Sidestep

Sidesteps are performed by pressing the or buttons and allow the player to circle the opponent, moving in the z-axis of the game. In addition to the basic standing sidestep, starting in GNT4 and all future games, running sidesteps can be performed while in the run animation. In the GameCube GNT games, steps towards the camera and steps away. In all Wii games, steps to the character's left and steps to the right.

Usage

The exact properties of sidesteps change game to game, though in general there are about three frames of startup followed by a rapid repositioning in the z-axis which lasts a few frames, followed by a longer period of recovery. Sidesteps have utility in a number of ways:

• To escape from certain block strings
• To turn around safely while being attacked or hit from behind
• Used after the opponent jumps, a sidestep will move the player out of the line of attack and re-align to face their opponent
  • This counterplay is important for punishing jump back and jump attacks
• In GNT4 forward, the starting invincibility frames of sidesteps can be used to avoid an otherwise unblockable wake-up-super (WUS).

Turning around safely with sidestep

In general, when backturned to the opponent, two sidesteps will fully turn your character around. In GNT1-4 pressing and each once is usually preferable because the game considers you to have swapped sides in relation to the camera after the first sidestep. Therefore, a second consecutive / press will step in the opposite direction, putting you back in your starting position and potentially vulnerable to the opponent's string. Alternating to the other button steps further to the side and is in general safer. The second sidestep is also important for avoiding an incoming . Many characters cannot continue their string if whiffs.

Sidestep-cancel run

Starting in GNT4, sidestep can be cancelled directly into a run forward starting on frame 11 of a standing sidestep. You must be a set distance away from your opponent for this option to be available- about twice as far away as the default placement at the round start or roughly Jiraiya's jab range (distance ~= 16.5).

Differences between games

Naruto: Clash of Ninja! 1

• Sidesteps are 20 frames total
• Characters can block for the entire sidestep (DEFOK flag active)
• Characters can be thrown for the entire sidestep (THROWOK flag active)
• steps towards the camera, steps away from the camera when facing the opponent

Naruto: Clash of Ninja! 2

• Characters cannot block for frames 2-20 of the sidestep (DEFOK flag removed)

Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen! 3

• No changes from CON2

Naruto: Gekitou Ninja Taisen! 4

• Frames 1-3 now have total invincibility (TDMG flag)
• Sidestep is no longer throwable (frames 1-3 are invincible, THROWOK flag removed frames 2-20)
• Running sidestep added: or pressed during the run state now performs a sidestep with a different animation
  • Running sidesteps have the same properties as standing sidesteps
• If you have distance from your opponent and are holding forward by frame 11, your sidestep will cancel into a run forward on frame 12.

Super Naruto: Clash of Ninja! 4 (fan mod)

• Sidesteps are once again throwable for the entire duration (THROWOK flag restored)
• Frames 1-3 of the sidestep are now only invincible to attacks and not throws
• Sidesteps have been slightly edited in their movement, to start moving on frame 4 when invuln ends, instead of on frame 5 like vanilla.
• Running sidestep has been altered to be more like Rev 3, where you face your opponent immediately (for example, backturn running sidestep allows you to run back towards the opponent). This also makes them better for threatening and closing the distance on jump back and retreating air options.