Naruto Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Naruto Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising box art

System: PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: Namco Bandai Games	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Namco Bandai Games	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: Oct. 6, 2009	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-2	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

However, even though the mission mode does lose considerable value over time and the ad-hoc multiplayer is unexceptional, there are still plenty of things to discover in Akatsuki Legends. There are two special modes that can be unlocked, as well as character technique scrolls that can be found, unlocked, or created to give your favorite character some improved attacks. Of course, all this is in addition to the game's 13 unlockable characters. There is definitely plenty to do in Akatsuki Legends, and those going for 100% completion won't be disappointed by lack of content.

Naruto Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising screenshot

The visuals in Akatsuki Legends are hit or miss. The cutscenes feature some great cel-shaded animation, and the world of Konoha looks vibrant and bright. However, the contrast between the cutscenes and the in-game world is quite a leap. While the cutscenes feature richly detailed character models and environments, the reverse is true for the in-game world. Environments are flat, and textures look painted on. Some 3-D elements render in 2-D, and to make matters even worse, character animations are often shaky, and jagged lines are pervasive. The gap between the two visual styles is quite staggering, and it makes the overall visual style feel very imbalanced. The audio, though, is very good and well-rounded. The game features both English and Japanese voiceovers, both of equally good quality. The background music is also very good and is sampled directly from the anime.

Naruto Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising is a solid title. While the story mode features the same old Shippuden opening plot, if you have yet to play a Naruto Shippuden, its certainly enjoyable. For fans of the series, there is plenty of content in Akatsuki Rising to explore and unlock. While neither the mission mode nor story mode have any outstanding elements, the game works well enough, and if you have to get your Ninja on with the PSP, Akatsuki Rising is your best bet.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

3.0

Graphics
Cel-shaded cinema scenes look great, but the in-game world is very bland and textures look pasted-on.

4.0

Control
Controls are very familiar and are almost identical to the Ultimate Ninja series with a few smart exceptions.

4.1

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Sampled music from the anime sounds great, and both the English and Japanese voiceovers are top-notch.

3.8

Play Value
The mission mode is a little disappointing, but the story mode is fun, and there are plenty of unlockable modes and attacks for the diehard fan to discover.

3.3

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

Narutoi Shippuden: Legends: Akatsuki Rising boasts streamlined controls for the PSP, ensuring exciting, fast-paced tactical battles making best use of each character's Jutsus.

Aim and time the powerful Jutsu attacks with simple button commands and devastate enemies by entering Hypermode.

As characters defeat the enemies or take damage, the Hyper Gauge will start to fill which enhances the Jutsu or unlocks new Jutsus.

Players will be able to gain advantage in the heat of a battle by selecting two support characters to form a three-man team for each mission.

Utilize the different skills each character brings and combine their attacks with yours to discover the ultimate combos for defeating enemies.