VideoGameTalk writes:
Not too long ago Ubisoft released Naruto: Rise of a Ninja for the Xbox 360. It was the console's first Naruto title and quite honestly it proved to be one of the best released in the States. Countless installments in the Naruto franchise have landed on Sony and Nintendo consoles, but considering Microsoft's machine is less than popular in Japan it's no surprise that our pool of games is rather limited. Ubisoft's title must have been successful enough to warrant a sequel because today we're looking at Naruto: The Broken Bond.
If you're familiar with the franchise then you'll instantly recognize what part of the anime is featured here. Then again, if you're only familiar with the game you'll also be glad to know that this one picks up right where the previous game left off. Without giving too much away in case you haven't seen the show up to this point, Naruto and Sasuke kind of go their separate ways after some specific events. Sasuke becomes more determined to kill his older brother and in order to gain the power necessary to accomplish that goal he has to kill Naruto. The two friends become foes in this part of Naruto's journey and though the game doesn't quite capture the dramatic tones this part of the anime offers it's still pleasing to fans just the same.
Gamesradar- In the West, the stories of gaming and anime go hand-in-hand: Since the 8-bit era, games have served as little pixellated bleeping Trojan Horses, smuggling in an appreciation for the animated stylings of the Far East. In our post-Pokemon world of blockbuster anime re-dubs and imports, the gaming and anime fandoms are more distinct--but that's not to say there isn't plenty of crossover.
While we love anime-inspired games like Catherine and Guilty Gear, we thought it would be cool to take a look back through Western-released games which draw specifically on existing anime and manga properties.
XboxGameZone writes: "Hyyyaaaa! Kwwwaaaa! I am a Master Ninja, black belt at Nokando (no-can-do), slayer of demons and monsters! Now whilst that may not strictly be true in terms of my personal Ninja prowess, it can at least be partially realised in a boyish way with Naruto: The Broken Bond. I'll be honest with you, I didn't have a clue what this title was about, and it could have easily been a case study of a defective adhesive for all I knew. But I have now been educated in the ways of Naruto and indeed the way of the ninja; I have come through stronger, wiser and believe it not quite entertained!"
The picture there is from the PS3 game and not from The Broken Bond. Just throwing that out there.
Toronto Thumbs writes: "The Broken Bond is a fighting/adventure game that follows the storyline of the Naruto series, starting at the end of the attack on Naruto's home village by the villain Orochimaru. Throughout the game, we primarily follow two friends, Naruto and Sasuke, and watch how their friendship develops in the aftermath of that battle."
