NAMCO BANDAI GAMES ANNOUNCES NARUTO™: ULTIMATE NINJA HEROES™ 2: THE PHANTOM FORTRESS™ FOR THE PSP® SYSTEM

World Class One-on-One Ninja Combat Returns to the PSP® System with a Massive Interactive Storyline, New Character Upgrade System and Intense Multiplayer Action

Santa Clara, Calif., (February 20, 2008) – Leading video games publisher and developer, NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., announced today that NARUTO™: Ultimate Ninja Heroes™ 2: The Phantom Fortress™ will launch exclusively for the PSP® (PlayStation® Portable) system this summer in North America. Developed by CyberConnect2, NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress continues the frantic, action packed one-on-one battles the series is known for. The game also introduces a new storyline based on the popular NARUTO™ animated series, rated T for Teens, from VIZ Media, as well as a roster of more than 20 characters and frantic head-to-head multiplayer action with game sharing capabilities.

The storyline of NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress revolves around a mysterious phantom castle that has suddenly appeared over the Hidden Leaf Village, draining the townspeople’s life energy. When Naruto infiltrates the castle to find out who is behind this terrible scheme, he finds himself confronted with threatening illusions, visions of the past and a strange masked woman with a vendetta against the Leaf Ninja. Joined by his friends, it will take all of Naruto’s courage to unravel the puzzle behind the castle and defeat this powerful new enemy.

In NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress, players take a custom party of four NARUTO characters through over 100 floors of the castle, experiencing fierce one-on-one battles, exciting mini-games and dramatic story twists in an all-out game of survival. Along the way, players will be able to power-up each party member in a new character customization system, equipping abilities and items to gain a decisive edge in battle. Updating the series’ trademark fast-paced combat system, players will be able to pull off acrobatic flying attacks, flashy combo strikes and unstoppable jutsu skills with ease. Additionally, players can customize their game experience by choosing to play through the full game with English or the original Japanese voices.

Players will also be able to hone their fighting spirit against their friends in the game’s intense multiplayer mode. An incredible variety of team configurations are available as players do battle to see who has the strongest ninja jutsu. NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress supports game sharing for multiplayer action on two PSP systems with just one copy of the game.

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2: The Phantom Fortress will launch exclusively for the PSP system this summer. For more information please visit: www.namcobandaigames.com and www.naruto.com/.

About VIZ Media, LLC
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media), is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan’s largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speaking audiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese animation. The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, DVDs and audio soundtracks and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages. Contact VIZ Media at 295 Bay Street, San Francisco, CA 94133; Phone (415) 546-7073; Fax (415) 546-7086; and web site at www.VIZ.com.

About NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.
NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc. is a leading interactive entertainment software publisher and developer based in Santa Clara, CA. The company is a part of the NAMCO BANDAI group of companies known for creating and publishing many of the industry's top video game franchises including the PAC-MAN®, SOULCALIBUR®, NARUTO™ and Tekken® brands. For more information about NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc., and our products log onto http://www.namcobandaigames.com/.

NARUTO: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 2 software © 2006-2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games Inc. All Rights Reserved. NAMCO BANDAI Games logo is a trademark of NAMCO BANDAI. NARUTO artwork and elements © 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO. All Rights Reserved. SHONEN JUMP and NARUTO are trademarks of Shueisha, Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. This product is manufactured, distributed and sold in North, South and Central American territories under license from VIZ Media, LLC.

“PlayStation”, “PS” Family logo, and “PSP” are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Memory Stick Duo™ may be required (sold separately).

Press Release © 2008 NAMCO BANDAI Games America Inc.