Naruto: Ninja Council
The Naruto: Ninja Council series, known in Japan as Naruto: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshū, is a series of action games based on the manga and anime series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto. They are developed by Aspect Co. and published by Tomy. Various installments of the series have appeared on both Nintendo's Game Boy Advance and Nintendo DS, the first two games in the series available for the former while the rest are available on the latter.
Game Boy Advance
''Naruto: Ninja Council''
Naruto: Ninja Council is the first installment in the Ninja Council series. It is an action game for the Game Boy Advance. There are scrolls that the character can obtain to perform abilities at the cost of Chakra, which can be used to attack, break down barriers, or create whirlwinds. The story mode very loosely follows the Land of Waves arc to the Chunin Exam arc.''Naruto: Ninja Council 2''
Naruto: Ninja Council 2 is the second installment in the Ninja Council series for the Game Boy Advance. This game was released on April 29, 2004, with a North America release on October 10, 2006.This game loosely follows the second through third seasons of the anime, but with some minor differences, such as repeated fights against Dosu Kinuta, Zaku Abumi, Kabuto Yakushi, and Orochimaru, as well as areas that did not appear in the anime. It also features a two-player co-op mode using the link cable, and a four-player battle mode. However, while the first game had voice samples from the cast, this game does not. The sprites in this game, while not only different from Ninja Council, would become mainstays for this series.
Nintendo DS
''Naruto: Ninja Council 2 - European Version''
Naruto: Ninja Council 2 - European Version is the third installment in the Ninja Council series and the first for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan on April 21, 2005, as Naruto: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu 3 for DS and three years later in Europe on October 3, 2008, as Naruto: Ninja Council 2 - European Version. The game is not released in North America.The game features side-scrolling action gameplay with touch-screen and microphone functionality. There are separate stages in the game much like the first two games in the series. The storyline follows the Sasuke Retrieval story arc, minus the Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha battle. The Sound 4 are also present in the game, but Kimimaro is only featured in a mid-mission minigame, instead adding a final battle with Orochimaru, after defeated Orochimaru, Kabuto appears and escaping together with Orochimaru and then Sasuke will soon betraying on Naruto in the end of the game.
''Naruto: Ninja Council 3''
Naruto: Ninja Council 3 is the fourth installment in the Ninja Council series for the Nintendo DS. It was released in Japan as Naruto: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu 4 DS. Character-related content such as Kimimaro, the Sound 4's special attacks and their alternate forms themselves are changed or removed in the international versions. The game includes a Naruto CCG card as an added bonus. It features a "Movie" mode, which allows players to watch secret techniques. In Europe it was released by Nintendo as Naruto: Ninja Council - European EditionNaruto: Ninja Council 3 has similar gameplay to the last two games in the series. The missions take place on a small map. The touch screen serves as both a map and as a place to perform different jutsu. Animals and ninjas are the typical opponents in the game. On certain missions, the player has to fight bosses, which are usually the antagonists from the series, including Ino. During missions, the player has to defeat the opponent under various conditions.
''Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4''
Naruto Shippuden: Ninja Council 4 is the fifth installment in the Ninja Council series.The game was released on June 2, 2009, in North America. In Europe, it was released by Nintendo as Naruto: Ninja Council 3 - European Edition.
''Naruto Shippuden: Naruto vs. Sasuke''
Naruto Shippūden: Saikyō Ninja Daikesshu Gekitotsu!! Naruto vs. Sasuke is the sixth installment of the Ninja Council series. It incorporates several tag-team specials. It was released in Japan on July 4, 2008, and in North America on November 16, 2010.The character's sprites are smaller, allowing for more action on-screen. Most of the special moves no longer use touch screen in order to be performed. Touch screen controls perform certain jutsu. New characters include TS Sasuke and Sai. Online gameplay has been removed, although there is a high score mode available. There are also side-missions which can be completed to unlock more characters. It was released in North America under the title of Naruto Shippuden: Naruto vs. Sasuke.