Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Critic Reviews

A fresh and inspired fighting game.

The game is juts totally multidimensional; easily the freshest fighting game to come along since "Powerstone".

One of those rare, fabled games that appeal far beyond the fanbase of its license. The controls are easy to learn, but thanks to the fast-paced action, the gameplay is difficult to master.

Quite simply, if you are a Naruto fan, you're going to get a lot of entertainment value out of Ultimate Ninja.

Battles are fast paced and can get extremely intense; simplistic controls that are easy to learn but tricky to master; Captures the look and feel of Naruto perfectly.

Really, if Naruto's your thing, then this game is right up your alley--but even the most hardcore fighting-game fanatics will get a kick out of it as well.

If you're a fan of Naruto and his bizarre allies and enemies, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja will make you happy -- very happy. Besides finally making a debut on the PS2, this installment in the Naruto series offers up an enjoyable time whether you're playing by yourself or with someone else (the game supports two-players).

And even if you're bored with beating your friends, there's a vast array of unlockables to collect, which will surely delight your inner obsessive compulsive.

The cel-shaded graphics and signature special techniques feel just like the anime, and anyone who hasn't seen the series will still find a fun fighting game that is easy to learn, but hard to master.

Naruto is an unapologetic button masher, but its single-minded combat is a perfect compliment to the game’s always comical, sometimes hilarious wit.

Ultimate Ninja transcends the Naruto fandom; those who had fun playing Smash Bros. or even the little known Power Stone could easily find themselves having a blast here.

A very simple and enjoyable fighting game, that would be every bit as cool with or without the television show license tie-in. We need more games like this.

An addictive, slash-heavy (but not button-mash-heavy) fighting game that builds depth from an unfamiliar place: simplicity.

It has its flaws, but it makes up for them with surprising gusto. Highly enjoyable.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja is a surprisingly refreshing approach to the world of fighting games with lightning quick action, lots of power-ups, good anime cut scenes, a respectable fighting system and a gameplay that will appeal to die hard fighting fans as well as to the general gamer.

Pure, brilliant fan service - and if you've never sampled the delights of Naruto, this game might even get you into it. A must for fans.

Ultimate Ninja packs more than enough style and quirky fight mechanics to keep things interesting. Having said that, it lacks some of the depth that serious fans of the genre may want in a fighter.

Well well well, a licensed game that's actually worth the plastic it's burned onto. Hell, it's actually a decent fighting game. Shallow, perhaps, but still a great party game and solid enough that you want to explore the different modes.

Ultimate Ninja capably captures the spirit of Naruto, delivering a stylish fighting experience that's both easy to pick up and easy on the eyes.

The gameplay and style will feel familiar to anyone who's picked up a Dragonball Z Budokai game, but to everyone else it most likely won't cut muster.