Revolution 2 is a solid fighting game which offers something regardless if you're a fan of the popular manga.
(-) character roster is largely unbalanced; Wii-remote nun-chuck controls are kind of clunky; online mode would have helped; frame rate skids during four player matches
Everyone knows that the Wii isn't the most eventful when it comes to fighting games. The system was launched with a casual audience in mind, which is why the system has been more devoted to mini-game collections, adventure games, and sports games more than any other genre. With such a thin scope of fighters to compete against, the first Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution was released and declared by reviewers as the best fighter on Wii. When all it was was a quick installment of the Gamecube series with a thin coat of paint.
However, here's Clash of Ninja Revolution 2, which has new and improved fighting mechanics as well as a broadened range of selectable. characters and other small added details that really sum up to something more than just another annual installment in a fighting series. Revolution 2 is strong enough of a fighting game that even if the Wii got more shippings of fighters on its market, it would still have no problem standing toe to toe with its competitors.
The fights are done in a 3D environment, but the characters interact with one another in 2D. Your basic fighting calls for a strong attack, weak attack done with two buttons. Fighting affectively can be done by doing combos, which means using these attacks rhythmically. You also have the ability to throw paper bombs by aiming with the Wii-remote, as well as ninja tools to attack from a range. By simply not touching any buttons or trying to move you can block. To add some progression flow through the fighting's pacing, every time you land a move or get hit, you increase chakra, which is basically energy. With chakra, you have a choice to either pull off a special move, which characters have different amounts of moves based on how you tilt the control pad during the attack, or the ability to dodge the opponent's attack and appear behind them. This adds to the complexity of the fighting greatly, and it makes for a very satisfying and fast paced action experience.
You have several single player and multiplayer modes to play around with. There's story mode, where you progress through fights based on episodes in the series. You have a single match, where you face one opponent or you can have a tag team 2 against 2. You have endurance, where you fight off as many opponents as your health permits. Kumite, where you fight a never ending army of rogue ninja with limited recovery items until your health finishes. And mission mode (dread), where you take off to various and time consuming missions like defeating rival opponents, taking on three against one, fighting ten, fighting ten without recovering health (a bit harsh, are we?), and fighting another rival opponent. And you also have some multiplayer modes, which some may be disappointed because the lack of online because when this game was in development there were rumors that it would have an online mode.
There are 35 characters to play with in Clash of Ninja Revolution 2. And as traditionally in a Naruto game, most of them are unavailable at the start and you need to unlock them. But worry not, because the game stores them in a convenient shop mode where you purchase all the characters with points. But the thing is, the character roster is massive but it isn't balanced very well. You have children characters, like Naruto, Kiba, Hinata, and Shino, as well as monsters such as Nine-Tailed Naruto, Second-Stage Sasuke, Orochimaru, and Itachi. It's easy to have at least a partial disadvantage simply because you chose a certain character, which they improved that in this game's sequel, but in this game it is definitely an issue. Something I found interesting about the characters, was when you fight one on one, sometimes the characters interact with one another. They both say something at the beginning of the fight and the winners says something else at the end, by default. But I've seen them interact with eachother, like Choji saying "If I win, dinner's on you!" then opponent Asuma says "Then I guess I can't afford to lose!"
Your control experience depends largely on which control option you choose. I don't own a classic controller, but this game supports that, the Wii-remote alone, the Wii-remote and nunchuck combo, and the Gamecube controller. The Wii-remote alone works well enough, which is surprising considering how small it handles in your two hands. The remote and nun-chuck controls feel kind of clunky though, because you must shake the remote to perform a weak attack which means you'll be jacking the remote like a hungry jaguar after catching a muskrat, that is unless you turn the shake off in the controls menu. But as you perform special attacks, you have the ability of moving the remote in different manners to pull off special moves, which not only does this help you interact with the game it also does a little extra damage to your opponent. But still, these controls can be tiresome after a short while. The best way to play this game is without a doubt the Gamecube controller, because the basic attack buttons are initiative and it just gives the game a more proper home-console arcade feel to it.
The graphics in Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 are mostly good, but there are different factors that change along with the experience. The character models are cel-shaded but not over-saturated like they were in something like the PS2's Ultimate Ninja Series, and the environments are pretty straightforward. However during the cut-scenes in the story, you get a closer perspective of the characters and it really shows their rough edges. Sometimes their mouths don't even move cohesively with their voices. But the special attacks are really polished and have plenty of lighting and particle effects that brings the experience out in a flashy and exciting way. Everything from Nine-Tailed Naruto's fire-cannon punch to Garra's sand barrier, is a joy to watch. The frame-rate is also impressively smooth when there are two fighters, but if there are four fighters then it is downscaled pretty far. Not far enough to reduce the enjoyment out of the game-play, but it is noticeable nonetheless but to be expected as far as the Wii console's hardware goes.
But what's interesting most of all about Naruto Clash of Ninja Revolution 2 is how fans and non-fans alike can still find something to like about the game. There is simple yet complex combat, a lot of character to unlock, a lot of control options that make it accessible, great looking special moves, and entertaining character interactions. The game however is held back just a bit by clunky remote and nun-chuck controls, a lack of online mode and an unbalanced roster. But still, this is definitely one of the better fighters on the Wii and could be great for anyone who just enjoys a great fighter. I myself am not a big fan of the series by any means, I've watched seven consecutive episodes over the internet one day and then I was burned from anything Naruto for at least a week. But still, this is a solid and fun fighting game for fans and non-fans alike.