Play Naruto Shippuuden - Shinobi Retsuden Iii (jp)(bahamut) Online

I picked up Naruto Shippuuden: Shinobi Retsuden III for the Nintendo DS back in 2009, a time when the handheld was full of anime adaptations. Tomy Corporation published this one, and it was a Japan-only release, which made getting a copy a bit of a mission. It slots right into that era of portable games based on long-running shonen series, straightforward action titles you could play in short bursts.

You control Naruto and other characters from the series through side-scrolling stages, fighting off enemy ninjas with a mix of standard attacks and special jutsu. The main goal is to advance through each level, defeating bosses and completing mission objectives. Signature mechanics include using the touch screen to activate powerful ninjutsu and a tag-team system where you can call in a partner for a dual assault. The pacing is generally quick, though some boss encounters can be surprisingly difficult, demanding precise timing to avoid their attacks. It feels like a solid, portable brawler that captures the energy of the show without overcomplicating things.