Here's a random bit of trivia for you: Lars' new Rage Art in Tekken 8 — his super move, if you don't know what a Rage Art is — seems to be based on his ultimate attack from Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 2.
And yes, before you ask, Lars was in PS3 anime brawler. The maligned son of Heihachi Mishima featured as a playable guest character, complete with his own moveset and unique outfit, designed by Naruto author Masashi Kishimoto. He even has his own background lore in the game, just so that he better fits the universe.
It was a pretty cool crossover, with Lars receiving the aforementioned outfit as a alternate costume in Tekken 6.
Anyway, Lars looks to be channelling his experience as a deadly shinobi in Tekken 8, where his Rage Art has a lot in common with his Storm 2 finisher. But if anything, the Tekken 8 version improves upon the technique, with Lars pulling off a stylish pose at the end.
Here's a quick comparison video from YouTube channel STORM MASTER:
It's a neat reference, and it's got us hoping that Lars will make a return in the upcoming Naruto to Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Connections.
Did you ever play as Lars in Naruto Storm 2? Charge your lightning fist in the comments section below.
Comments 10
@bimboliquido IIRC, he was included in Ultimate Ninja Storm 2 because the Naruto author really liked Lars and basically drew fanart. Cyber Connect 2 lead guy saw this as an opportunity to ask Namco for the OK to put him in the game, and they allowed it. It wasn't explicitly some ploy to make him more popular.
I'm not really a huge Tekken fan, so I never really spent any time with him in UNS 2 (that and, when I did try him, he wasn't dubbed, so I quickly moved on). I did think he looked cool, though, and it's neat that Masashi Kishimoto got to include him.
Part of me doubts he'll make the jump to Naruto x Boruto but it'd be neat for his fans if he did, so here's hoping!
I've always wondered who that guy was in naruto now I know and that's kinda kool
@RogerRoger Wait they didn't always dub additional characters in the Ultimate Ninja Storm games?
Who else was left with a Japanese only track?
@KidBoruto Nobody, it was just Lars.
I think because, as far as I know, Tekken games have never been dubbed; all of its characters either speak Japanese by default, or their nationality's primary language. I figured they just ported over his Tekken dialogue clips and thought fans would've found it weird to dub them, so left 'em alone.
I don't think there's ever been another external guest character in the Ultimate Ninja series. Closest they've come is Mecha-Naruto, but he was fully dubbed, given his starring role in the UNS Revolution story mode. Oh, and there was a downloadable Dragon Ball Z outfit for Naruto one time, too, but that obviously didn't require extra dialogue. That's it, I think!
@RogerRoger Oh okay cool, thanks for the information about that!
@KidBoruto No problemo! I take it you've played some of the Ultimate Ninja series before, yeah? Think you're gonna be getting UNS Connections later this year?
@RogerRoger I own the PS4 collection, but have never played any of them before! Not a big fan of fighting games tbh.
That said though, I'll probably end up buying this newer collection eventually just because it's Naruto related lol.
@KidBoruto Me neither, I'm not a fighting game fanboy. It's kinda why I like the Ultimate Ninja series (and am glad it beat out the Clash of Ninja Revolution titles, back in the day) because CyberConnect2's system isn't a full-fledged eSports button-masher. It's way more simple, cinematic and streamlined, and therefore accessible. I think you'll enjoy those games you already have, as and when!
@RogerRoger I doubt they'll be adding the two new characters to the PS4 version, so I do see myself waiting for the PS5 re-release to drop down in price alot.
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