Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is an enjoyable experience, especially for fans of the show. It does a great job of bringing iconic moments to life while offering fun gameplay that’s easy to pick up but hard to master.
Gameplay
The combat is simple yet complete. It’s the kind of system that’s easy to start with but challenging enough to keep you engaged, especially if you’re aiming for those S-ranks. That said, tougher matchups can feel a bit repetitive after a while. As a fan of the anime, I really enjoyed the Ultimate Jutsus and the unique interactions between certain characters—they’re little touches that add a lot of charm.
Story Mode and Narrative
The story mode hits all the big moments from the anime while expanding on some characters in cool ways. It stays true to the source material, with all the ups and downs—from ninjas to superpowers, friendship, and, yeah, aliens. There are also a few fun gameplay twists, like the Susano’o fight that feels like an asteroid game and a Kyubi race that switches things up. It keeps things interesting, even if the narrative progression mirrors the same weird jumps as the original story.
Modes and Variety
There’s a lot to do here. Adventure mode gave me strong vibes of the older Naruto PS2 games, which was a nice throwback. Survival and Challenge modes are exactly what you’d expect, and the variety of characters is impressive. I had fun mixing up my roster, especially with some underrated and lesser-known picks. There are also some costumes and funny customizations that make battles even more entertaining.
Visuals and Sound
The graphics have aged well, and everything still looks great during the intense fights. However, the lack of ultrawide support and occasional FPS drops do stand out, though they’re not game-breaking. The soundtrack and effects are classic Naruto, pulling heavily from the show and earlier games, which makes the experience even more nostalgic.
Accessibility and Value
The difficulty ramps up as you go, but it’s never frustrating. The challenge mostly comes from enemies hitting harder and having more health rather than smarter AI, so it’s manageable. I didn’t try multiplayer—it’s not my style—but the single-player content is more than enough. The base game is worth it, especially if you grab it during one of the frequent sales.
Final Thoughts
This game is pure nostalgia in the best way. It mixes beloved characters with underrated ones and delivers an experience that feels faithful to the show. The gameplay is fun and engaging without being overly difficult, and the story elements are well-represented with solid visuals and sound. If you’re a fan of the series or just want a fun fighting game, it’s worth a shot—especially on sale.
Score: 8/10
Recommendation: A great pick for fans of the show. Keep an eye out for discounts!