Naruto: Ninja Council (series)

Cover art for Naruto: Ninja Council.

The Naruto: Ninja Council series, known in Japan as Naruto: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshū (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 最強忍者大結集^?), is a series of action games based on the popular manga and anime series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. They are developed by Aspect and published by Tomy. Various installments of the series have appeared on both Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and DS, the first two games in the series available for the former while the rest are available on the latter.

Game Boy Advance

Naruto: Ninja Council

Naruto: Ninja Council (known as Naruto: Ninjutsu Zenkai! Saikyō Ninja Daikesshū (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 忍術全開! 最強忍者大結集, lit. "Naruto: Full Throttle Ninjutsu! Great Council of the Strongest Ninja"^?) in Japan) is the first installment in the Ninja Council series. It is an action game for the Game Boy Advance. There are scrolls that the character can obtain to perform abilities at the cost of Chakra, which can be used to break down walls or create whirlwinds. The story mode very loosely follows the Zabuza arc to the Chunin Exam arc. Players also get to have an opportunity to fight Orochimaru. The playable characters are Naruto and Sasuke, with the possibility to unlock Kakashi.

Naruto: Ninja Council 2

Main article: Naruto Ninja Council 2

Naruto: Ninja Council 2 (known as Naruto: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu 2 (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 最強忍者大結集2, lit. "Naruto: Great Council of the Strongest Ninja 2"^?) in Japan) is the second installment in the Ninja Council series for the Game Boy Advance. This game was released on April 29, 2004, with a North America release on October 10, 2006.

This game loosely follows the second through third seasons of the anime, but with some minor differences, such as repeated fights against Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, Kabuto Yakushi, and Orochimaru, as well as areas that did not appear in the anime.^[1] It also features a two-player co-op mode using the link cable, and a four-player battle mode.^[2] However, while the first game had voice samples from the cast (carried over from Clash of Ninja), this game does not. The sprites in this game, while not only different from Ninja Council, would become mainstays for this series. In this installment, Naruto, Sasuke,Sakura,Kakashi Hatake (playable only as a support character,Shikamaru Nara (playable only as a support character)Chōji Akimichi (playable only as a support character),Kiba Inuzuka (playable only as a support character,and Shino Aburame (playable only as a support character)are playable, and the opportunity exists to unlock Rock Lee and Third Hokage (playable only as a support character).

Nintendo DS

Naruto: Ninja Council 2 European Version

Naruto: Ninja Council 2 European Version is the third installment in the Ninja Council series and the first for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan on April 21, 2005 as Naruto: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu 3 for DS (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 最強忍者大結集3 for DS, lit. "Naruto: Great Council of the Strongest Ninja 3 for DS"^?) and three years later in Europe on October 3, 2008 as Naruto: Ninja Council 2 European Version.^[3]

The game features action/side-scrolling gameplay with touch-screen functionality. There are separate stages in the game much like the first two games in the series. The storyline follows the Sasuke Retrieval story arc, minus the Naruto and Sasuke battle, instead adding a final battle with Orochimaru. The Sound 4 are also present in the game, but Kimimaro is only featured in a mid-mission minigame.

Naruto: Ninja Council 3

Naruto: Ninja Council 3 is the fourth installment in the Ninja Council series for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan as Naruto: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu 4 DS (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 最強忍者大結集4 DS, lit. "Naruto: Great Council of the Strongest Ninja 4 DS"^?), though its character-related content such as Kimimaro, the Sound 4's special attacks and their alternate forms themselves are changed or removed in the English versions. The game comes with a Naruto CCG card as an added bonus. It also features a "Movie" mode which allows players to watch secret techniques. It was released by Nintendo in Europe as Naruto: Ninja Council European Edition^[4]

Naruto: Ninja Council 3 has similar gameplay to the last two games in the series. The missions take place on a small map. The touch screen serves as both a map and as a place to perform different jutsu. Animals and ninja are your typical opponents in the game. On certain missions, you have to fight bosses, which are usually the antagonists from the series, including Ino. During missions, the player has to defeat the opponent under various conditions (e.g. having your health cut in half, protecting an ally, use a certain move to K.O., etc.).^[5]

Note that in the European version Itachi Uchiha, Kisame Hoshigaki, The Sound Ninja 4 and Tsunade are not available, while in the Japanese version, Kimimaro, Second State Kimimaro, Second State Sakon, Second State Jirobo, Second State Tayuya, Second State Sasuke, Kyuubi Naruto, and the Sound Ninja 4's Secret techniques are not available in the English version.

Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4

Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 (known as Naruto Shippūden: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshū 5 Kessen! "Akatsuki" (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 疾風伝 最強忍者大結集5 決戦!“暁”, lit. "Naruto Shippūden: Great Council of the Strongest Ninja 5 Decisive Battle! "Akatsuki""^?) in Japan) is the fifth installment in the Ninja Council series.

The main story will follow the Shippuden arc, so the game is essentially an action-based, story-intensive game that blends what we've seen in previous Ninja Council titles with all new characters and events. Bringing back a more action/adventure feel to the series (rather than turn-based RPG), TOMY is offering up 17 playable characters, a 3-man squad system, touch screen interaction for supers and character call-ins, and wireless multiplayer battling for up to four players. It was released on June 2, 2009 in America. The playable characters are Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi, Rock Lee, and Neji while Tenten, Shikamaru, Temari, Gaara, Kankuro, Tsunade, Jiraiya, Guy, Itachi, Kisame, Sasori, and Deidara are only playable characters in Multiplayer mode, but in the Japanese version, Gaara, Temari, Guy, Itachi, and Tenten are unlockable. It was released by Nintendo in Europe as Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 3 European Edition

Naruto Shippuden: Naruto vs. Sasuke

Naruto Shippūden: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu Gekitotsu!! Naruto vs. Sasuke (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 疾風伝 最強忍者大結集 激突！！ナルトＶＳサスケ, lit. "Naruto Shippūden: Great Council of the Strongest Ninja Clash!! Naruto vs. Sasuke"^?) is the sixth installment of the Ninja Council series. It incorporates several tag-team specials. It was released in Japan on July 4, 2008 and in North America on November 16, 2010.^[6]

The character's sprites are smaller, allowing for more action on-screen. Most of the special moves no longer use touch screen in order to be performed. Touch screen controls perform certain Jutsu. New characters include TS Sasuke and Sai. The online-play has been removed, although there is a High Score mode available. There are also side-missions which can be completed to unlock more characters. Despite the features this game dicarded from the series, it's still a solid game that can hold up a long amount of hours. It was released in North America under the title of "Naruto Shippuden: Naruto vs. Sasuke".The Playable characters are Naruto (3 Tailed and 4 Tailed), Sakura, Sai, Yamato, Kakashi, Jiraiya, Sasuke, Rock Lee, Shikamaru, Neji, Kiba, Ino, Hinata, and Shino. Unlike previous games, villains are unplayable.

Naruto Shippuden: Shinobi Rumble

Naruto Shippūden: Ninjutsu Zenkai! Chakrash!! (ＮＡＲＵＴＯ－ナルト- 疾風伝　忍術全開!チャクラッシュ!!, lit. "Naruto Shippūden: Full Throttle Ninjutsu! Chaclash!!"^?) is the seventh installment of the Ninja Council series, and the first title in the series since the original to utilize the "Ninjutsu Zenkai!" subtitle in place of "Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu" in Japan. The title, "Chaclash", is a combination of Chakra and "clash". It was released in Japan on April 22, 2010, and will be released in America on February 8, 2011 under the title of Naruto Shippuden: Shinobi Rumble. The Playable characters are Naruto Uzumaki (Normal, One-Tailed and Four-Tailed), Sakura Haruno, Sai, Shikamaru, Kakashi, Shima & Fukasaku (Fight tag-team style, with Fukasaku in lead) Jiraiya (Normal and Sage Mode), Orochimaru, Sasuke Uchiha (Normal and Curse Seal of Heaven), Suigetsu Hōzuki, Karin, Jūgo, Deidara, Itachi Uchiha, Konan, and Pain.

Nintendo 3DS

Naruto Shippūden 3D: The New Era

Main article: Naruto Shippūden 3D: The New Era

Naruto Shippūden 3D: The New Era (known as Naruto Shippūden: Nin Rittai Emaki Saikyō Ninkai Kessen (ナルト- 疾風伝 忍立体絵巻!最強忍界決戦!) in Japan).

See also

• Naruto
• List of Naruto video games
• List of Game Boy Advance games
• List of Nintendo DS games

References

1. ^ Naruto Ninja Council 2 Review on Game Zone
2. ^ Naruto Ninja Council 2 Review on IGN
3. ^ Naruto: Saikyou Ninja Daikesshuu 3 Release Summary on Gamespot
4. ^ Tomy, ed (2007). Naruto: Ninja Council European Version English instruction manual. Tomy. pp. 30. 
5. ^ Naruto Ninja Council European Version Review on PALGN
6. ^ Naruto DS game escalates rivalry in July