Bandai continues to roll out new Naruto Trading Card previews, and Friday saw the release of Hiruko (N-945) and Puppet Master Jutsu (J-738). Both of these cards come from the new “Fangs of the Snake” Set 18 series that Bandai has been trying to develop some hype for, and they actually both look like they’re going to be rather successful.
It seems that all of these new cards have exciting artwork, and these two cards are no different. The Puppet Master Jutsu artwork looks as though it’s taken directly from the Naruto anime, while the Hiruko art looks to be an interesting throw back to some of the earliest days of the game. In either case, they’ll be welcome additions to discerning collectors of game pieces.
Of course, I haven’t had the honor of play testing either card. However, it seems that Puppet Master Jutsu is going to be a card to fulfill the increasingly wide gap of mid-range ability pieces. It’s entrance cost of four or more places it at neither extreme of the entrance spectrum. It seems to be a balanced card that will be at home in a number of scenarios.
This is in sharp contrast to Hiroku, however. As a Jonin Akatsuki ninja, Hiroku is a surge card that will be used to transfer another card back into an opponent’s hand. Perhaps the most interesting thing, however, is the fact that it was designed for use with the Puppet Master Jutsu card. Hiroku is a puppet master, and his seemingly reckless style stands in conflict with the balanced card-drawing techniques that the new jutsu encourages you to use.
This sort of difference should certainly lead to an interesting playing style. Perhaps the disparity between them will create a certain amount of confusion in your opponent’s game, and then they can be taken out with an easy surge.
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