The Naruto fighting games - fast-paced, stylish, and just plain awesome - we've seen plenty of these, a couple being released on the US. Breaking apart from the 2D tradition, our favorite shinobi will duke it out in 3D on the upcoming Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ. Since a lot of us have been used to two-plane stages and plenty of objects to destroy, the newest entry to the series may raise some eyebrows.

Will having less presents to unwrap be bad? How about being limited to a single spot to battle? Gameplay will radically change, sure (if Wiimote control doesn't ring a bell yet). Whether it will be for better or for worse, we'll have to wait 'til its release. Checking this video out could give you a better picture.

Gaming site IGN recently had a talk with Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ Producer Yoshinobu Amatsuo regarding the game's development, as well as a few of its more interesting details. As we all know, Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ will hit North America this Fall, courtesy of publishers D3 Publisher of America (D3PA) and Tomy Corporation.

In the Q&A, Amatsuo assured fans that the new title, while having some new content, will remain true and loyal to the whole Naruto series. He mentioned that the final details of the missions are still being tweaked as of now, but that the story will follow the anime series. He also hinted that the game will take place during the Chuunin examinations.

Regarding gameplay, the basic light and heavy combo system, together with super-combo attacks, will be implemented and the Wiimote will be put to good use. Amatsuo explained,

The special attacks will have varying motion inputs. Some inputs require you to swing the Wii remote up or down while other specials will require you to twirl the remote with specific timing. Some attacks will also use the motion sensing in the Nunchuk, as well. Some gestures will be shared among characters, but the gestures are varied enough that they won't be identical in terms of timing and execution.

The producer remarked that the reason for having this consistency all across the series is because Naruto is a trademarked game, meaning the moves have to be similar with the anime series that it was based on. Game designers always try their best to bring the essence of the characters from the TV series. About characters from previous titles making coming back, Amatsuo said,

Where we're including characters from previous games, if the animations for the attacks are the same, then they'll be reworked to meet the Wii specs. However, for new characters and new attacks, including new special attacks, the animations will be newly created.

Lastly, in case you weren't aware, Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ will sport several mini games aside from the characters' main missions. Amatsuo revealed that in this aspect of the video game, the North American version will be similar to the released Japanese version with a just a few modifications,

The content will be adjusted to fit with the current U.S. TV release schedule. They will have different gameplay mechanics to the main game but will use techniques that you learn in the game. One game uses the ability the throw shuriken, one is a game based around Naruto's clone jutsu technique and another gives you the opportunity to practice Naruto's Rasengan.

The game Naruto: Clash of Ninja MVZ (also known as Naruto Shippuden: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX) developed by TOMY Corporation and published by D3Publisher of America, Inc. , is looking to be anteing up with its exclusive content for the Wii. The game based on episodes from VIZ Media’s hit anime series SHONEN JUMP has a lot to offer. Basically, it will be a fighting game, with no less then 14 playable characters available.

Features:

• Characters that have never been featured in the Clash of Ninja game series will be in the game
• The Wii Remote will be used in controlling your ninja of choice and special mini-games
• Up to four players can participate in matches
• Nine different gameplay modes including Story Mode, Single Player and Multiplayer
• New character animations
• New special attack animations 
• New interactive environments (a first in the series)
  

Sorry we had to squeeze in the video to a smaller size rather than blow it up to its 420x350 glory. We just had to. The video has quite an iffy compression rate that viewing it in a smaller window is so much easier on the eyes. Anyhoo, yeah, you can make what you will with this Naruto Shippuden: Geiktou Taisen EX trailer. Just click the Play button above.

Looks like things are heating up, what, what. This vid shows you the special powers your various characters can execute. It even teaches you how to do it by showing some Wii remote movements in a little window at the bottom. Unfortunately, the resolution is bad and you can hardly recognize anything but flashing bright lights and quick martial arts action. For the Naruto fan though, you can bet your orange cosplay suit that the vid is nothing but intense.

Wii drought? Not in Japan, and not for all you Japanophiles and otakus. While everyone's getting depressed over the fact that they have to learn to enjoy SSX Blur, run around with Sonic and his Secret Rings, or re-experience Prince of Persia: The Two Thrones, while they wait for say Manhunt 2, or Metroid Prime 3, the other folks who are immersed in the sphere of geekery that is otakudom can enjoy fist-pounding, versus-fighting, Ninja fun.

Yes, we meant the "fist-pounding" part. The video below explains why.

Sorry folks, if you were expecting to see someone shaking their wiimote wildly, no, this isn't that kind of video. But wasn't that shadow clone, multiple-punch, leading up to a double rasengan combo cool? Yep, Lots'a fist-pounding in Tomy Corporation's Naruto Shippūden: Gekitou Ninja Taisen EX. Given that the trailer showed off fervent Wiimote waving, will this game usher in a new era of Wiimote related furniture destruction?

 

The mischievous, orange ninja with a demon fox inside is gearing up towards another North American mission this fall as he boards the Wii and the DS along with the rest of the Konoha gang to thwart the nefarious Orochimaru and the dreaded Akatsuki.

Shonen Jump has revealed in its latest issue that some of its anime games are heading to the continent late this year for Nintendo's home and handheld consoles. Naruto Wii carries a surprise as a contest was held for fans to determine which Naruto character should appear exclusively in the American version.

On the other hand, Naruto Ninja Council 3 for the DS comes hot off the heels of its GBA predecessor. It comes with 50 playable missions and a multitude of characters to choose from including Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi, Gai, Lee, Neji, Shikamaru and more. Players must choose which characters are best suited for each mission as everyone comes with his or her unique skills.

Shine those forehead protectors and don't forget your Kunais, Nintendo gamers. You'll have a busy ninja fall.

It seems that Naruto Shippuden: Geiktou Ninja Taisen EX for the Wii will be featuring support for the GameCube's controls. See the mag scans we picked up via GoNintendo (via 2ch.net) for a further explanation:

  

Okay, aside from that GC-controller-compatibility detail, the scans also reveal the game's launch date - watch out for February 22. We're sure owners of the previous five GC titles will be delighted with this news - yet another GC classic goes the way of simplicity.

Then again, it may be worth trying out some of the jutsus for real on a Wiimote... your call, guys.

Because he is a fan of the Naruto Manga (not the TV series), this blogger will geek out (yeah, he's a Naru-tard) for a few sentences before jumping to the meat of this post. If you're the type that's allergic to otaku geek-outs, you've been warned. If you want to skip to the game stuff, go below the wide image.

The first episode of the second part of the Japanese Naruto anime series (which is now finally in-line with the manga storyline) now entitled "Naruto: Shippuden", has finished airing in Japan. Raw un-subbed releases of it are now spreading across the Internet. If you're a Naruto fan, it's definitely worth looking for.

That aside, on to the videogame related news. Siliconera alerts all of us that a new trailer for Namco Bandai's Naruto Shippuden: Geiktou Ninja Taisen EX (whew, what a mouthful) is out, and it includes a juicy four minutes worth of gameplay footage. New characters, new attacks (an aerial rasengan combo), and a few mini-games are also shown-off in the trailer. The game is set to be released next week. The video embed's below; you folks know what to do. Enjoy!

Going over GoNintendo, we found some magazine scans for Wii games Dragon Quest Swords, Naruto, and One Piece: Unlimited Adventure. Now, we could only hope that we do speak and read the Japanese language so as these scans will have its corresponding explanations. But for now, all we could do is look at them and hope that someone out there could hook us up with a translation.

The Naruto and One Piece: Unlimited Adventure scans await after the jump!

Enough of those scans! While we do like them and all, why just settle for scans when we can have the real screenshots, eh? And that's what we're gonna give you today. A whole new bunch of screenies for the much-awaited Naruto heading to the Wii.

This fifth installment of the Naruto Gekitou Taisen series, otherwise known as Clash of Ninja in the U. S., will depend fully on the Wii remote's full functions. Word is that...well, it's really hard for us to comprehend what the Engrish translation of the Famitsu text really means. So, we'll just let you do the deciphering as to what role the Wiimote will really have for this game.

The chestnut it can put out attack by the fact that Wii remote control is shaken on up and down left and right. Because it corresponds to also the operation of using the + button and the like, you can play even in former feeling!

So what's a chestnut? In this context, we can't really be too sure. But it could be some kind of a nut. What do you think? If you have a better interpretation of the quoted text, please, please do share! In the meantime, enjoy these screenies. No translation needed, promise.

And there's more after the jump!