Naruto: Clash of Ninja

Naruto: Clash of Ninja, known in Japan as Naruto: Gekitō Ninja Taisen!, is the first instalment of the Gekitō Ninja Taisen! (Clash of Ninja) series. This was the very first 3-D cel-shaded Naruto game.

Gameplay
The player can select between different game modes such as One Player mode, Two Player Battle mode, Play Against Computer mode, Survival mode, Time Attack mode, Training mode, and Story mode. Like with most fighters, first player to deplete the opposing side's health to zero wins, or the one with the most health left after a time out.

In battle, characters move back and forth via 2D plane fighters, but are also able to sidestep into the foreground and background, via left and right (placement of side of screen is not relevant to change in dodging direction). Because of this, characters can end up facing the wrong way from their opponent at times, leading to exploits in movement. Other movements include running, backdashing (usually done as a back flip), jumping and double jumping. Characters are able to perform weak attacks, strong attacks, throws, and special techniques. Weak Attacks are often quick moves that sport sets of combos, with backward weak attacks being chargeable with guard points during their animations, allowing autoguard. Strong Attacks are often projectile moves and special ninjutsu characters tend to have, and most projectiles that are ninja tools like with autoguard attacks, can be charged up. Most backward Strong Attacks tend to be a teleport, counterattack reversal or a special stance. Characters can press their weak and strong attacks in a neutral position or four directions to access different moves, with some combos branching off of certain attacks (combos available vary for each character).

Running attacks and midair attacks are also available, where most midair weak attacks are often diving attacks. Characters can also block attacks by holding back or standing still. The guard in the game is infinite and can guard anything except throws and specials, but they can take "chip damage" (small amounts of damage from blocking) if they block weapon or strong attacks.

The chakra gauge at the bottom of the screen fills up via attacking, taking damage or blocking attacks. Once at a certain point, players can press the dodge buttons while getting hit to use the Body Replacement Technique, to either teleport out of harm's way or counter-attack from another direction. This costs some chakra however. If full, characters can perform secret special attacks that use up all chakra. Most of them are cinematic moves that require an initial blow to initiate, such as the Naruto Uzumaki Combo and Lion Combo.

Chakra can also be used to extend most characters' strong attacks, for example, some strong attacks can be weapon attacks, though examples such as Naruto's down strong attack (where he teleports out of sight then uppercuts from underground), Kakashi's down strong attack (Earth Release: Double Suicide Decapitation Technique) and Sasuke's forward strong attack (Fire Release: Great Fireball Technique) can all be held down to extend their duration at the cost of chakra, though they can mainly be performed regardless of chakra amount. Most backward strong attacks that act as reversals can also be held down for chakra cost as well.

The player also can unlock new features such as new characters, stages, and modes by accomplishing certain tasks in the game (i.e. to unlock both Naruto Uzumaki and Kakashi Hatake's alternate forms, the player must first play on story mode to unlock Rock Lee, then beat one player mode with all players twice). The Story mode follows the Prologue — Land of Waves (to an extent), but the only character playable is Naruto Uzumaki, making the story a little twisted of how it's supposed to be.

Stages

 * Ramen Ichiraku
 * Academy
 * Hokage Rock
 * Hidden Leaf Village Gates (Day, Night)
 * Forest of Death
 * Great Naruto Bridge (Day, Mist)
 * Gamabunta's Chamber

Trivia

 * In both Japanese and English versions, Naruto's respective voice actresses act as the announcers per round.
 * Kakashi with his his back strong in his Sharingan mode in the whole Gekitō Ninja Taisen/Clash of Ninja series can have two functions as a counter: the first is being able to teleport away should any type of attack connect on his stance, the second is that should a special attack hit him instead, he can counter with a copied version of it, though some techniques like Haku's, Nine-Tailed Naruto's (and later Bando's) cannot be copied via this method. The"copying" function of that attack was scrapped in the Naruto: Shippūden sub series for both Kakashi and Anbu Kakashi.
 * When he copies techniques, Kakashi often has his own personal touches to them; for example, copying Zabuza's Hiding in Mist Technique has Kakashi utilise his Lightning Cutter with a kunai instead. Kakashi also shows his own "inner Kakashi" when copying Inner Sakura.
 * Kakashi always spouts his own personal quotes upon copying techniques, save for a special quote during the Hiding in Mist Technique.

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