It certainly looks like a much better Naruto game than the other attempts at it.

@naznatips.

Never underestimate the power of Cartoon Network to do the smart thing. They have bypassed filler in the past on other anime series, and other franchises. Further more they are not beyond doubling over series. So we mustn't assume that they will keep their current philosophy. We can hope that they will not let the franchise get lagged down by months of filler. I really can't see the license surviving that. Most other series that languish in filler for too long vanish off of the Cartoon Network roster. The viewers do not seem to tolerate it too well despite their age.

Generally I think the North American audience is less tolerant. Give them a good series, and then load it down with filler. Watch how fast they turn the channel. Oh great another shallow story arc. They might intend to come back later in the series. However by that point its been pulled. That has to be part of the localization process specifically appreciating what the local audience will tolerate. Further more they will never understand manga considerations.

I fully confess. I do not understand the Manga mindset. I could never understand how someone could read something. Then watch the same thing. Then get upset, because they differ. To me that is something to be appreciated. That the two can be different enough that you can enjoy both, and get two experiences. However I also hate anime that is basically a slut for manga. Just an elaborate sales pitch for the manga rather then something that can stand on its own. I suppose fortunately in North America anime seems to stand very much alone, and is not viewed as a expanded universe, or an instrument of canon.

Just my thoughts.

Anime made from manga should be like the manga.

Prime examples of this going wrong are Love Hina and Ah! Megamisama. 

In the Love Hina manga, the main character matures roughly halfway through the manga and the story moves along as a steady pace.  In the anime, it takes the full series, 2 specials, and a movie to almost get the character development the manga had halfway through it.

One scene in Ah! Megamisama went from a sweet endearing statement "I wish for someone like you to be with me always" in the manga to "I want you to be my girlfriend" in the anime.  The entire scene was cheapened.  The rest was downhill from there.

I've been following this game for a while, and I seriously think it's the sleeper hit of the season. No one is talking about it, and it's amazing, fighting to action/platform and rpg stuff, 80 episodes worth of story amazing cell shaded graphics, the whole naruto world looking breath taking, and the fighting mode looks great, and as you mention the online fighting just kicks but. It's right next to Mass Effect on my must have 360 list.

I hope it does well enough to warrent a sequal. 

any word of other Anime games coming to 360?  I'm an Anime fan, but dislike Naruto.

I apologize if this has been answered before...but who are the playable characters?

I've only seen Rock Lee and Naruto confirmed.

You... um... didn't watch the video at the top of the thread did you?