Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Review (Xbox One)

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is the latest entry in the popular anime brawler from developer CyberConnect2. This is the last chapter in the series and it features the same over-the-top action for which the series is known for. It also has an engaging storyline that finally brings the story of Naruto and Sasuke to its conclusion.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is the first Naruto game on the current generation consoles. As the first entry in the series, the game offers gorgeous anime visuals and an engaging gameplay. The gameplay in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 builds on the foundation laid out in the first Naruto Shippuden game and improves it in several ways.

This is also the first game in the series with the largest ever character roster. It features characters from the original Naruto series to characters from the Naruto Shippuden series. If you are not familiar with the Naruto universe, it is divided in two different segment. The first segment deals with a kid Naruto and his training to become a Hokage. The second segment deals with a grown up Naruto in his search for Sasuke and to become the best Hokage. Both of these segments have their own characters and story arcs.

If you still haven’t played any of the pats Naruto games then you shouldn’t worry about it being a sequel as Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 covers the entire story arc of the series. It is great for both newcomers and fans alike, and those who have missed out on the story will leave satisfied with the game’s ending.

There is a lot of content packed in the game including a full featured story mode that chronicles the story from the manga and anime. It is also full of details and content as the developers have laid out the narrative for the whole series. If you are an ardent Naurto fan and have read the manga or watched the anime, the story mode will definitely leave you satisfied.

The story is presented in the form of chapters and divided by each of the fights in the chapter. The general story is told through static scenes that animate the action effects to give the impression of a fully animated scene. These scenes are essential in explaining the story and CyberConnect2 has nailed the look and feel of the anime using the cutscenes despite them being mostly static images.

The story is also divided in branching paths where the player will sometimes be offered the choice to choose two different story paths. There is no restriction on which path to choose and if the player decides to continue either of them, they can go back and start the other story path without having to stick with their original choice. In addition to the branching paths, the game also offers players some side stories that might not be essential to complete but they offer some extra backstory for some of the characters.

The gameplay of Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is pretty similar to the old games. Players can use their chakra to execute special attacks or ninjutsu. There are some really flashy ninjutsu attacks that are great to execute and all of them are based on the manga/anime, which will make them a treat for fans. If you have played the previous games, you will feel right at home when you start with Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. In addition to the basic combo system where we just tap a button to execute combos, we can mix our basic attacks with a chakra dash, ninjutsu and team based attacks. It might appear simple and repetitive at first but it has enough depth that each of the battle feels fresh.

The gameplay is toppled by the huge character roster that offers a wide variety of characters, each with their own attack and special attacks. The character roster is pretty impressive for a Nauto game and CyberConnect2 has plans to add even more characters with the future DLC, making it the best Nauto game in the series in term of character roster. Needless to say, it is hard to feel disappointed with the wealth of characters on offer here.

If you aren’t satisfied with the story mode or have finished it, you can also start the adventure mode that features the hidden leaf village and it is actually explorable. This adventure mode is similar in style to the old story mode and it allows the players to explore the world of Naruto with their favorite characters. You can also play the story DLCs in the Adventure Mode that will be released post-launch. The first of the story DLC is out now and it features Shikamaru and revolves around his story after the events in the main game. Two more story DLCs will be released later down the line and they are all part of the game’s Season Pass.

If you just want to enjoy some multiplayer action, you can go for it with either the online battle or free battle mode. Both of these offer a wide variety of options for battles including team-based battles.

CyberConnect2 has nailed the aesthetics of anime/manga and perfected the combat system from earlier games to create this satisfying conclusion in the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. If you are a die-hard Naruto fan, this game is a must buy. If you are new to the series, then you can still pick this game to enjoy the spectacular story and action.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is available now on the PC, PS4 and Xbox One. It was developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment. This review covers the Xbox One version of the game.