Review: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations

The problem that has always plagued video games that take their lead from popular TV shows or movies is that they often lack substance and depend solely on fan base hype and loyalty to win them the day, but Namco’s latest iteration of their beloved Ultimate Ninja Storm series shows that it’s more than just a pledge to the Naruto fanboy/girl, but a fighting game that offers a lot more depth than it lets on. With an expansive roster, and exclusive side stories that can’t be found anywhere else, Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations grabs players with crisp animations and explosive visuals that offer a new mix in the way 3D fighters are handled.

Developer: CyberConnect2
Publisher: Namco Bandai
Price: $59.99
Platforms: PlayStation 3 [Reviewed], Xbox 360

UNSG attempts to change pace by merging characters from both timelines of the Naruto series (Part 1 and Part 2 of the manga). The Story mode has been streamlined this time around, with mostly spoken narrative over top of still images to get you through the experience. While Ultimate Ninja Storm 2’s story mode had its fair share of tedium, the ability to walk around Konohagakure and its surrounding forestry is certainly missed in this title. The brevity of this new system of storytelling also serves to further alienate gamers who are strangers to the franchise–a problem that has always been present since the original Ultimate Ninja Storm, but this drawback is now more noticeable than ever. It gets the job done for fans, and it’s hard to believe CyberConnect2 had any real intention to do anything more than that.

Combat remains to be the meat and potatoes of the game, and it definitely continues to shine in UNSG. Like before, players choose three fighters to fight with: one for fighting with, and two others who serve as assists for the point character from the sidelines. Think of Marvel vs Capcom 3 minus the ability to actually call these two other fighters in. The wide range of abilities that can be employed per assist character, all with diverse properties, drenched in a huge roster of fighters allow for an incredible variety of combinations to choose from. Actual move sets are simple and easy to pick up, making the nature of the game much more about tactics, and less about execution. This watered-down system may not win the hearts of the hardcore fighting enthusiast, but for UNSG, I feel the simplicity is fitting given everything else that the game has to offer. Another noticeable (and welcomed) change to UNSG is the modification made to the substitution system. The number of times players can use this over a period of time is much more finite, bringing more balance and tactics to both its use and implementation during a match. It’s a good switch that breathes better life into the one-on-one (or one-on-two… or one-on-three.. or..) fighting experience.

Online multiplayer also sees a considerable upgrade. With ever increasing quality as a fighting game, it is clear CyberConnect2 and Namco Bandai invested some time in making sure that quality remains when taken to the online sphere. My online experience has been fairly solid with very little lag. Two of the biggest pluses for online this time around is the ability to spectate matches when gaming in larger groups, and the ability to watch and save replays of other matches. It did make me frown to find there was no way to filter replays, but this is a minor blemish in light of the improvements made overall.

The Final Word

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations is the most quintessential Naruto game to date, with improvements all around the sphere. While not the most complicated fighter to pick up, there is some considerable depth to be found for those who seek to maximize their potential. Like previous iterations, UNSG remains to be a game for fans, and is not a good starting point for those who are interested in learning more about the lore of the Naruto universe. If you’re a fan of Naruto, there’s absolutely no reason not to pick this up.

MonsterVine Rating: 4.5 out of 5 – Great