×
  • remind me tomorrow
  • remind me next week
  • never remind me
Subscribe to the ANN Newsletter • Wake up every Sunday to a curated list of ANN's most interesting posts of the week. read more

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Arrives in Retail Stores

Highly-Anticipated PlayStation(R)2 System Fighting Game Based on the
Hit Anime Series Now Available in North America

SANTA CLARA, Calif., (June 26, 2006) – Leading video games publisher
and developer Namco Bandai Games America Inc. announced today that
NARUTO(TM): Ultimate Ninja(TM)” is now available in retail stores for the
PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. This intense fighting game
is based on the hit anime series, SHONEN JUMP's NARUTO, from Viz Media
airing on the Cartoon Network. Aspiring ninjas can now compete in
fierce hand-to-hand combat or use deadly ranged weapons in order to become
the greatest ninja of all. With multiple game modes, unique 2-D
interactive stages and incredible multi-level super attacks, “NARUTO: Ultimate
Ninja” provides an intense fighting experience that will test any
gamer's chakra.

“In the wake of the tremendous success of Naruto manga, anime and
merchandise in the U.S., ‘NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja’ is set to thrill fans and
gamers alike for the first time on the PlayStation 2,” said Naruo
Uchida, Namco Bandai Games America Inc.'s Product Group Director said.
“'NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja' truly brings the exciting series to life with
meticulously re-created characters engaged in fierce ninjutsu combat.”

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja” features blazing single and multiplayer ninja
battles that bring the colorful series to life. Fans can play as their
favorite characters including Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Rock Lee,
Shikamaru, Kakashi and more, and can summon support characters for super
attacks and special items. With fighting moves based on the animation
series, a variety of ninja fighting techniques are at player's disposal,
including ranged weapon attacks and close combat moves. When the timing
is right, players also have the ability to switch stages mid-combat,
with 12 interactive stages based on the hit series available to choose
from. “NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja's” array of game modes allows players to
follow their favorite character's storyline, accomplish specific missions
or battle it out against a friend. Secret characters, movies and other
unlockable features further immerse fans in the ultimate NARUTO
experience!

First introduced into the Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine in Japan in 1999,
NARUTO -- by revered creator Masashi Kishimoto -- quickly became
Japan's most popular ninja manga. In 2000, NARUTO was expanded into a series
of graphic novels with more than 65 million copies sold in total in
Japan. NARUTO consistently ranks as one of the most popular titles
serialized in Viz Media's SHONEN JUMP monthly manga anthology and one of the
top graphic novel titles (also published by Viz Media) in the United
States. Viz Media was named the Master Licensor in February 2005,
obtaining the television, home video and merchandising rights to NARUTO for
North America and Latin America.

Developed by Cyber Connect 2, known for the .hack series, “NARUTO:
Ultimate Ninja” is rated “T” for Teen by the ESRB.

For more information about “NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja,” please visit
http://Naruto.namcobandaigames.com.

###
About Namco Bandai Games America Inc.
Namco Bandai Games America Inc. is an interactive entertainment
software publisher and developer based in Santa Clara, CA. The company is a
subsidiary of the newly formed NAMCO BANDAI Holdings (USA) Inc. based in
Cypress, CA.

On September 29, 2005, Bandai Co., Ltd. and NAMCO LIMITED implemented a
management integration to form NAMCO BANDAI Holdings Inc. This step was
taken to compete more effectively on the global stage in the
fast-changing entertainment industry and to deliver further growth.

The resulting BANDAI NAMCO Group is a global entertainment group
involved in business fields ranging from toys, amusement facilities, video
game software and visual software, to apparel, sundries and network
content.

As previous separate entities (Namco Hometek Inc. and Bandai Games
Inc.) the companies were each known for creating some of the industry's top
video game franchises including: Tamagotchi!(R), Tekken(R),
SOULCALIBUR(R), Dead to Rights(R), Pac-Man(R) World(TM), Digimon(R), Ridge
Racer(R), Time Crisis(R) and ACECOMBAT(R). For more information about NAMCO
BANDAI Games America Inc. and its products log onto
www.namcobandaigames.com.

Press Release (C) 2006 Namco Bandai Games America Inc.

About Viz Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, Viz Media, LLC (Viz Media), is one
of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of
manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese
content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and
animation, Shueisha, Inc., Shogakukan, Inc., and Shogakukan Production
Co., Ltd. (Sho-Pro Japan), Viz Media is a leader in the publishing and
distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North
America and a global licensor of Japanese animation. The company offers an
integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and
SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs, audio soundtracks and develops
and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television
placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for
audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact Viz Media at 295 Bay
Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086;
and web site at www.VIZ.com.

Naruto (C) 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO Program (C) 2006 Namco Bandai Games
Inc. Ultimate Ninja is a trademark of Namco Bandai Games America Inc.

"PlayStation" and the "PS" Family logo are registered trademarks of
Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc.

bookmark/share with: short url

Press Release homepage / archives