Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles

Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles is a game that tried very hard to do something different for the franchise, but falls a bit short in a few key areas. [Dec. 2006, p.84]

Cavia makes leaps and bounds towards making a legitimately good anime licensed title.

Definitely an improvement for the series. It’s pointed in the right direction, now all we have to do is make sure it gets there in time for the next version.

Although Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles does many things right, the semi-repetitive missions, frustrating save system, and lack of replay value won't impress the average, seasoned gamer.

There is nothing severely wrong with the game, but there are more entertaining ways to spend a buck.

Combos are just a matter of bashing button but you can augment these attacks by using your special moves. [Issue#154, p.82]

Enemy AI could use serious reworking, for instance, and missions suffer from a lack of variety and depth. Fans should check it out.

Good idea with the mission deployment but there are too many things that pop up keeping this title from being really good; as it is, it is passable.

While past games in the series were almost unbelievably loaded with different fighting moves to learn, N:UC is almost Spartan by comparison.

However, you'll get a lot of the same ninjas to fight over and over again. [Holiday 2006, p.83]

Unfortunately the package is let down by the genuinely poor enemy AI and missions that never really offer any variety beyond repetitive killing.

It's a decent brawler, but repetitive combat and missions keep it from rising above the level of Naruto fan service.

While the jump to a more unique style of game is a nice step forward for the Naruto license, bad design choices and by-the-numbers action keep the game from being that much better than previous titles in the franchise. It’s still fan service, if above average fan service, and doesn’t offer anything that will bring new players into the fold.

If you're reading this review, odds are good that you're probably a Naruto fan who already wants to buy this game and you just want to know what to expect. You'll like Uzumaki Chronicles - it's got all your favorite characters in beat-em-up gameplay that isn't half bad. But if you're not a fan of the series, there's nothing to see here.

Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles is a title with a few ups and downs, but the best way to describe it is as a 'cute' beat 'em up. Unfortunately, it lacks anything groundbreaking in its gameplay and aesthetic qualities. It's also just too short.

If you do know your Kakashis from your Irukas, add a couple of points to the score and think about picking this up. For everyone else, games like Kingdom Hearts 2 and Ninja Gaiden offer far more substantial and rewarding adventures in a similar vein. Everyone's a winner, basically. Hurrah.

The "fans only" moniker is an awfully clichéd one, but players of Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles should not experience it any other way.

Insipid tasks aside, Uzumaki Chronicles' biggest failing is that it's just not very fair. Success depends largely on earning power-ups from missions, but you only get one shot at passing. [Jann. 2007, p.84]

Interesting license and competent combat, all made redundant by mindless repetition. [July 2007, p.67]

Fans of the franchise will be drawn to the game's authentic anime stylings, but might soon be turned off by repetitive missions, brainless AI and problems with saving and restarting missions.

RPG elements shoved into some half-cooked attempt at achieving depth of play, Uzumaki Chronicles is a missed opportunity. [July 2007, p.90]

It may sound bitchy, but the game is stupid in a way very few video games are: a Naruto action-RPG has so much potential, but this can’t even come close to average.