Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles isn't like any of the other Naruto titles to hit the market so far. The first noticeable difference is the graphics. Where other console-based Naruto games have taken a cel-shaded approach to mimicking the show's visual style, Uzumaki Chronicles goes for a more traditional 3D look. This change reminded me a lot of the original Dragon Ball Z: Budokai game for the PS2 (since the GameCube version and every other version of Budokai after that has been cel-shaded). This doesn't mean the game looks bad. It is still a clean style and effectively models the characters and environments of the show. It is just different than most games that have come from this series, and oddly enough, because of this (as well as the gameplay differences mentioned in the next section), Chronicles stands out a bit more than the past Naruto games.

Uzumaki Chronicles's audio isn't bad, but it doesn't overly impress either. The background music never really stands out and is rarely something you will pay any attention to, but it definitely has a feel similar to the show. Voiceovers and sound effects are about the same as the music and are something you can take or leave.

Not only do the graphics of Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles make it stand apart from other Naruto games, but the gameplay isn't just another anime-based fighter.

Taking place outside of the events of the show, The Third Hokage has summoned our brash, knuckle-headed Genin and several of his friends to tell them that they will be working higher-ranked missions for the time being. Because of the high demand of work that is being presented to the Hidden Leaf Village, Naruto, Sasuke, Shikamaru, Choji and Neji will be allowed to work B and A ranked missions, a dream come true for Naruto.

Missions consist of a series of map points where you will have to face waves of enemies in an opened, but none-to-big "arena". These arenas are typically clearings in woods, fields and ruins, you know, flat areas were there aren't a lot of obstacles. As you clear out a map point, you will be give the option to move to another point. The mission is considered complete once you have achieved a particular goal. Sometimes these missions require you to collect certain objects which are obtained after beating enemies in certain map points and getting those items back to the village. Most missions allow you to bring a companion and will typically end in a battle against some character from the show.

As you destroy enemies, you collect orbs called Virtues. These orbs can be used as currency to buy chips. Chips come in several colors and shapes and will have effects ranging from health boosts to perfect strikes and more powerful jutsu moves. These chips fit into skill plates and the abilities only come about when you have completed the pattern outlined on the plate with various chips. This was an interesting aspect of the game because it forced you to balance out your various chip abilities based on the various skill plates you have collected along the way.

Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles has a steady difficulty increase from beginning to end. While the first few missions are easy to plow through, as you get deeper and deeper into the game, enemies become more abundant and harder to take out.

With the exception of a few key battles, I never felt overwhelmed by the challenges presented to me and as the game grew more difficult, I could typically spend my points and buy some chips to help me adjust my abilities and tackle the troublesome mission a slightly different way.

While Naruto: Uzumaki Chronicles isn't, strictly speaking, a fighter, the controls definitely feel like something from the 3D fighting genre. Square and Triangle are used to pull off weak and strong attacks, while the Circle button activates your item (shuriken, kunai, fire and flash bombs) and the X is used to jump/dash or use a Substitution Jutsu (which one you perform depends on what is going on in the fight at the time).

L1 acts as a target lock on so you can always track a particular enemy while the L2 lets you switch between Naruto and your companion. Holding down and releasing R1 uses Naruto's Shadow Clone Jutsu while the R2 button activates your character's other abilities. While controlling Naruto, holding down R1 and R2 activates the Sexy Jutsu and using the Sexy Jutsu in combination with the Clone Jutsu (pressing R1 then pressing both R1 and R2) gives you a special attack called Harem Jutsu.

Uzumaki Chronicles is a Naruto game of a different flavor and although it isn't a fighter and occurs outside of the events of the series, it will still be something fans will want to pick up and play through.