Addicting Free-For-All Battles
Those who finished the Adventure mode of the game will be able to unlock many of the characters they meet for use in the Free-for-All battle mode. There are over eighty characters that you can use in the game, all with their unique playing style and ninjustsu combo attacks. Just like with other games, fans can expect a solid online multiplayer, a tournament that you can participate on, and world rankings to show you are the ultimate ninja in the world. In terms of how it plays out, it’s similar to the previous entry of the series. Simply pick versus, or participate in an online tournament and you’ll get to pit one on one against millions of people who plays the game.
NOT
Pointless Sidequests
Adventure mode may be fun, but doing the sidequests aren’t. In every town, especially in the Hidden Leaf Town, you will find people with an icon on top of their head that shows that they have an errand for you to do. If you wish to extend the amount of time you spend in playing the game, you can do these sidequests but beware, they are not fun at all. Just like in the previous entry, sidequests in this game is ridiculously boring, which most of the time isn’t worth time doing. However, if you wish to kill time and get items, that can you get in simply playing the game, you can freely do them but beware.
Combat Can Get Repetitive and Shallow
Gamers who are playing this game for the very first time might find the combat to be repetitive at first. That will be the case if you decide to just button smash than actually learn how the mechanics work. Once you get used to its combat system, you will then enjoy the flow of battle but at first, expect to feel that it’s getting tedious doing the same thing over and over again. Give it time, and you will get the feel of combat to it and will be more fun.
Long Cutscenes
The difference between this game and its predecessor is that Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 now offers much more lengthy cutscenes where it’s like you are watching an anime. If you are looking for that kind of set up, then it’s good. Otherwise, you will get bored watching them. Personally, I enjoyed watching the long cutscenes but other people probably won’t…
VERDICT
Out of all the three Ultimate Ninja Storm games, the third one is simply the best as it stays true to the anime series, giving fans an opportunity to relive the important key moments of the fourth great ninja war. The adventure mode has been improved to an extent that it surpasses all Naruto games in the series. In terms of combat, the fun and addicting mechanics will still keep fans engaged as there are over eighty characters for everyone to play, although to some newcomers, the battle system might show its shallowness. Overall, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 is a title every Naruto fan should not miss. Even if you are new to the anime or the game, try it out, it might give you a different opinion on fighting games.
[Editor’s Note: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm was reviewed on the PS3 platform. The game was provided to us by the publisher for review purposes.]