It has been quiet some time since I’ve heard someone yell ‘Dattebayo’ (I watch subs not awful dubs, thank you!) while scurrying through tree tops, arms pointing backwards. Yes my days of spending hours watching Naruto and Naruto Shippuden are fire behind me, my ninja headband is gather dust, my Akamaru plushie is greying and my fan art is hidden in the depths of my room. That’s not to say though that I’ve abandoned the way of the ninja, no, the Anime series that I consider to be one of the roots of my fascination with the genre still has a place in my heart and collection.
So it’s fair to assume this isn’t my first round with a game based on the iconic Manga and Anime series! No in fact, I’ve played a lot and I’ve really disliked most of them, Naruto: Rise of a Ninja being the exception here.
So why am I bothering with Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4? Simple! I needed a break from the other titles I’m playing! What I’ve discovered though is that I really REALLY like this game! It’s the first Naruto fighting game that I’ve actually got a handle of and enjoyed!
Taking place in the middle of the ‘Great Ninja War’ the game does little to change the mechanics of its predecessors, which is strange because the controls and combat were one of my biggest gripes with the games. Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 rolls cutscenes into fighting scenes and vice versa, a tool the developers have been using from day one but this time it really feels like it works and I think that’s why I’m not so confused or frustrated by the controls. The sense of urgency and danger to the ninjas and their world is very clear and translates very well in the game, flowing from cutscene to punch, to ‘Interactive Action’ to cutscene.
So if you don’t watch the Anime or you’ve never even heard of the Manga is this for you? You bet your non-ninja loving ass it is! Cutscenes are skippable if you just want to face off against some tough AI fights. You can forego playing the story for an ‘Adventure’ mode which acts a pseudo-sandbox world allowing you to explore and take on missions or you can take your newly found skills to the online mode and climb the ladder of ninja prowess. Before I smoke bombed my way into the story mode, I took a few rounds in the ‘Free’ mode, limbering up my button bashing fingers against the computer.
You will be astounded by the roster in the game regardless of whether you passed the Chunin exams or you’re still trying to figure out your first Jutsu. There are 61 playable characters and whether you prefer to play the lone ninja or team up with two allies, you can spend hours just watching and mapping the moves of all the characters. While each character has pretty much the same move set, their speed and techniques are all different with the ability to unlock special combo moves when you match with ideal team mates.
The chance to revisit Konoha and the dozens of other locations depicted in the Anime and Manga series was too great to resist but sadly not strong enough to keep me there. The game packs as much fun and action into the title as it can and I can definitely see me pulling this out of the bag when friends come over just for some frantic and quick fights. However the game did remind me why I had abandoned the Anime series long ago and I found myself skipping the cutscenes especially as the final final battle got closer – convoluted plots and character plot holes do not a good Anime make but that’s all down to my own issues with the series as a whole. Hardcore fans and those who just want to top up their knowledge of the ‘Great Ninja War’ events shouldn’t have any issues! (Oh and I did get choked up when Hinata addressed Naruto, make of that what you will!)
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is a nostalgia feast and I devoured my experience whole, the chance to play Hinata, Sakura and Ino once again as my ideal team still excites my inner Otaku. The 3D fights, blocking, vanishing, dodging and hurling kurenai while invoking ninjutsu and genjutsu have excellent pace, testing reflexes and ability to read combo movements work together to capture the spirit of the series and for the first time I felt comfortable playing as these ninja characters.
With Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 it finally feels like the whole package is here, all rolled up in shiny ninjutsu ball and delivered with a serious punch and it made me even want to ‘dattebayo’ again!
A must have for Naruto and Naruto Shippuden fans!
Naruto Shippudeon: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is available on PS4, Xbox One and PC from February 5.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTmvyW6GtFY
Editor-in-Chief, part-time super villain and hoarder of cats. If you can’t find me writing, I’m probably in the kitchen!
