Basically all of the Shippuden games released in the US thus far have gone through this exact same storyline, and honestly, it is getting very tiring. We then trudge through the saving Gaara arc, and it all feels very familiar. It follows Naruto as he comes back from his training with Jiraiya and adjusts to life back in Konoha. One of my biggest initial disappointments with Akatsuki Rising was the story. However, although the Akatsuki are certainly a major player in Akatsuki Rising, even they aren't enough to save this game from feeling mediocre overall. It follows then that any game that heavily incorporates the Akatsuki group and its band of brothers will be an instant smash. These nefarious cloud-coat wearing baddies have become synonymous with the Shippuden saga and have gained an unprecedented fan following. Other than the spiky blonde haired ninja himself, the most recognizable group of characters from the Naruto Universe has to be the Akatsuki.
