PROS: Absolutely spectacular. Cannot recommend highly enough. There's a wealth of depth in the combat system if you care to learn it, but you can also get remarkably far and do remarkably cool things just mashing buttons haphazardly. The story mode is fleshed out superbly with an absolutely staggering amount of voicework from the original Japanese actors (warning, you have to turn Japanese on -- it defaults to the horrendous English actors). So far, I haven't tried VS. mode, but I've unlocked what appear to be an absolute plethora of characters to play. There's also an Online VS. mode which is cool.

CONS: The only thing I really dislike about the game is the parts where you're walking around through the village, or through forests, or deserts in an RPG style fashion. The maps are positively gorgeous, and there are hidden treasures to find, but the sluggish speed at which the characters run in these areas really feels awkward with the lightning fast gameplay of the battles and what we've come to know from the show/manga. In battle, Naruto and friends bolt around at amazing speeds we'd expect from ninja -- in the RPG traveling parts, they like... JOG LAZILY. It's really off-putting, and I know it's a weird complaint because the meat of the game is really the fighting, but if I had to pick one complaint about the game, it'd be this.

EDIT: A month later, I have to add another con about the game. I am above average at fighting games. I personally found the game's campaign difficult, but never infuriating to the point where I wanted to stop playing. Some fights felt a little cheesy, but never truly unfair. And when there was a DECISION battle, I always took the Legendary (more difficult) route. Toward the very end of the game, there is a Legendary DECISION that, as far as I can tell, is pretty much impossible to beat. There are four-to-five Jinchuuriki ninja beating on you simultaneously. And it'd be one thing if you could perform combos on one of them, but the OTHERS hit and interrupt you -- while you're in the middle of a combo. Just a really stupid fight. I'll admit I'm probably not good enough at the game to beat this particular fight on Legendary, but I never had a real issue with any of the Legendary challenges until this one -- and the gap in difficulty is just absolutely absurd.

The game is currently 40% off. I'll admit I had trouble swallowing the $40 price tag, but I've wanted it since it released 6 months ago and I patiently waited until it was on sale. I have to say, if I'd known the game was this good, I would have had NO problem paying full price.

Disclaimer: I have to admit, I am a very avid fan of the show and the manga. The game is probably a heck of a lot less exciting if you have never watched it, but I can tell you with confidence that it is still an exceptionally deep and mechanically sound game with gorgeous graphics and the BEST story mode I have ever played in a fighting game.

OVERALL: 8/10.

PROS: Absolutely spectacular. Cannot recommend highly enough. There's a wealth of depth in the combat system if you care to learn it, but you can also get remarkably far and do remarkably cool things just mashing buttons haphazardly. The story mode is fleshed out superbly with an absolutely staggering amount of voicework from the original Japanese actors (warning, you have to turn Japanese on -- it defaults to the horrendous English actors). So far, I haven't tried VS. mode, but I've unlocked what appear to be an absolute plethora of characters to play. There's also an Online VS. mode which is cool. CONS: The only thing I really dislike about the game is the parts where you're walking around through the village, or through forests, or deserts in an RPG style fashion. The maps are positively gorgeous, and there are hidden treasures to find, but the sluggish speed at which the characters run in these areas really feels awkward with the lightning fast gameplay of the battles and what we've come to know from the show/manga. In battle, Naruto and friends bolt around at amazing speeds we'd expect from ninja -- in the RPG traveling parts, they like... JOG LAZILY. It's really off-putting, and I know it's a weird complaint because the meat of the game is really the fighting, but if I had to pick one complaint about the game, it'd be this. EDIT: A month later, I have to add another con about the game. I am above average at fighting games. I personally found the game's campaign difficult, but never infuriating to the point where I wanted to stop playing. Some fights felt a little cheesy, but never truly unfair. And when there was a DECISION battle, I always took the Legendary (more difficult) route. Toward the very end of the game, there is a Legendary DECISION that, as far as I can tell, is pretty much impossible to beat. There are four-to-five Jinchuuriki ninja beating on you simultaneously. And it'd be one thing if you could perform combos on one of them, but the OTHERS hit and interrupt you -- while you're in the middle of a combo. Just a really stupid fight. I'll admit I'm probably not good enough at the game to beat this particular fight on Legendary, but I never had a real issue with any of the Legendary challenges until this one -- and the gap in difficulty is just absolutely absurd. The game is currently 40% off. I'll admit I had trouble swallowing the $40 price tag, but I've wanted it since it released 6 months ago and I patiently waited until it was on sale. I have to say, if I'd known the game was this good, I would have had NO problem paying full price. Disclaimer: I have to admit, I am a very avid fan of the show and the manga. The game is probably a heck of a lot less exciting if you have never watched it, but I can tell you with confidence that it is still an exceptionally deep and mechanically sound game with gorgeous graphics and the BEST story mode I have ever played in a fighting game. OVERALL: 8/10.