The shōnen manga and anime genre has always been rooted in action, adventure, and the fighting of evil forces, paving the way for many iconic battles to unfold over the years. Where each title boasts its own memorable moments, much of Naruto and its sequel Naruto: Shippuden leaned into the rivalry between the titular character and his arch-enemy-turned-right-hand-man Sasuke Uchiha.
The Special Story Mode in Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections looks to revisit and celebrate this special, history-filled bond shared by the pair – and the nostalgia kicks in almost immediately. Revealed for the first time in a closed-door panel leading up to Tokyo Game Show 2023, its prologue features a dramatic animated sequence of Naruto, now a Hokage, facing off against Sasuke. A clash of their signature moves, Rasengan and Chidori respectively, and they are on the move again, dodging each other’s strikes efficiently and attempting to land theirs.
It’s a familiar sight for fans of the original series, but the significance doesn’t just stop there. This add-on is new to the Ultimate Ninja Storm franchise, specially designed to fit into the narrative fabric of the upcoming title, which commemorates 20 years of Naruto. As such, there’s a departure from the usual formula here – in lieu of being a standalone game, it now features a crossover with Boruto, the follow-up series that focuses on Naruto’s son.
In the same vein, the character will be the star in Special Story Mode, even if he doesn’t appear at all in the opening chapter. Instead, what players can expect are slick, dynamic combat cutscenes, a tease of the antagonist, and the Sasuke gameplay experience. Naruto is the enemy here, and he has to be defeated in both Sage Mode and Jinchūriki (Nine-Tailed) form, split into two separate encounters within the chapter. Each stage comes with three objectives and certain restrictions, and a letter grade will be rewarded at the end of the battle based on how many goals were met.
When the action sets in, veterans should find themselves in comfortable waters. The directional keys, like before, are used to cycle through various ninja items, with the other combat mechanics like Block, Substitution, basic attack, Ninjustsu, and Melee also carried over. As Sasuke is the only playable character in this mode, the tag-team feature introduced in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 won’t be available, so it brings players back to the basics.
Battling doesn’t feel all that different from previous outings, delivering smooth movement, flashy displays of Jutsu combinations, and fast-paced action. What’s new, though, is the Simple Control Mode, which allows combos to be automatically executed by pressing Circle for accessibility. It’s a nifty tool for newcomers, even if some may find the execution to feel a little weird. For longtime enthusiasts, there’s no need to fret over the loss of gameplay nuance and depth – it’s an optional feature, and can be turned on or off anytime.
It doesn’t hurt that Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections takes well to the cel-shaded aesthetic, which breathes more life into the 3D arena setup. Alas, the Special Story Mode – spanning just a little over 10 minutes in this hands-on preview – was too brief to offer any real insights into its potential, but the epic face-off between Naruto and Sasuke made for a nostalgic road down the memory lane. You know what they say, a little bit of fanservice goes a long way.
Still, there’s plenty else to enjoy in the brawler. History Mode is tailored more for Naruto fans, serving as a playable campaign that captures the key moments in the original anime, with a handful of new elements . For instance, players can now equip two ninjutsu (one more than before) to their loadout; that coupled with the game’s 130-character roster, the biggest to date, and its tag-team mechanic means more leeway to explore different team compositions, adding an added layer of fun.
The Ultimate Ninja Storm series has always carved out a spot in the 3D arena fighter scene, and Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is set to continue the tradition. While the upcoming entry won’t shake up the franchise DNA in a big way, its offerings – both old and new – prove sufficient in reliving the joy and excitement of a beloved memory.
Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections releases 17 November 2023 on all major consoles and PC.
Si Jia is a casual geek at heart – or as casual as someone with Sephiroth’s theme on her Spotify playlist can get. A fan of movies, games, and Japanese culture, Si Jia’s greatest weakness is the Steam Summer Sale. Or any Steam sale, really.
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