A browser game. Eewww.
That was my first thought when I saw Naruto Online. I have prejudices, like everyone else. I just ignore them most of the time. And so I did when I started playing.
Of course, the first thing the game sells is that is the one and only official Naruto MMORPG.
For those who don't know, Naruto is one of the most famous Mangas in Japan, and one of the longest anime ever created (Cough cough, Filler episodes, Cough cough.) which you can imagine has earn it a lot of fans around the world. Me included.
However, is that all the game has to offer? Well, pretty much, yes.
Just kidding.
I mean, if I had to describe the game, I'd say it's a turn based RPG, where you are basically a new character added to Naruto's storyline. You will accompany the protagonist along all of their adventures, while gaining levels, unlocking talents and abilities...
In fact, let me tell you a little story:
There was once a little ninja called (By the random name finder) AnraiUesugi. Yeah, her parents tried to find the most complex name, and I think they did quite well. She is a Breeze Dancer, whose fort is high combo and AoE damage. There are many others like her: Midnight Blade, who is capable of lightning ninjutsu which can cause paralysis; Scarlet Blaze, who controls fire at will and can inflict Ignition and return debuffs; Azure Fang, who is specialized in water ninjutsu, and can poison and heal; And Crimson Fist, Who bends earth to his will in combination with high level taijutsu. But she was the one chosen to go to Iruka sensei class, besides Naruto.
It wouldn't be until later that she would realize that all male ones where way better at fighting than her. At first at least.
Now, where do we find the fun? Well, at first I thought there was none.
Seriously.
But as the game progresses, it becomes excitingly complex:
Apart from your main character, In my case Breeze Dancer, you can fight alongside up to three ninjas... and these ninjas of course are all characters from the Naruto series, with their own abilities, strengths and weaknesses. There are many ways to recruit new ninjas, ways that we will unlock as we level up.
In chat at some point someone compared the game with Pokemon, and I think that person wasn't that far off.
Because ninjas can evolve, becoming their older version (Shippuden version) of themselves, improving their stats and abilities. For example, Naruto is able to only create one clone, being this his only active ability, yet, when he becomes 2 stars, he gains a passive to create three clones at the start of the combat... and The Rasengan.
As a fan, that was the first Hype I got.
And so, you can collect ninjas as if it were a card game. Besides, they have synergies, and become stronger as a team if you combine them well: Everyone has an attribute that makes them vulnerable to others. Fire is vulnerable to water; Water to earth; Earth to lightning; Lightning to wind; And wind to Fire. Furthermore, Ninjas usually have a "Chase skill" that allows them to attack outside their turn if an enemy is subjected to a condition; As such, for example, if an opponent is knocked down, it'd active Choji's chase skill to pummel him in the ground and knock him down again, which would also activate another character's chase skill, like Shikamaru's, who will immobilize any Knocked down target. Usually chase skills can only be activated once per round, however there are ninjas capable of multiple chase skills...
(Choji's chase skill.)
(Shikamaru's chase skill.)
I've seen 20-30 hit combo ONLY by chase skills. The right combination is crucial to win in PVP, however, chase skills are not overpowered, as they can be easily countered by other ninja abilities... or Gaara, who is immune to most chase skill status.
But that's not all, and I humble encourage you to find them out yourself, as is also part of the fun!
Yet... What is Naruto Online? PvP oriented? PvE?
Well, I think is a bit of both. For starters, in the PvE side there are plot instances, which as the name indicates they let us participate in Naruto's storyline and they become harder as you level up; Then there are Elite Instances, where you'll fight challenging waves of enemies in order to collect ninja fragments, which will allow you to recruit new ninjas, or upgrade the ones you already have.
All of these instances cost you stamina, that is the way the game has so you don't clear them all in one day... but don't worry, stamina is not THAT much of a limiter, as the game itself gives you stamina potions to continue playing. Besides, there are other options that do not require stamina... Like PvP.
From random duels, to Arena, there are various ways for players to hit each other and show that they are the MvP. There are even ways for players to test their "line up" against one another, those are the Ranked games. They work as any other Ranked kind, and if you win, you rank up... however, you don't really fight. The "challenges" you can make against other players with higher rank is not a fight where you can participate, as the machine is the one controlling both teams. Why? I don't know. But it gives you tokens to get more ninjas so I didn't care.
Before anything I'm honest.
You can also play with friends in multiplayer events that become active at certain hours of the day, although for most of them you require to be level 30. There are both, PvE events, like the battle against the Nine Tails, a world boss; And PvP events, like the group convoy, where two players have to defend a convoy from a player incursion.
Yet, if after all that brawling you were to still want to test combinations and, in lack for a better word, mess everything up, you can go outside Konoha and kill mobs. Or complete Bounty missions, which basically ask you to kill more mobs.
However, we can't but arrive to an important question: Would this game entertain someone who isn't a Naruto Fan?
To be honest? Yes, it would. However most of the fun I got from this game was exactly because I could play with characters I always liked...
So... Conclusion.
If you like RPGs, If you like Naruto, or if you would like to take a break in a game that doesn't requires much of your time, Naruto Online is a pretty good candidate to fill those desires.
Hope you enjoyed the review. Leave a comment if you'd want to talk about anything related to the game, or if you just hate my guts (Kidding. Please don't.)
PEACE.