Few fighting games have the luxury
of being No. 1, but that’s exactly the title Naruto: Ninja Destiny held when it
was released for Nintendo DS. It was the best of its kind; a seriously
entertaining anime fighter that packed the best pick-up-and-play combat money
could buy.
But as good as it was, Ninja Destiny
wasn’t a perfect fighter. Like most titles in the Naruto series, the game was
designed primarily for its core fan base. The simplicity and questionable replay
value prevented it from making a dent in Tekken or SoulCalibur’s world,
prompting me to come to this conclusion in my review: “You can only push the Y
and B buttons so many times before it’s cakewalk easy.” That statement is doubly
relevant now that Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 has arrived.
As you’d expect with any sequel,
Ninja Destiny 2 is more of the same. That’s cool – despite the cry for
innovation, most gamers are generally satisfied with a sequel or two that gives
them more of the gameplay they already love.
However, “more” isn’t the only thing
you should get – improvements should also be a part of the package. Ninja
Destiny 2 sticks with its two-button attack format of the previous games, and
though the developers may argue that an attack system upgrade would be jarring –
perhaps even off-putting – to some players, the rehash of old mechanics is far
more damaging.
That’s not to say that Ninja Destiny
2 fails to deliver a comparable gaming experience. The truth of the matter is
that it does. But it’s what the game doesn’t accomplish that will disappoint
those expecting more from this prestigious license.
Text and Fighting
Ninja Destiny 2 differs from most
fighting games in that it comes with two distinct single-player modes. Given
that it’s a DS exclusive, the developers could clearly foresee that there’d be
times when we didn’t have another player to compete against. Their answer to
this inevitable problem is the Story mode and the Quest mode.
Undoubtedly, Story will be the mode
players spend the most time with, and not just because it must be played through
before Quest mode becomes available. Using the old-fashioned text-based style
found in hundreds of RPGs, the Story mode gives players another glimpse into
Naruto’s world. None of the revelations may surprise those who follow Naruto’s
every move, but if you appreciate the saga, there’s no question that you’ll be
intrigued by what the game offers.
The format is pretty solid, if not a
little shallow. During this mode, players automatically switch between Naruto
(the primary warrior) and other key characters that correspond to the current
story developments. Those developments pop up automatically after each battle
(or each series of battles), along with a few very brief exploration segments
(with top-down 3D stages) where the player must find the exit to a very simple
maze.
For the most part, it all comes
together pretty nicely. There is one frustrating moment that requires you to
jump awkwardly across a few platforms. But aside from wanting to scream and pull
your hair out (a feeling that comes before you realize that falling off a
platform doesn’t actually harm your character – it merely sends you back to the
beginning of this annoying trek), players will enjoy the Story mode very much.
Once you’re finished with that mode,
you’ll definitely be curious to know what the Quest mode is all about. Let’s put
that curiosity to rest right now: it’s all about the battles. Using the same 3D
engine that powers the exploration portion of the Story mode, the Quest mode
takes you on a journey that’s filled with frequent battle encounters. You’ll run
through level after level – most of which look the same – and discover items,
enemies and more enemies. Which is great if you wanted an excuse to keep
battling; it’s not-so-great if you were hoping this would be an extension of the
Story mode.
Destiny Found
Besides the Story and Quest modes,
Ninja Destiny 2 features all the survival, wireless battle (local multiplayer)
and player vs. CPU (arcade-style) modes you’d expect from a fighting game.
After that, the game doesn’t leave
you with much to do. The fighter lineup is respectable, and the one-on-one
combat is still exciting, regardless of the mode you choose to get it from.
However, if you’re not a die-hard Naruto fan, but merely a fan of fighting games
that hoped to see the Naruto series expand on its impressive start, you’re going
to be disappointed. We now know that expansion isn’t really what this series is
about.
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Gameplay: 6.9
Considering that Ninja Destiny 2 is somewhat of a rehash, it wouldn’t be
wrong to reiterate a comment from my review of the first game: "Great
mainstream-friendly combat." That’s still true. And if you missed the first
game, nothing else matters. However, if you played through it (and especially if
you own it), bear in mind that very little has changed in this sequel, resulting
in gameplay that’s too much of what we’ve already experienced. The combos are
similar, the attack style hasn’t been altered, and the button layout is exactly
the same.
Graphics: 7.0
The visuals of Ninja Destiny 2 aren’t noticeably improved. They’re solid,
not eye-popping, and watch out for the occasional slowdown – it’s deadly.
Sound: 6.5
Once again, the Ninja Destiny is somewhat lacking in the area of sound and
music.
Difficulty: Easy
Still easy. (Only this time, because we know what we’re doing, it seems even
easier.)
Concept: 6.5
The first game all over again plus a few adjustments, none of which are in
the area where the game needed them most.
Multiplayer: 7.4
Still the most rewarding long-term element, Ninja Destiny 2 is a game you’ll
want to play with others. However, without any significant gameplay
advancements, the multiplayer addiction doesn’t reach the level of the first
Ninja Destiny. (Note: multiplayer is offline-only.)
Overall: 7.0
The Ninja Destiny series had the chance to become a powerhouse in the world
of fighting games. Ninja Destiny 2 proves that’s not the direction the
developers want to take. Rather, they have chosen to approach the series with
minor tweaks and upgrades, which will be hugely appreciated by those who missed
the original, but might seem irrelevant to those who already shelled out $35 to
acquire the first Ninja Destiny.
