I've reviewed a lot of Naruto games. I probably don't have the world record, but I'm definitely a contender. And of the numerous Naruto games I've written about from various companies, the Ultimate series has always stood out. Anime games have a reputation for being barebones cash-ins on popular series. That does not apply to the Ultimate series. Or any of the CyberConnect2 games I've played. They have bucked the trend and "put their backs into it" when it comes to making anime games. And their latest achievement, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, is a hell of a game. 

There’s something special about the CyberConnect2 Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm games. There’s a sense of pride that permeates these games and makes them anything but a quick cash-in on the Naruto franchise. You can’t help but be impressed by the amount of thought that goes into them. Right down to the little details, it’s obvious the people making these games are fans too. Time and time again while playing through the story mode I would think,"That was a neat idea. Whoever made this really knows Naruto." Stuff like during the Kakashi and Obito fight, the background would suddenly change into when they fought as kids. Or when Naruto and Sasuke fought, they put in so many nods to their previous fights you felt not only the full weight of their relationship, but the legacy of this game series as well. 

The game is also funny! Much like the manga and anime have hilarious bits of comedy sprinkled throughout, often at the most unexpected times, the game makes an effort to do the same. In one level, you have to fight an army of White Zetsu with Obito. During the battle, you suddenly have to choose which of three White Zetsu to attack. If you choose the wrong one, suddenly all three of them are standing around bonking Obito in the head with wacky stars flying everywhere. Another example of capturing the wackiness of the anime is Naruto's super attack shout of "Let me hit you!" That is pretty funny to hear, especially in the midst of an emotionally charged battle. 

With cel-shaded graphics and a fast and fluid combat system, the Ultimate series has been able to capture the look and movement of the anime perfectly. Of course, the combat system is fairly simple, there's literally only one attack button, but that doesn't stop the game from being fun. With the dodges, substitutions, chakra dashes, and the visually impressive over-the-top special attacks—the fights are fantastic to behold. Pure spectacle at times. And it's easy for newcomers. You can pick up the basics of this game in minutes and feel like a real shinobi within a half of an hour. That being said, Internet tough guys are still gonna whoop you, if you don't put in the time. 

Another way the Ultimate Ninja Storm series distinguishes itself is through the meaty story modes. This game’s story mode is huge and takes you all the way to the end of the manga and then some. It gives you hours of fighting, voice-acted animated scenes, insane boss battles and more. They've put a ton of work and effort into the story mode. It's not just a simple retelling of the anime, there is a lot to do and a lot to watch and it's all high quality. It’s also a great refresher if you’ve fallen behind in the story or just want to know how it all ends. 

Of course, if you just want to fight, you can do that too. There are 100 characters to choose from, spanning the entire series. There are also several different modes, including survival, tournament, leagues and more. And instead of just calling in your teammates for a little assist, you can actually switch and play them at a moment’s notice. This is a huge difference in the series and will make fights a lot more interesting. 

CyberConnect2 has spent years making Ultimate Ninja games and refining the process. Each new game improves upon the last leading up to this—the ultimate of the Ultimate games. The game has jaw-dropping graphics, it’s bursting with extras, it features a massive story mode and it has an absurdly high level of quality throughout. Folks, anime games just do not get better than this. Period.

Hint: Charge! Every time you knock someone down, charge up your chakra. Chakra is power! 

by Urian Brown

© 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN All Rights Reserved.
© 2002 MASASHI KISHIMOTO / 2007 SHIPPUDEN © NMP 2014.