Few fighting games have the luxury of being No. 1, but that’s exactly the title Naruto: Ninja Destiny held when it was released for Nintendo DS. It was the best of its kind; a seriously entertaining anime fighter that packed the best pick-up-and-play combat money could buy.

But as good as it was, Ninja Destiny wasn’t a perfect fighter. Like most titles in the Naruto series, the game was designed primarily for its core fan base. The simplicity and questionable replay value prevented it from making a dent in Tekken or SoulCalibur’s world, prompting me to come to this conclusion in my review: “You can only push the Y and B buttons so many times before it's cakewalk easy.” That statement is doubly relevant now that Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Destiny 2 has arrived.

As you’d expect with any sequel, Ninja Destiny 2 is more of the same. That’s cool – despite the cry for innovation, most gamers are generally satisfied with a sequel or two that gives them more of the gameplay they already love.

However, “more” isn’t the only thing you should get – improvements should also be a part of the package. Ninja Destiny 2 sticks with its two-button attack format of the previous games, and though the developers may argue that an attack system upgrade would be jarring – perhaps even off-putting – to some players, the rehash of old mechanics is far more damaging.

That’s not to say that Ninja Destiny 2 fails to deliver a comparable gaming experience. The truth of the matter is that it does. But it’s what the game doesn’t accomplish that will disappoint those expecting more from this prestigious license.

Text and Fighting

Ninja Destiny 2 differs from most fighting games in that it comes with two distinct single-player modes. Given that it’s a DS exclusive, the developers could clearly foresee that there’d be times when we didn’t have another player to compete against. Their answer to this inevitable problem is the Story mode and the Quest mode.

Undoubtedly, Story will be the mode players spend the most time with, and not just because it must be played through before Quest mode becomes available. Using the old-fashioned text-based style found in hundreds of RPGs, the Story mode gives players another glimpse into Naruto’s world. None of the revelations may surprise those who follow Naruto’s every move, but if you appreciate the saga, there’s no question that you’ll be intrigued by what the game offers.

The format is pretty solid, if not a little shallow. During this mode, players automatically switch between Naruto (the primary warrior) and other key characters that correspond to the current story developments. Those developments pop up automatically after each battle (or each series of battles), along with a few very brief exploration segments (with top-down 3D stages) where the player must find the exit to a very simple maze.

For the most part, it all comes together pretty nicely. There is one frustrating moment that requires you to jump awkwardly across a few platforms. But aside from wanting to scream and pull your hair out (a feeling that comes before you realize that falling off a platform doesn’t actually harm your character – it merely sends you back to the beginning of this annoying trek), players will enjoy the Story mode very much.

Once you’re finished with that mode, you’ll definitely be curious to know what the Quest mode is all about. Let’s put that curiosity to rest right now: it’s all about the battles. Using the same 3D engine that powers the exploration portion of the Story mode, the Quest mode takes you on a journey that’s filled with frequent battle encounters. You’ll run through level after level – most of which look the same – and discover items, enemies and more enemies. Which is great if you wanted an excuse to keep battling; it’s not-so-great if you were hoping this would be an extension of the Story mode.

Destiny Found

Besides the Story and Quest modes, Ninja Destiny 2 features all the survival, wireless battle (local multiplayer) and player vs. CPU (arcade-style) modes you’d expect from a fighting game.

After that, the game doesn’t leave you with much to do. The fighter lineup is respectable, and the one-on-one combat is still exciting, regardless of the mode you choose to get it from. However, if you’re not a die-hard Naruto fan, but merely a fan of fighting games that hoped to see the Naruto series expand on its impressive start, you’re going to be disappointed. We now know that expansion isn’t really what this series is about.

Gameplay: 6.9
Considering that Ninja Destiny 2 is somewhat of a rehash, it wouldn't be wrong to reiterate a comment from my review of the first game: "Great mainstream-friendly combat." That's still true. And if you missed the first game, nothing else matters. However, if you played through it (and especially if you own it), bear in mind that very little has changed in this sequel, resulting in gameplay that's too much of what we've already experienced. The combos are similar, the attack style hasn't been altered, and the button layout is exactly the same.

Graphics: 7.0
The visuals of Ninja Destiny 2 aren't noticeably improved. They're solid, not eye-popping, and watch out for the occasional slowdown – it's deadly.

Sound: 6.5
Once again, the Ninja Destiny is somewhat lacking in the area of sound and music.

Difficulty: Easy
Still easy. (Only this time, because we know what we're doing, it seems even easier.)

Concept: 6.5
The first game all over again plus a few adjustments, none of which are in the area where the game needed them most.

Multiplayer: 7.4
Still the most rewarding long-term element, Ninja Destiny 2 is a game you'll want to play with others. However, without any significant gameplay advancements, the multiplayer addiction doesn't reach the level of the first Ninja Destiny. (Note: multiplayer is offline-only.)

Overall: 7.0
The Ninja Destiny series had the chance to become a powerhouse in the world of fighting games. Ninja Destiny 2 proves that's not the direction the developers want to take. Rather, they have chosen to approach the series with minor tweaks and upgrades, which will be hugely appreciated by those who missed the original, but might seem irrelevant to those who already shelled out $35 to acquire the first Ninja Destiny.