Well yeah, is a common problem among most fighting game people who feel like that. Because to someone watching, it appears to be button mashing game instead of actual thought, tactics and other strategies to win.
the Rock paper scissor or "Triangle system" in a game is perhaps a bit more than just button mashing, for example like virtual fighter, was the first game to use simple fighting game rules of 3 attacks, punch, kick and throw. They all work in a formula of knowing which move beats which move? Just like megaman, you beat a boss with the weakness you get after beating one boss. You have to know which attack will work against your enemy in each situation.
Fast, weak attacks will beat a slow strong attack, that how most games that is 2d like street fighter work. In 3d, like dead or alive you have this. As you see below it has strikes (punch and kick) Throws (Grapples) and holds (Parry and counters) In this case is about knowing that Punch and kicks > Throws > Holds > Punch and kicks > Repeat.
Each game has similar style of the triangle system (Which is why the image above looks like a triangle... or recycle symbol
) But Naruto to many people seem like those 2D brawling games, like Double dragon, River city ransom, Streets of Rage, Final fight, Guardian heroes, Code of Princess, Senran Kagura. Etc.
But i mean they tried to keep it easy for many new players and add SOMETHING to make it challenging to veteran players. Is hard to explain complexity of fighting games in general but I see what you mean about it. So i'm not saying you're wrong. Is all matter of perspective and opinion. You have a good one, i didn't know you knew or like fighting games.
