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Preview: Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

For a game with literal single-attack-button-combat, the original Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm was a fun little game. It gathered a bit of a following, selling 852,263 units in the first 20 weeks and receiving a surprisingly decent average score of 75 on Metacritic. The original was a visual masterpiece with graphics rivaling that of the anime; in fact, the only major complaint against it was the lack of online multiplayer. The sequel will fix that issue and more when it releases this fall for the PS3 and, for the first time, the Xbox 360. Yesterday, a demo for the sequel hit Japanese PSN and XBLA, showcasing some of the new gameplay and  sharper graphics.

Both games are free-roaming 3D fighters, much like the DragonBall Raging Blast games or Zone of the Enders. You have a single attack button (circle) which has branching combos that you can alternate by moving the control stick. So O-O-O-O is a different attack combo than tilting the stick forward and doing the same. The X button is your jump button, and a double tap causes you to dash to your foe. The Triangle button is used to charge your energy (called chakra) while Square throws shuriken, mainly used to interrupt your opponent. The L1/R1 calls in an assist from a teammate while L2/R2 are your block. You can also set items to help you in battle to the four directions of the directional pad.

The demo takes you straight into the action after a brief explanation of the controls. You can only play as Naruto with Sakura as an assist and you only fight Kakashi. Naruto fans will recognize this battle as the second bell test prior to the reforming of team 7 in part II (better known as Naruto Shippūden). After Kakashi's life gets low enough, the first Quick Time Event begins, ending with Sakura delivering a literally earth-shattering punch that completely changes the landscape of the battlefield, forming a lake with small islands. Sakura's role in battle changes here, as she can no longer be called freely, but instead provides a retaliatory strike against one of two powerful Jutsu (special attack) Kakashi can unleash. Kakashi starts by summoning a water dragon that homes in on Naruto and destroying the small islands. This becomes a issue as his other Jutsu is to electrify the entire lake, which causes Naruto damage as well as stunning him, leaving him open to a follow up combo unless he happens to be standing on an island. The combat ends with another QTE that has a brief transformation sequence for Naruto as well as him unleashing his Ultimate Jutsu.

The Storm Gauge from the last game isn't in the demo at all and appears to have been removed entirely, along with in game transformations outside of the QTE's. Ultimate Jutsu was only used as a context sensitive attack during a very cinematic QTE in opposed to being used freely as in the prior game. An interesting thing to note about the QTE's is that failing them does not force you to restart them. Instead you are allowed to immediately retry after a brief cinema of your failure and a small penalty to your health bar.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 releases October 12, 2010 for the PS3 and the 360 in the US and on October 21 in Japan. Demo played on PS3.