Naruto Jumping On The PSP This Summer

More and more platforms are falling prey to Naruto's vigorous expansion into the field of gaming, lately. The Xbox 360, Wii and DS are all waiting for their fair share of action, but after today's announcement issued by Namco Bandai, it seems they will be waiting some more, because the next Naruto game is actually coming to the PlayStation Portable. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes, as it's titled, will also mark the series' debut on Sony's portable console, when it will be released in late summer 2007.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is said to be developed exclusively for the U.S. and Europe, by the Japanese studio CyberConnect2. They are the same ones working on Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 for the PS2, which is also set to launch in Q3 2007. Shortly put, the PSP edition will offer a furious fighting game experience with up to 3-on-3 team-based gameplay, intense single-player action, and a wireless multiplayer versus mode for two players (using a single UMD). There will be 8 interactive stages and 20 playable characters to choose from, plus the ability to level up your ninja rank by completing different classes of missions using your "chosen one".

In a few more words, here's how Namco Bandai describes the game:

"Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes is the highly anticipated fighting game that gives gamers the ability to sharpen their ninja skills with intense single and multiplayer team-based fighting. In a new addition to the franchise, gamers will also have the ability to create and customize their own ninja dream squads to battle opponents or trade players' profiles via wireless connectivity. To further maximize the character power-up feature, players can form different team combinations to awaken hidden skills that lie within each group. Depending on the combinations, special team-based skills can be unleashed. Gamers can also earn power-up points toward upgrading each character's attack, defense, chakra, speed, and even special abilities."

The game doesn't look bad at all, and you can see for yourself the first screenshots we have just added in the local Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes gallery.

(N.B. Archive text, links removed)