Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is set up to finish off the Naruto saga with loads of action and an insanely large roster. This may be the fourth entry in this particular series (there is more than one Naruto series), but the developers have made a solid effort to keep the game feeling fresh and it shows the minute you pick up a controller. While everything is instantly recognizable to any fans of the Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm series, it still manages to feel brand new and exciting.
There is pretty much every character you could ever have wanted to play as available, along with a few extras, each with their unique way of moving about as well as dishing out the pain. You will find your usual suspects such as Naruto, Sasuke, and Sakura, but thanks to the last few chapters of the popular manga, you will now be able to play as all of the Hokages (and some other Kages for good measure) – some of the series’ strongest enemies – and even a tailed beast or two.
The sheer variety of fighters on offer in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 puts every other entry in the series to shame, and this is just one of the game’s strong points. Combat is just as quick as it was in the previous games, only this time it manages to feel vastly smoother. There is a natural flow to the combat this time around that previous entries came close to but never actually managed to nail down. In previous Naruto games there was always this telltale pause whenever you triggered certain moves or performed a substitution jutsu, something that is, thankfully, no longer an issue.
The arenas are more varied and natural-looking this time around as well. No random circles in different areas of the world, you’ll actually duke it out in some of the manga and anime’s most recognizable locations. That signature look of Naruto permeates not only these locations, though; the game looks damn good. The animation, the colors, the blur of quickly moving combatants, and the spectacle of jutsus all give Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 the perfect sheen of a solid anime game.
The excitement of the battles, along with the stunning visuals make Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 an all around pleasant experience that I honestly didn’t want to put down. There’s just something about beating an opponent with what equates to ninja magic, all while putting on a fantastic light show throughout the duration.
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 finally hits North America sometime during the coming fall. So, are you excited to finally finish this epic story? Or, are you just looking forward to dominating everyone with the new roster? Let us know in the comments below. Also, be sure to check out our E3 2015 wiki for more coverage of the amazing event.
Published: Jun 17, 2015 11:43 am