Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections Review: Satisfying Arena Brawling

I’ll admit upfront to not being a massive fan of the Naruto franchise. Despite being very aware of the cultural impact that it’s had, it’s one of those IPs that passed me by, and that’s something I’ve always regretted as someone who enjoys anime. I am a huge fan of arena fighters, however, so I was more than happy to dig into the long-running Ultimate Ninja Storm series with its latest installment, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. As it turns out, not only is this a competent arena fighter, but also a nice history lesson for those like me who may have let the franchise pass them by.

Simple Yet Satisfying Arena Action

I’ll start with the combat, as that’s ultimately what hooked me and made me appreciate Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections despite my lack of familiarity with the source material. Like all good arena fighters, Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections presents players with an extremely approachable combat system, that contains just enough depth to keep hardcore players happy without ever being overwhelming.

The vast majority of battles will see players duking it out with basic attacks, strung together into combos, which can then be punctuated with a flashier attack at the end of the sequence. It’s all very simple stuff, with bread-and-butter combos/finishers rarely relying on no more than a couple of inputs, meaning that even the most hamfisted players (such as myself) can succeed in pulling off stylish and effective attacks. As someone who steers away from more traditional fighting games due to their complexity, I appreciate the arena fighter genre offering a more streamlined alternative to the hardcore fighting game scene, and in this regard, Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is a fine example of what I love about this genre.

That’s not to say that there aren’t more complex layers for those that want them. Special moves, of which each fighter has several to make use of, can be used – in the name of balance, these are tied to a chakra meter, which prevents spamming and means that those players who learn to effectively balance special moves with basic attack strings are going to have much more success in the heat of battle. There’s also the substitution system, which effectively acts as a combo breaker equivalent, allowing you to interrupt your opponent’s combos and attacks. Again, these are a limited resource, even more limited than the replenishing chakra, with each player only having access to four substitutions in any given match. When played online, these systems come into their own, with battles becoming tense affairs that often boil down to who manages their resources more effectively. I should also add that the net code provided me with a fairly pleasant online experience, with very few games turning into lagfests, something that is crucial to arena fighters that demand quick reflexes.

Further variety is also available via the staggeringly large character roster, with Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections offering 130 characters from Naruto’s storied history to pick from. As someone only familiar with the franchise’s key players, a lot of the roster went over my head, but it’s sure to delight hardcore fans who know the series like the back of their hand. I tried a decent amount of the roster available, and while there is naturally a lot of overlap in movesets given the monster roster size, there are enough characters who felt distinct enough from one another that there’s going to be plenty of longevity here for anyone who wants to get to learn the majority of characters and their nuances.

An Interactive History Lesson

With the combat being a ton of fun, I likely would have dumped significant time into Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections, irrespective of the quality of modes on offer. I was pleasantly surprised, though, to find a decent chunk of single-player content, some of it seemingly targeted at players such as myself who have little familiarity with the source material.

History mode is, of course, what I’m referring to here, with it aiming to recap the key events of the first three series of the anime while touching on the key battles from within that timeline. It’s, of course, no substitute for sitting down and watching the anime or reading the manga, but all the same, I found it to be a nice entry point to a universe I knew little about while also serving as some much-needed background and context for the characters I was brawling as. I would imagine long-time fans will likely find things to nitpick over, as I’m sure there are some very crucial plot points missing, given a lot of the content went over my head, but in terms of grounding the characters and the numerous arenas you’ll be fighting in, it does a solid job. It’s also inspired me to go back and start watching the anime, so if the aim of History mode is to create an on-ramp for new fans, then it’s a job well done I think.

Alongside History mode, there is also an original story to playthrough, but I found this far less engaging. It seems to be highly reliant on prior knowledge of the source material, and while I managed to complete it, that was largely due to the strength of the combat system and unlockables that are available along the way, rather than feeling engaged with the narrative. Perhaps if I get far enough through the anime to gain familiarity with Boruto, who this adventure largely focuses on, it’ll resonate with me a bit more. Still, I do think it could have taken a lead from History mode and done a bit more in presenting the characters here in a way that doesn’t alienate newcomers.

A Visual Treat

Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is absolutely stunning to look at at all times, which also helped me remain motivated during those periods when I felt less engaged in the narrative. Having now watched a decent amount of the first season of the anime, the developers have done a sterling job in bringing these characters and this world to life in a videogame format. The impeccable art design of the source material is brought across nigh-on flawlessly, and it truly is remarkable at times how well it replicates the look of the anime. Helping things further is the rock-solid performance on PS5, an absolute must for any fighting game that moves at pace and contains screen-filling effects in the way that Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections does.

Conclusion

I went into Ultimate Ninja Storms Connections expecting a competent arena fighter, and while I definitely got that, what I didn’t expect was an experience that thoughtfully packaged together the greatest hits of Naruto’s early years in a way that would serve as an entry point to the Naruto universe. The result is an experience that is both welcoming to newcomers, while still catering to seasoned fans with the expansive character roster and standalone story that may appeal to series veterans more than it did me. With substantial single-player modes and competent online net code that rarely faltered, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is a well-rounded package that should impress both fans of Naruto and those simply looking for a solid arena fighter.

Final Verdict: 4/5

Available On: PS5 (reviewed), PS4, Xbox Series X/S, Xbox One, Switch, PC: Publisher: Bandai Namco Entertainment; Developer: CyberConnect2 Co. Ltd; Released: November 17, 2023; Players: 1-2; MSRP: $59.99

Full Disclosure: A review code was provided by the Publisher.