“The Naruto series has proven to be wildly popular in Japan, inspiring over 28 volumes of graphic novels and 113 episodes of the anime,” said Naruo Uchida, Vice President of Bandai Games Inc. “Gauging from American fan requests, websites, and cosplayers dedicated to the series, we are confident that an enthusiastic reception awaits ‘Naruto: Narutimate Hero’ in the United States.”

First introduced into the Weekly Shonen Jump Magazine in Japan in 1999, Naruto, by revered creator Masashi Kishimoto, quickly became Japan’s most popular ninja manga. In 2000, Naruto was expanded into a series of graphic novels with over 50 million copies sold in total in Japan. Naruto consistently ranks as one of the most popular titles serialized in SHONEN JUMP and one of the top graphic novel titles in the U.S. VIZ Media was named the Master Licensor in February 2005, obtaining the television, home video and merchandising rights to Naruto for North America and Latin America.

Developed by CyberConnect2, the creative minds behind the best-selling “.hack” series, this fighting title promises intense martial arts action wrapped in the cell-shaded ninja world of “Naruto.” With 14 playable characters, “Naruto: Narutimate Hero” features a variety of fighting moves, including base, combos, super, and projectile attacks. With lush environments playable on two different planes, this much-anticipated game offers four exciting gameplay modes and a series of collectible items, including trading cards, toys, music, and movies.

“Naruto: Narutimate Hero” is scheduled to ship Q1 2006.

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