November 14, 2006

NAMCO BANDAI Games’ NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles” Battles onto Retail Shelves

Action Adventure Game for the PlayStation 2 System Summons the Power of the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit across North America

Leading video games publisher and developer NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. announced today that “NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles” is now available in retail stores throughout North America. Based on the hit animated TV series NARUTO from VIZ Media, “NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles” is available exclusively for the PlayStation(R)2 computer entertainment system. Locked deep inside Naruto, a rambunctious orphan, is the powerful Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit. By harnessing the power of this demon through rigorous training and intense challenges, Naruto aspires to become Hokage, the most powerful ninja of all.

“Numerous customization options provide players the opportunity to harness the power of the Nine-Tailed Fox Spirit in a way never before seen in a Naruto video game," said Naruo Uchida, Vice President of Localization at NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. “Fans have been clamoring for even more intense Naruto action, and the original storyline of ‘NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles’ delivers a unique playing experience within the familiar world of Naruto.”

Exploring intricately detailed 3D environments, Naruto must embark on a journey to save the Hidden Leaf Village, from an impending threat. By utilizing a unique partner system with familiar characters such as Sasuke, Choji and Kakashi, players must work as a team with the other Leaf Ninja to complete story-driven missions. By collecting special chips and plates that affect speed, strength and stamina, players can customize Naruto’s fighting abilities in virtually limitless ways -- each one unlocking new skills and abilities. Players can fight through hordes of enemies up-close with lethal ninjutsu, or rely on long-range weapons, such as exploding cards, to complete missions and unravel the enemies’ secret plots. Mini-games, countless fighting abilities for Naruto and various unlockable abilities will leave aspiring ninja thirsting for more.

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 more than 66 million copies sold in Japan. NARUTO consistently ranks as one of the most popular titles serialized in VIZ Media’s SHONEN JUMP monthly manga anthology and one of the top graphic novel titles (also published by VIZ Media) in the United States. 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.

For more information about “NARUTO: Uzumaki Chronicles,” please visit http://Uzumaki.namcobandaigames.com.

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