

  • c_rec

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 11:15 pm GMT

    @gnbfd

    are you kidding me?! the dub is miserable! I hope they have the option of japanese w/ subs, it would be sweet if it let you play as all akatsuki members like the manga, but i guess the japanese anime isn't even that far so its not gonna happen oh well at least it'll probably have itachi!

  • KJsmashdude

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 1:55 pm GMT

    MAN I NEED A PSP

  • ff7cloudking

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 1:26 pm GMT

    This is awesome news! I cant wait to play as Deidara and Sasori on my PSP!

  • jadefury27

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 1:04 pm GMT

    i can finally dust my psp off thank god!

  • jadefury27

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 1:04 pm GMT

    i guess namco is assuming people are watching online.
    viz actually posted the first 8 eps w\english voices, i guess it's too much to ask that the game would have a special edition packing that in. it's also too bad shippuden is at episode 115 about now...

  • gnbfd

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:54 pm GMT

    you know what would make this better? If CN didn't cancel the anime dub. I hate watching it with subs. I stopped watching them because I knew the dub was close to Shippuden. I now have no clue what the **** has been going on in Naruto in the past 6 months

  • DS-man

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:38 pm GMT

    awesomo!, Shippuuden cmin out on a consol that westeren gamers can play

  • Zain-Midori

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:24 pm GMT

    ok...wow this is some news cant wait e3 looks more promising hopefully sony will give us the second anolog stick lol

  • ssk187

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:20 pm GMT

    I'm excited. The graphics remind me of UNS for the ps3. I hope they go farther then just the Gaara arc in the game. Still a very strong showing.

  • WhenPicklezFly

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:15 pm GMT

    Yeah naruto, yeah sakura for healing hinata yeah everything YEAH

  • TheArcade

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:14 pm GMT

    ANOTHER strong PSP release!

  • nappan

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 12:11 pm GMT

    Good good... now stick this on CONSOLES... I'm ready for a Shippuden sequel to NTBB. That game has an amazing online following around the leaderboards. Very fun break from SCIV and more intense fighters.

  • omarsh94

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 11:59 am GMT

    thank you namco bandai

  • akram112

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 11:20 am GMT

    lets hope atleast this naruto game makes the psp proud; the previous entries for psp werent that great.

  • Lyca

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 10:43 am GMT

    Im really looking foward to psp game news at e3 this year fingers crossed that there will be loads more titles like this.

  • sinistergoggles

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 10:26 am GMT

    Looks like it's gonna be a good year for PSP owners; they just keep coming.

  • 2mrw

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 10:19 am GMT

    i now belive sony when it said half of the PSP line up is till uncovered...........in two days 3 major announcment... SC, tekken and naruto.....sweet.

  • playagamer

    Posted Apr 30, 2009 10:18 am GMT

    Good games but I'm not buying a new PSP untill the PSP2 with two nubs.

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