Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm

Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm (NUNS) is an anime based game about a ninja called Naruto and his quest.  Although based on an anime cartoon it is not necessary to have prior knowledge to enjoy the game.  The game manual is keyed around NUNS being a fighting game but the Ultimate Mission Mode has far more to offer with a selection of varied and differing missions.  Prizes for these missions are hidden around the main map landscape and working out the series of moves required to reach them can often leave the player scratching their head for a while before seeing the way.  This is not a criticism of the game though as the main maps are fully explorable and there is a satisfaction about getting to your prize.

Most of Naruto’s moves involve jumping, swinging, lifting and some running from location to location but these are never too far apart.  Jumps and double jumps and moves are easily achieved but sometimes the camera seems a little too slow to react to what the character is doing and although the camera angle can be brought back behind the character by pressing the R3 button this sometimes feels a little unsatisfactory.  This only occurs in the main map area and is a small flaw that NUNS is not the first game to suffer from and is definitely not the worst.  Of all the moves on the main map the Naruto Cannon raises the greatest amusement because it unfortunately looks like Naruto is taking a piss.

Graphically the game is beautiful with cel shaded graphics easily equalling what you would expect from anime cartoons.  The environment is also rich with characters to talk to for either information, shopping or to trigger mission start points and some of these missions are achievable but just engaging in game play, breaking urns, running around and swinging from ropes.  The game awards you for just undertaking playing it which is nice.  The music isn’t too insipid either but after a couple of hour’s play it can become a little grating with no option other than to have no sound at all.

Given this is a fighting game NUNS feels flawed when it actually comes down to the fighting action.  The player may wonder if the vibration is switched off as it has little impact on the controller and given the way the action is controlled players may find combat soulless.  The character moves about the screen nicely but there is little feeling of actually being in charge of their actions.  A nice touch is the involvement of items you can throw into battle and the fact all hits revolve through different numbers of presses on the circle key

NUNS has a lot to offer.  It is easily accessible for the returning player due to simple controls, you can easily find yourself immersed in varied missions and it is to the games benefit that it doesn’t rely too much on the fighting mode, except in player v player combat where this is the point.  Given its simple control system, engaging games and its look NUNS is a winner.