Naruto, d3 publisher, ds, naruto: ninja destiny, nintendo, tomy

Tomy Brings Improved Ninja Destiny In February

Quite surprising for an anime license, the Naruto series has spawned some really excellent games both in the U.S. and Japan, though the Japanese release of Naruto: Ninja Destiny as Naruto: Shinobi Retsuden was pretty mediocre, with a crawling frame rate, poor graphics, and an extremely limited cast of characters. Rather than release the same crap stateside secure in the knowledge that Leaf Village headband wearing fans everywhere would buy it anyway, developer Tomy went and fixed it first.

"We've listened to the fans and made a slew of improvements to the Japanese original, including a much faster frame rate, additional characters, and never-before-seen content," said Laura Yoshioka, director, consumer software of TOMY Corporation.

The 3D fighter now boasts an impressive 16 different characters, with storylines up to the 140th episode of the anime, which I am about 80 episodes away from seeing currently. The new and improved Naruto: Ninja Destiny will be in stores next month. Much love to Tomy for going above and beyond for the U.S. release!

TOMY And D3Publisher Of America Bring Intense 3D Ninja Combat To Nintendo DSTM In NARUTOTM: Ninja Destiny Chakra-filled Battles Explode onto Two Screens with Innovative New Gameplay
LOS ANGELES - January 10th, 2008 - TOMY Corporation and D3Publisher of America, Inc. (D3PA), publishers of interactive entertainment software, today announced the upcoming release of NARUTOTM: Ninja Destiny, the first-ever head-to-head 3D NARUTO fighting game for the Nintendo DSTM handheld system. Based on VIZ Media's hit animated TV series NARUTO, NARUTO: Ninja Destiny will pit characters from the hit NARUTO series against each other in high-energy combat. Players will use both screens for innovative, unique gameplay featuring trademark ninja moves and the cinematic special techniques of the NARUTO world. NARUTO: Ninja Destiny is scheduled to ship in February 2008.

"We've listened to the fans and made a slew of improvements to the Japanese original, including a much faster frame rate, additional characters, and never-before-seen content," said Laura Yoshioka, director, consumer software of TOMY Corporation. "Through the innovative use of the dual displays and touch screens, NARUTO: Ninja Destiny will bring the series' iconic battles to players in a way that is only possible on the DS."

Players will soon be able to take their ninja battles on the road with NARUTO: Ninja Destiny, the first 3D head-to-head NARUTO fighter for the Nintendo DS. Any aspiring ninja can unleash powerful jutsu and take advantage of items to brawl his way to victory against 16 different characters. Dual-screen combat will allow fierce battles to unfold on the top screen while power ups can be strategically unleashed on the touch screen for fast, frenetic action. Core fighting game fans and casual gamers alike will find plenty to enjoy, thanks to a combo move system that is both intuitive to pick-up and challenging to master. Featuring scenes, characters, and storylines from up to the 140th episode of the hit animated television series currently airing on Cartoon Network, NARUTO: Ninja Destiny offers an intense single-player story and versus mode, along with wireless multiplayer combat.

8:20 AM on Thu Jan 10 2008
By Mike Fahey
3,352 views
13 comments

Comments

Fyren at 08:26 AM on 01/10/08
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This Naruto fad needs to slow down. There will be no end to it anytime soon.

The manga is about 200 episode ahead of the anime :/.
Pombar at 08:29 AM on 01/10/08
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Covering the first 135 episodes is what the 360 game should've done, in all fairness. It allows for a decent length game, and covers all the important parts of the anime and manga before Shippuden/Naruto Part 2. It'll be nice to give this a spin, but a sequel for 360 covering up to this point would be ideal.
Kyle81 at 08:32 AM on 01/10/08
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No...more...Naruto....
PAULINK at 08:32 AM on 01/10/08
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I was going to get the japanese version a while back, but held it off because I heard it wasn't too good, plus the $50 price tag. but for $30-35, I probably won't mind getting it, although i'll still cringe at the english VAs.
Pombar at 08:40 AM on 01/10/08
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@Kyle81: No-one's making you play it... :P More money for the gaming industry is hardly counterproductive, especially not when these companies are putting out some pretty good stuff, or trying to improve games for the benefit of their audience. That kinda stuff is universally good - because maybe these studios will keep making decisions like this the next time they make a non-Naruto game.
Superstar90 at 08:45 AM on 01/10/08
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Is it too much to ask for a good 2D fighting Naruto game on the DS? Ninja Council games are terrible, this one is in 3D and there is still no game like DBZ: Supersonic Warriors 2, or Bleach: Blade of Fate! Those are 2 very good anime fighters.
SanjiX at 08:52 AM on 01/10/08
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I remember when this game was on sale and a friend of my send me a link to buy it. I said pass, and he thought I was insane. My reason? Lack of characters. It looked good for a DS game, but I didn't want to be playing another Clash of Ninja 1-ish borefest.

Then again, we'll probably get the basic 20 character treatment again. Every Leaf Genin, Gaaras team, Kakashi, Sannins, Itachi and Kisame. Why that isn't bad, its starting to become a rather bland set of characters because thats usually the cast in every current Naruto game because thats as far we can go - were about to go in the 80 episode filler as well so were pretty much stuck there.

I might pick this up for the small Naruto site me and my friends run, but only if they really fix the game. The site is at [Naruto411.com]
BPMζ at 09:21 AM on 01/10/08
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Connectedness Index: 261

Hm, that's pretty cool that they'd make the US version better. I still won't get it, but I'm sure it'll make the Naruto fans happy.
Lackshmana at 09:28 AM on 01/10/08
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On the DS I would prefer an Ultimate Ninja style game over a 3D fighter. But if the gameplay itself is good maybe this one will be worth picking up.
Kang at 10:05 AM on 01/10/08
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Oh well at least it's a step up for games based on anime series, most of which tend to be about as mediocre as a game of darts. It's good to see companies taking it upon themselves to do something about it.
Rock-Byron at 10:16 AM on 01/10/08
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Needs to come out in Aus. stat.
KaneTaker at 12:06 PM on 01/10/08
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Good to hear the Naruto video games are turning out well! Been a fan of the series since a couple years before the US release. Too bad they really nerf-coated it for America.
stormcrow85 at 09:11 PM on 01/10/08
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I am very excited that we won't get a two year old game passed off as brand new. It is very refreshing to see them updating and making better. FOr a 2D fighter on the DS i dont know of many that can touch Jump Ultimate Stars, I just wish i knew how to read japanese.