Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 is a fighting game released in 2010 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360. Developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Namco Bandai Games, it is the second title in the Ultimate Ninja Storm series and follows *Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm*. The game is based on Masashi Kishimoto’s *Naruto* manga and anime, specifically the Part II story arc known as *Naruto Shippuden*. Its main character is teenage ninja Naruto Uzumaki, who fights the criminal Akatsuki organization.

Development began after the first game was finished, with the team incorporating fan feedback. They aimed to add more drama to attract a broader audience. The game includes a guest character, Lars Alexandersson from *Tekken 6*, after CyberConnect2 CEO Hiroshi Matsuyama saw his alternate design by Kishimoto for that game. Chikayo Fukuda composed the audio.

Critical reception was average to positive. Reviewers praised the visuals and boss fights, comparing them favorably to the anime, but noted a lack of events on the world map after completing the story mode. The game sold strongly, becoming one of Bandai’s bestsellers for 2010. A sequel, *Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3*, arrived in 2013, and all Storm games were re-released as a compilation in 2017.

**Gameplay**

The gameplay keeps many elements from the first game, with 22 fighting stages and 8 chapters, including a prologue and an extra chapter. Characters gain new combos and jutsu through Awakening Mode. Lars Alexandersson is playable. As the story advances, players unlock new Jutsu and Ultimate Jutsu for certain characters.

Support characters return with two new features: Support Types (Guard, Attack, Balanced) and the Support Drive, which has two levels. Support Types determine a support character’s actions during Support Drive level one, which activates after they are summoned enough times. At level one, supports summon themselves automatically based on their type and the player’s actions, without resetting the charge gauge, and can even summon when the gauge isn’t full. A support cannot be manually summoned if it has already auto-summoned. A Defense-type support auto-summons when the player charges chakra, blocking opponents from dashing in. An Attack-type helps attack during combos and knocks opponents back.