Namco Bandai Games Announces Ultimate Ninja 4: Naruto Shippuden

January 15, 2009

NAMCO BANDAI GAMES ANNOUNCES
ULTIMATE NINJA 4: NARUTO SHIPPUDEN

The First NARUTO Shippuden Video
Game in North America Arrives in March with Intense One-on-one Combat, an
Updated Roster of Ninja Combatants, and a Variety of New Game Modes

Leading video games publisher and
developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., today announced Ultimate Ninja®4:
NARUTO Shippuden, the first video game in North America based on the NARUTO
Shippuden animated series from VIZ Media. Featuring the series’ trademark
one-on-one ninja battles, the game debuts a number of new and exciting
characters as well as several new modes of play for the most comprehensive
NARUTO video game experience ever.

Set two and a half years after
Naruto left the Hidden Leaf Village to undergo a strict training regiment with
his mentor Jiraiya, Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden lets players experience
this new storyline for the first time. Returning to help recover his rival
Sasuke from the evil Orochimaru, Naruto is reunited with all his old friends,
only to find that a mysterious organization known as Akatsuki now poses an even
more ominous threat to the Village.

Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden
features several unique game modes that offer different experiences as players
immerse themselves in the world of ninja. The new Master Mode combines
role-playing and action-platforming elements, telling the story of how Naruto
came to return to the Hidden Leaf Village after his training with Jiraiya; an
original narrative arc that fans won’t find anywhere else. Players can collect
items in this mode to unlock characters in Free Battle Mode, featuring the
series’ trademark one-on-one ninja battles for one or two players. Packed with
new NARUTO Shippuden characters such as Deidara, Sasori and Chiyo as well as
updated versions of fan favorites such as Gaara, Kakashi and Sakura, the game
features 52 total playable characters to take into battle.

“Ultimate Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden
will be the first video game based on the NARUTO Shippuden animated series in
North America, giving players their first look at how Naruto’s world has changed
in the two and a half years since he left his friends to refine his ninja
training,” said Todd Thorson, director of marketing and public relations with
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “Featuring the biggest roster of playable
characters ever in the Ultimate Ninja franchise and a variety of new and
engaging game modes, it’s everything fans need to immerse themselves in the
characters and storyline of NARUTO Shippuden.”

Developed by CyberConnect2, Ultimate
Ninja 4: NARUTO Shippuden is slated for release on the PlayStation®2 computer
entertainment system this March.