NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS
- November 16, 2023
- CyberConnect2 Co., Ltd.
- 5h median play time
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.
"NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS" is an action-packed fighting game that brings together legendary ninjas from both the Naruto and Boruto series. With over 130 playable characters, improved network battles, and the addition of Simple mode for easier combos, players can enjoy heated ninja battles. The game offers two different story modes for players to explore. The Deluxe and Ultimate Editions include additional costumes, accessories, and playable characters.
Reviews
- story807 mentions
- 19 % positive mentions
- 75 % neutral mentions
- 7 % negative mentions
The story aspect of "Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections" has received mixed reviews, with many players expressing disappointment over its presentation. The main story mode is criticized for being a slideshow of still images and cutscenes, lacking the immersive gameplay and depth found in previous titles, while the new Boruto-centric story is seen as underwhelming and filled with clichés. However, some players appreciated the special story mode, which offers a unique narrative and emotional moments, suggesting that while the overall storytelling may not meet expectations, there are still redeeming qualities for dedicated fans.
“No joke, the story of Nanashi is probably my favorite Naruto-related story of all time. With Boruto, there is no contest; this story single-handedly made me respect Boruto as a protagonist.”
“The both of the stories are good, and also the special story, especially for the game, not the anime, is fantastic and very emotional.”
“Didn't let me down this time either; great animations, cool gameplay, and a fantastic story mode with an incredible special story that really got to me.”
“The games primary story mode is a slideshow presentation with AI battles from the whole series, with 6 or 7 heavily downgraded boss fights from Storm 1-4.”
“The story mode is again just a PowerPoint presentation with some fights plastered over it.”
“Overall, I don't think it's worth the money, and it's pretty disappointing that the story is basically just a PowerPoint slideshow.”
- gameplay365 mentions
- 30 % positive mentions
- 59 % neutral mentions
- 11 % negative mentions
The gameplay of "Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections" has received mixed reviews, with many praising the new combat mechanics and faster-paced matches compared to previous titles, while others criticize the balance issues and lack of depth. Players appreciate the introduction of two jutsus per character and improved visuals, but express disappointment over the removal of beloved mechanics and the overall feeling of being a rehashed version of "Storm 4." The online experience is marred by connectivity issues and unbalanced character matchups, leading to a frustrating competitive environment.
“Didn't let me down this time either, great animations, cool gameplay and a fantastic story mode with an incredible special story that really got to me.”
“Intuitive controls, a diverse character roster, and extensive jutsu options made for a satisfying gameplay experience.”
“What this game adds is a fun special story mode, great new fighting mechanics that overhauls the game, which makes it feel fresh and more competitive.”
“This game is a total disaster; the online play is crap, gameplay mechanics are broken, jutsus are stupidly overpowered, and there is no skill involved.”
“Not only did they give up on the single player aspect, but the core gameplay has been destroyed in hopes to make the game more accessible, making it lose any ounce of identity it had left.”
“Gameplay feels worse compared to the previous games; absolutely not worth the price they are asking.”
- graphics105 mentions
- 31 % positive mentions
- 66 % neutral mentions
- 3 % negative mentions
The graphics in "Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections" are widely praised for their stunning visuals and smooth performance, marking a significant upgrade from previous entries in the series. However, some players feel that despite the graphical improvements, the overall experience lacks innovation and depth, often resembling a mere update of "Storm 4" rather than a fully realized new title. While the game features beautiful cutscenes and character designs, concerns about technical issues and a lack of substantial content persist among the community.
“The only good thing about the game is that it's definitely the most impressive and visually stunning when it comes to graphics.”
“Beautiful graphics and colors.”
“The graphics update is huge and very noticeable when playing through the history mode then playing the special story.”
“At its core, it's nothing more than a $60 graphics update for Storm 4 with no tilt moves and a child-friendly mode that plays for you.”
“The negative is that the quality of the graphics, such as the shapes of the characters and the arenas, is not upgraded as if it were a PS3 generation game.”
“There's nothing improved upon graphics-wise either, and I actually got some stuttering here and there.”
- optimization38 mentions
- 8 % positive mentions
- 55 % neutral mentions
- 37 % negative mentions
The game's optimization has been widely criticized, with players reporting severe performance issues such as stuttering, lag, and low frame rates both online and offline, making it nearly unplayable. While some users noted that it runs better on the Steam Deck with specific tweaks, the overall consensus is that significant updates are needed to address the persistent optimization problems and improve the gaming experience.
“Performance-wise, the game isn't buggy, so that's a plus in and of itself (sad times we live in).”
“The game plays out differently in a better way; it's more fluent than Storm 4 both gameplay and performance-wise.”
“This is actually one of the best running Storm games on Steam when it comes to Steam Deck performance.”
“It is unplayable online; stuttering, input bugs, lag, and low fps are experienced in nearly every match.”
“Unoptimized excuse for a game.”
“Until they fix optimization issues (slow even if the PC has over the minimum requirements to run) as well as adding private lobbies.”
- monetization37 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 100 % negative mentions
The monetization of the game has been widely criticized as a blatant cash grab, with many fans expressing disappointment over its rushed release and lack of substantial content. Reviewers feel that the game exploits the loyal Naruto fanbase, offering low effort and buggy gameplay for a full price, leading to a consensus that it fails to meet expectations and is not worth the investment. Overall, the sentiment is that this title prioritizes profit over quality, leaving fans feeling betrayed.
“As a Naruto fan, it pains me to say this is the very definition of a cash grab.”
“Terrible, just another cash grab and probably the last release this super loyal fan-base will receive... what a slap in the face.”
“Needless to say, this game is a definitive cash grab, and the only way for progression within the verse of fighting games to occur is for us consumers to stop consuming.”
- music37 mentions
- 16 % positive mentions
- 76 % neutral mentions
- 8 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the inclusion of anime opening songs during battles, while others criticize the limited selection and high price for additional tracks. Many express disappointment over the absence of nostalgic background music from previous titles and the overall quality of the soundtrack, describing it as bland and lacking depth. Additionally, the changes to iconic battle music have not been well-received, leading to a general sentiment that the music does not meet expectations.
“The soundtrack is fine, though it's got a paid DLC for some of the best openings from the anime, and that's somewhat nice.”
“Plus the option to have the anime intro songs playing in the fights is pretty cool.”
“Music from the opening really matches in battles.”
“Epic downgrade from Storm 4, no adventure mode, story is just a slideshow with battles in between. They censored the blood from the cult scene (now blood is shown as black instead of red) and changed the insane classic end of battle music for something really bad. At my current playtime, I finished all the story; the only thing is that online kinda works now. I consider this a waste of money.”
“I have been waiting for this game since it was announced and I was beyond excited when they announced that they'd be adding music from the anime, only to be disappointed by the fact that it's just 5 openings that can play at random during battle if you want.”
“With the price tag that they put for just 5 songs ($20), I think it's absolutely ludicrous that there aren't more songs to go with it at least right off the bat.”
- stability30 mentions
- 7 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 93 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that it runs well without crashes, while others report numerous bugs, glitches, and connectivity issues that hinder the overall experience. Despite being out for nearly a year, many users feel that significant bugs and balancing problems remain unaddressed, leading to frustration, especially in online modes. Overall, while performance is generally stable, the presence of persistent glitches and a lack of essential features detracts from the game's stability.
“Performance-wise, the game isn't buggy, so that's a plus in and of itself.”
“Lastly, for a game that's been out almost a year now, I'd expect them to fix some obvious bugs, glitches, and overall balancing issues.”
“Infinite glitches, bad network connections, no ability to play with friends, no ability to select individual characters to play with, and a whole lot missing like inviting friends, creating own lobbies, and tournament mode.”
“Terrible online experience with bugs and glitches pertaining to game resolution.”
- grinding24 mentions
- 4 % positive mentions
- 21 % neutral mentions
- 75 % negative mentions
Players find the grinding aspect of the game excessively tedious and time-consuming, often requiring significant effort to unlock items and progress, especially compared to previous titles like Ninja Storm 4. Many express frustration with the reliance on NPC battles due to poor matchmaking, leading to a monotonous experience that detracts from the overall enjoyment of the game. Overall, the grinding system is viewed as a major hurdle, making the gameplay feel more like a chore than a fun experience.
“You'll need a second life for grinding.”
“It's too much money and a lot of grinding to complete your collection.”
“I hope you like grinding against NPCs, because matchmaking is dead.”
“Can't blame 'em; this makes the game even more tedious than ever just for collecting stuff like costume colors and decorations without even playing through the storyline.”
- emotional8 mentions
- 75 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 25 % negative mentions
Players appreciate the emotional depth of the single-player content in the Storm series, highlighting its unique and moving narratives compared to the repetitive anime adaptations. However, some find the alternate storylines, particularly Boruto's VR game arc, lacking in emotional engagement and originality, relying on familiar tropes. Overall, while the special story is praised for its emotional impact, the history mode is seen as less effective in conveying significant emotional moments.
“I absolutely prefer single player content for the Storm series to have great unique and emotionally moving stories like this one rather than rehashing the anime in every game.”
“Both stories are good, and the special story, especially for the game and not the anime, is fantastic and very emotional.”
“The history mode is okay and feels like what generations did, but it leaves out major emotional areas of the boss battles.”
“The other story mode features a unique storyline with Boruto (post-karma, pre-Kawaki), where he's trying out a Naruto-based VR game, but it devolves into an extremely bad and boring narrative filled with the usual tropes of redemption and Boruto's unnecessary concern for others.”
- humor8 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing character interactions, such as using a low-tier character like Hinata to counter powerful opponents, which adds a comedic twist to battles. Players also find the character creation feature to be a source of funny moments, contributing to an overall enjoyable experience, especially as they become more accustomed to the game. However, some reviews note that the humor is less effective compared to its predecessor, Storm 4.
“It's especially funny using a genin like Hinata to counter 6 Paths Naruto, for instance.”
“The character creation adds some funny moments to the game, and after I had a bad time the first week, the game now starts to be really fun.”
“Funny super armor Rasengan / invincibility frame Shinra Tensei go brrr.”
- replayability4 mentions
- 0 % positive mentions
- 50 % neutral mentions
- 50 % negative mentions
The game has been criticized for its lack of replayability, with users noting that it fails to deliver the excitement found in previous titles in the series. Despite the inclusion of playable anime songs, the overall experience does not encourage repeated play.
“The game isn't bad; it's just not great. Every other Storm game has been amazing thus far; however, this is severely lacking in replayability value and excitement.”
- character development2 mentions
- 100 % positive mentions
- 0 % neutral mentions
- 0 % negative mentions
The reviews highlight a strong appreciation for the character designs, indicating that they contribute positively to the overall enjoyment of the series. However, there is no specific mention of character development beyond aesthetics.
Critic Reviews
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections Review
Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections may have the flashiest graphics in the series, but there’s almost nothing else here to make me seek it out over past entries with basically the same fighting system and better single-player stories.
50%Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections Review
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.
65%Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections Review – New Era of Shinobi Combat
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections continues the celebrated series but falls short in innovation, heavily relying on familiar combat systems and character rosters. Despite this, it offers an impressive array of over 100 characters, simplified controls for newcomers, and enhanced online multiplayer features, along with two single-player story modes that revisit the Naruto series and introduce a new Boruto-centric plot.
75%