Gorgeous action game, but troublesome controls mar play.

See the trailer for Naruto Shippuden Ninja Council 4.

Naruto Shippuden Ninja Council 4 is an action adventure title with a lot of platform puzzles, not unlike classic games from the NES era, where you traverse a 2D playfield to accomplish a goal.

Players take control of Naruto, who's returned to his home village after four years away. You then team up with other characters and set out on an adventure to take out bad guys who've started to do some damage in your absence. You'll use kicks, punches, small weapons and magic to accomplish your task.

When a game looks as great as Naruto, it's a shame that the gameplay doesn't even contain one tenth the level of polish. The oddly mapped controls mixed with the choices made in game, such as losing a throwing weapon when you are hit or having enemies stand completely still until you attempt to attack, really detract from what potentially could've been an excellent title.

Because the game is so unsatisfying to play, if you have a fan of this brand, try renting it before you buy it. If you're not a fan, than you might want to skip it.

Parents Need to Know

Parents need to know that this tough to control anime title is more likely to frustrate than entertain their young gamer. While the game looks gorgeous, the controls and sloppy programming make this seem like more a cash-in opportunity to market the Naruto brand than a way to create interactive fun for Naruto fans. Parents should also know that multiplayer battles are in the game, providing they have multiple cartridges and Nintendo DS handhelds.

Families Can Talk About

• Do you think Naruto Shippuden Ninja Council 4 is essentially an advertisement for the brand? Why does this tend to happen with games for kids?

• Is the cartoon violence in the game absolutely necessary? Could a game based on Naruto brand work under a different genre?

• Why would you pick or not pick a female character as your team leader?

Genre: Action/Adventure Release date: 6/2/2009 Platforms: Nintendo DS, Nintendo DSi Online enabled: No ESRB rating: E10+ Explanation: Cartoon Violence Price: $29.99

Reviewed by Jeff Paramchuk.

See more about Naruto Shippuden Ninja Council 4 at Common Sense Media.