FASHIONABLY LATE REVIEW
Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm
By Jorge Figueiredo - April 12th, 2009
Over a year ago, I remember seeing footage of what was then called the Naruto PS3 Project. Having played my fair share of Naruto games, this one caught my attention. Out of all of the games I had seen, this one appeared to be the closest thing you could get to experiencing the television anime series in a game. Indeed, CyberConnect2 stated that their goal with this game was to blur the line between the show and the game.
I cursed the fact that I didn’t have a PS3. I would never really be able to play this game, because as long as I had my DVD player, I could not really justify getting a PS3 (for the sake of upconversion and BluRay). As luck would have it, though, at the beginning of this year my DVD player tanked and I gleefully began saving for my PS3.
So excited was I about this game that I bought it a full month before I even had the PS3 sitting in my basement.
Was it worth it? Yes, my friends. It certainly was.
The story mode of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm follows key plot points from the anime series (from episodes 1 to 135). Using the Hidden Leaf Village as a hub, the player goes on missions that advance the story. There are several arcs, each one leading to a more challenging series of missions. Aside from advancing the plot, completing missions also rewards you with money (to be used at several shops in the village), items, and secret scrolls. Within the village there are locations where you can exchange the scrolls for valuable techniques. There are also locations where the items you gain will lead to other bonuses that will be unlocked.
Aside from the main missions, there are a number of side missions. These missions test your skill and reward you with more money, items, and scrolls. Money comes in handy when you need to purchase items for aid in battle, or to buy some of the neat collectibles in the game. Purchasing key collectibles will unlock “dioramas,” which are 3D representations of great scenes from the show.
This game is a feast for the eyes. Whether you follow the anime or not, you will certainly be impressed with the Hidden Leaf Village, as the level of detail is absolutely incredible. While not completely to scale, it is quite large and feels like a sizeable “home base.” You can travel on the ground as well as on the rooftops. If you manage to find some wire strung up between two buildings, you can also use that to travel (from wire to wire). Topping off the fun of the Village is the Naruto Cannon. Naruto creates a clone that flings himself great distances in exchage for Chakra (your natural energy which replenishes itself over time).
While some of the missions include tree-climbing races, fast forest travel and other mini-game type challenges, the majority of them will be battles (some with tough requirements to fulfill). This is where the game really shines, in its truly 3D sense. Arenas are fairly large and will sometimes contain obstacles. Controls for battle, however, are fairly simple. You will probably read that a lot of people find them too simplistic. I argue, though, that once you know what you’re doing, it’s definitely an interesting and immersing fight system. You have several levels of health and chakra which you have to keep your eye on. On top of having melee attacks and ranged weapons, you also have a pouch full of items at your disposal (using the D-Pad). There are different levels of attacks that can be managed with the chakra button, as well as some impressive ultimate techniques that really pay homage to the series. Using techniques of at this level will bring up a mini-game for each player (the game allows for three different types of mini-games for this portion). I have set my game to use a random-button pressing game (rather than button mashing or spinning analog sticks in circles). A series of random characters (corresponding to your PS3 buttons) will appear. You have to press the highlighted ones as fast as you can for your technique to gain power and accuracy. If you miss too many your technique will fail. This is a great way to give the defending player a chance (they also have to do the same thing to try and nullify the technique).
In addition to normal combat, some characters have an “awakening mode.” When their health dips too low, they can charge themselves up and enter an altered state, increasing power, speed, and technique damage. Some characters change appearances and there are a few that gain new movesets. It adds an interesting twist to the game.
Outside of story mode, there is a battle mode where you can play against the computer or a friend. Online play never made it to this game, which is the only possible flaw. CyberConnect2 wanted to really emphasize the single player experience. In my opinion, an online multiplayer would be gravy. But I can live without gravy.
This game has many hours of replay value (some missions in story mode will display bonus requirements when you complete them the first time). There is lots to see and unlock.
With a solid score, a crisp Dolby Digital soundscape, and smooth game play, if you are a fan you should get this game. And if you’re not, you should try it anyway. I think it could be good enough to turn you into a fan!
