Do you remember when the Wii used to be called the Revolution? It seems so long ago, but apparently the folks at Tomy and D3 Publisher remember. More importantly, they also remember what made the Clash of Ninja games so much fun, modernizing and tweaking the winning formula to produce Narurot: Clash of Ninja Revolution, a game that makes excellent use of the Wii, doesn't feel gimmicky and is a blast to play. Just don't enter expecting a 'revolutionary' change from previous games and you'll be all set!

One thing I love in general with Naruto games is that the developers have attached the license to several sorts of games - side scrollers, RPGs and traditional fighters like this - and yet they only choose formats that will work and infuse each one with so much love for the franchise that it comes at you from the start screen right through to the very end. While it doesn't mean that every game is a gem, it does mean that fans of the series are likely to be quite satisfied with every release, as they never feel like generic ports with a license slapped on at the last minute. So when you have a game like this that is already solid, this means it's destined to become a fan favorite.

As this is the Clash of Ninja fighter series then we'd better get straight down to the most important aspect - the Wii controls. Not only do they work, but they feel completely natural and, even better, you can use a wide variety of control schemes without any of them feeling out of place. You can use the Gamecube controller or the 'classic' controller, the Wiimote alone, or the ultimate combination of the Wiimote and nunchuk. Naturally to take the greatest advantage of the Wii specialization you should use both Wii controllers, but it is nice that the developers made the game playable with a standard control set. The controls are fairly simple - you move around the ring using directional control and use the buttons to trigger weak and strong attacks, and those special Jutsu moves. You see, since Naruto is a ninja, he has special fight moves that unleash his inner powers; known as Jutsus, they use energy called Chakra. While Chakra replenishes over time, it is important to reserve your special moves for when they can really make a difference, like for finishing off an opponent or turning the tide of a battle. The Wiimote is used to power up your Jutsus by following onscreen instructions - these use additional Chakra but can make a huge difference in the damage you do to an opponent.

The gameplay is pretty equally divided between story mode and multiplayer. Too often in fighting games the story mode is a sorry excuse to string together a bunch of fights before getting to multiplayer - because honestly, that is the fun part. However, Clash of Ninja Revolution brings in a fun little story that ties in the typical mission structure that Naruto, Sasuke and Sakura need to go through in the anime series - and it also ties in all of the humor, attitude and insults that make the three such a fun set of characters to accompany you. Sometimes you need to use certain moves, or score in a certain way, but generally the single player is about beating your opponents and learning the core fighting system. There's nothing particularly deep or complex here - you simply deal with missions by fighting opponents, but you get some dialogue and cut scenes in between that make things entertaining and entice you to keep on playing to find out what happens next.

One you have finished the story you should move quickly to the multiplayer, because this is where the Clash of Ninja really shines. Fighting games against a friend are always a blast but the Naruto games have always been a particularly fun way of tying solid fighting into a format that works for younger fans and won't offend their parents with too many 'jigglies' [Yes Dead or Alive, we're lookin' at you! Staring, in fact… Ed]. As always, every fight drips with the feeling of the characters and the franchise - you choose opponents or take on a ladder battle and enter the ring. One cool thing about this is that the rings have weak spots that allow you to blow your opponent into a secondary ring, getting in a few extra hits along the way.

Since the Wii is the least 'next gen' looking of the next-gen consoles, graphics often come as an afterthought when reviewing a Wii title. And honestly, if the core gameplay is solid then the graphics really are secondary. But the visuals in Clash of Ninja are very nicely done; the characters are all cel-shaded and lovingly animated, while the backgrounds and effects are detailed enough to really bring the anime series to life. If you have played the earlier Cube games then be assured that this looks even better than those. The voice acting requirements for Naruto aren't all that demanding, but the results here are impressive - throughout the battles the characters chime in with their signature sayings and this really adds to the impact of the bouts, as do the pumping music tracks and fitting sound effects when you land a punch, kick or special attack, making for great presentation in every respect.

Fundamentally Clash of Ninja is a fight game - and a pretty darn good one at that. Sure, you can button mash - and I did that for the single player and a bit of multiplayer with my kids - but this has become their new favorite game, so when I came back for more I learned that my approach was a surefire way to get my butt kicked! You really need to learn to string together combos and mix up combos and Jutsus to take out your opponents. The enemy AI is actually pretty good as well - it never feels like it's cheating, it just does a great job of mixing up attacks.

I have thoroughly enjoyed Naruto: Clash of Ninja Revolution - it isn't a crappy game with a license tacked on, but rather a great game that makes excellent usage of a license to enhance the overall feel. Add to that the solid implementation of Wii controls and graphics and sound that really bring the Naruto series to life and you have a fun-packed experience. And since the Wii is the family console it's nice that the game is fun and challenging for all family members - and appropriate for everyone to watch and hear. If you're a fan of Naruto and fighting games then you just can't go wrong with this one!

Reviewed by Michael Anderson for AceGamez (All Rights Reserved).