Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections fails to properly unite previous entries into a single, glorious package. Instead, it offers a mediocre retelling of the Naruto storyline and an agonizing list of missing content from the previous games. And yet, if you just want a Naruto game with the biggest roster of characters ever to play with your buddies, this is a great title. Still gorgeous and fun, but in no way the best way to celebrate the renowned series.

While Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections introduces some new elements compared to Storm 4, the game leaves the impression that it could be a DLC for its predecessor. The noteworthy aspects of the package include a substantial roster of playable characters, a variety of customization items, and the engaging "Special Story" mode.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections finally brings the entire saga of its protagonist to a game, along with a multitude of iconic characters from the franchise. Its mechanics and aesthetics, however, recycle everything that was already present in previous games, with qualities and defects, which should please long-time fans and put off anyone else.

The combined chakra of the impressive cast of playable characters can't hide that the story modes in Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections are vey lackluster, falling far from being the ultimate game in the Storm series.

If you have never played a Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, Storm Connections is clearly for you since it compiles the best, but also the worst of the previous games. The game fills its compilation function and pushes the fan service enough, with an original story touching enough, to invite itself on the library of a regular license also.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is the best way to experience the story of Naruto, both for long-time fans as well as beginners. Naruto's story mode offers a host of content in itself, and the versus mode can be plenty of fun if you have friends that like the series. Just don’t expect much in the way of actual gameplay depth.

Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections will make the fans of the saga happy, despite some flaws in its online multiplayer mode.

Because so much of its content is repurposed from past games, Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is easier to recommend if you're new to the series. That said, this is still an impressively comprehensive anime fighter; the team-based gameplay holds up, the new modes are solid overall, and sheer size of the character roster is hard to ignore.

As an anime fan who hasn’t watched Naruto in almost a decade and has never seen beyond one arc of Boruto, this game made me excited for the franchise in a way I honestly hadn’t felt in a long time. But my view of Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections as my own reentry is a subjective point that the game’s mechanics don’t necessarily do enough to overtake the nostalgia and stand on its own.

When based on combat alone, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections maintains the success maintained throughout the series. Unfortunately, very little accompanies it in this package, with the only worthy exception being a short but sweet Special Story exclusive to this game. A solid discount would make buying this game worthwhile.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is another derivate ink stroke on the never-ending ninja scroll that makes up the Ultimate Ninja Storm series.

As far as celebratory packages go, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections gets the job done, but not much more than that. The story implementation is lacking, with awful recapping of the original content, while the rest of the game is simply more Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm. If you’re a diehard fan of Naruto and the Ultimate Ninja Storm games, then what’s here will likely engage you, but there’s little reason to return to these if you’ve played through them before.

As a mindless game about beating folks up with cool ninja powers, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is pretty solid. I can also see someone enjoying this game if they’re interested in just messing around with the massive roster. However, as a fighter with depth, a compelling story, or a snapshot of years of Naruto history, it’s weak and struggled to hold my interest. If I want to turn my brain off and mash buttons, it’s something I can see myself playing again, but that’s about it.

While Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm CONNECTIONS finally adds some genuinely important features to the series, it still lacks some important features and a large portion of its other content is passable.

Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is built on the solid foundation of Storm games that came before it. But it fails to truly set itself apart. Between the lack of innovation, numerous issues at launch, and average story modes, Naruto x Boruto ends up feeling unfinished. While the fighting is fun in its own right, this game still needs a fair amount of polish.

The summarized story of previous titles, an optional, easier control scheme and lots of stuff to collect make Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections a solid entry point for beginners. Everyone else is better off waiting for Ninja Storm 5, watching the anime or reading the manga again.

While Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections makes a few nice changes to certain gameplay elements, it still bears a striking resemblance to its predecessor, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. For die-hard fans of the franchise who missed out on DLC characters in the previous installment, this iteration might be worth exploring.

The new fighting game in the universe created by Masashi Kishimoto offers the biggest fan package to date with a decent amount of content and some new approaches. However, if you take a closer look, you quickly realise that Connections focuses on quantity rather than quality.

Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is ultimate in name only. While the title bills itself as the most comprehensive release in the series, that is only true for its impressive cast of over 130 fighters. On the other hand, as for its story mode... between a minimally regressive setting, absent major boss fights and above all an original story that is not very interesting, there is reason to be frankly disappointed. Ultimately, only fans of the franchise determined to play online will find what they are looking for by taking advantage of the generous roster and the gameplay that is still as effective despite the years. For others, we advise you to turn to the first four episodes, which are available on all platforms and often at a low price, to better enjoy the story of Naruto.