Search for the spirit orbs in Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles 2

There never seems to be any peace for Naruto.  Just when he thought he could take a break and get in some ramen eating time, another evil clan has another evil plan for world domination.  This time, it's the Shirogane clan and they're after spirit orbs.

According to legend, there are five spirit orbs, one in each of the five great nations.  What the Shirogane clan plans to do is steal these spirit orbs, unite them, and revive the Master Puppet.  Who is the Master Puppet? If the puppet walkers (a type of enemy in this game) are any indication, the Master Puppet is one evil antagonist.

I was surprised by the visuals in Uzumaki Chronicles 2 because I had assumed it would be just some licensed shovel-ware capitalizing on the anime's popularity.  Bright colors, cel shading, bold lines, and quick action scenes all contribute to an intense experience during fights.  The fights are so fast paced and have so much typical anime exaggeration that I feel like I need to be a ninja just to keep up with what's happening on the screen.

During story mode, the plot progresses through cut scenes and missions.  Missions consist of going to a location through the world map.  To keep things interesting, random battles can occur while moving from one location to another. These random fights are great sources of virtue (the currency used to upgrade stats).  In fights, players can switch from available characters with the touch of a button.

Each character has their own virtue count and special attacks.   Different special attacks are handy at different times. For example, Naruto can use a special that creates shadow forms of himself which can explore the area better.  Another character's special attack leeches health off of enemies.  The best thing about fighting in Uzumaki Chronicles is that right from the beginning, players feel like they can kick ass thanks to ninja moves they can use.

The most promising part about Naruto Uzumaki Chronicles 2 is the 2 player co-op, but I'll have to write about that later when I find a suitable partner.