Interviews

August 1, 2007

Twice as Fierce: Naruto Comes to PSP with Ultimate Ninja Heroes and Takes Another Journey on PS2 in Uzumaki Chronicles 2
by Louis Bedigian

“We retooled the game, added stuff like the team-based fighting system and the game sharing and the character power-ups and tried to create more of a combat-focused game.”

Fans of the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series will soon be able to take the exciting, pummel-to-the-ground battles on the go via Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes. Designed for markets outside the Land of the Rising Sun, Ultimate Ninja Heroes is a fighting frenzy with the potential to one-up its PS2 predecessors.

“You can choose to have one, two, or three characters,” said Andrew Davis, Localization Specialist. “If you create a team that has a special affinity, either from the anime series or from some other hidden affinity between the characters, you can unlock team skills to give yourself an advantage.”


Ultimate Ninja Heroes

Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles 2, the sequel to the 3D fighting adventure for PS2, is coming later this year. Described by Mr. Davis as a “third-person story-based brawler,” Uzumaki Chronicles 2 revolves around the mystery of a new villain: the Shirogane clan.

“The leaders of this clan are named Meno, Ibushi and Gando,” he says. “Ibushi is the old man and sort of controls the puppets. They’ve been developing this giant army of puppet walkers. “


Uzumaki Chronicles 2

Andrew Davis recently took some time away from the localization process to answer our questions regarding both titles.

Discuss the team-based elements of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes. Battles can go as high as 3 vs. 3 characters – will you able to tag each fighter in and out?

Andrew Davis: Actually, no. You have teams of three characters, and when a character loses the next one in order comes to take his place.

What customization options are being planned for the game? Are they based on appearance, gameplay (attacks, fighting style, etc.), or both?

AD: It’s mostly based on gameplay. For example, you can increase your strength, your jumping or make it so that you don’t use as much Chakra, etc.

Can you give us the character lineup for Ultimate Ninja Heroes?

AD: Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Rock Lee, Neji, Tenten, Shikamaru, Choji, Ino, Kiba, Shino, Hinata, plus eight unlockable characters.

Tell us about the mission setup and how players can increase their characters' ninja ranks.

AD: There are several different modes in the game, and this one deals with different tests that you can take where you have to satisfy a bunch of different requirements. For example, fighting a specific character while that character is super-strong. [In another] you may have to fight against a character using only a projectile. Once you’ve done these, you get to increase your ranks.

As a PSP game, you can assume that there will be times when we're playing the game by ourselves. Will there be any modes to keep us occupied during those times?

AD: You can play in Heroes mode, which is the main team tournament. There’s also a mode where you can used what you’ve earned in Heroes mode to unlock new missions. And there’s a parameter point system, and these points can be used to power up your character.

Could you clarify the wireless / wi-fi gameplay aspects? The game offers ad-hoc play, but for how many players?

AD: One against one.


Ultimate Ninja Heroes

What are the game-sharing options?

AD: What?

The game-sharing options. You’re supposed to be able to play this game using just one UMD.

AD: That’s correct.

It’s versus play, right? So I can play with a friend even if he doesn’t have the game?

AD: Yes.

Can you play the game online? True Wi-Fi play?

AD: No.

What can we expect from the attack / special move portion of the game? Will there be any moves that are exclusive to PSP?

AD: The special technique system has been revised for the PSP, simplified a little, and all the cinematics in there are brand-new.

The initial press release said that this game was "developed by CyberConnect2 exclusively for the U.S. and Europe." What does this mean for gamers here and abroad? Will Ultimate Ninja Heroes be more of an Americanized fighting game? Will it not share the traits of its Japanese counterparts on PS2? And why won't the game be released in Japan – don't they want to play the game as well?

AD: The Japanese game that came out had a story that didn’t really match up with the progress of the story in the US. We weren’t able to bring that story mode over here, but we wanted to do something for the PSP. So we retooled the game, added stuff like the team-based fighting system and the game sharing and the character power-ups and tried to create more of a combat-focused game. Of course, if [Namco Bandai] wants to bring it out in Japan that’s up to them.


Ultimate Ninja Heroes

Regarding Uzumaki Chronicles 2, tell us all about the new adventure mode. What makes it the definitive Naruto story / adventure mode?

AD: Well, we have a number of different story missions that follow the storyline and have fully voiced cut scenes and, as I mentioned, you can bring in a friend. The teams are constantly changing. You can go through one mission and you might have Rock Lee and Gaara, and two other characters in the next.

Multiple playable characters will be available in Uzumaki Chronicles 2, including Naruto, Shikamaru, Rock Lee, Kakashi, Guy, Neji, and Choji. Who else is being added to that lineup?

AD: Sakura, Gaara, and Kankuro, plus three unlockable characters. The characters are all unlocked as the story progresses.

What do these characters bring to the game that couldn't have been achieved with Naruto alone? Is their inclusion just for fun, or do the characters provide a greater benefit?

AD: The characters have their own fighting styles and different moves.


Uzumaki Chronicles 2

Now let's get into the character customization aspect of the game.

AD: It’s a variation of the first game where each character had their own unique plate, which was a shape that you could fit in this tray that you have. Each character has a different set. You can add new moves, and if you run out of space, you can always go to the shop and buy a larger one.

Will Naruto or any of the other characters feature new attacks, and if so, how will they be executed?

AD: A lot of attacks are being brought over from the first game, but the new playable characters [also bring their own set of new attacks].
 

Thanks to everyone at Namco Bandai and Kohnke Communications for having a wonderful conference call.