NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS

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.

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"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.

Genres & Tags

Play Modes

Reviews

50%

Audience ScoreBased on 1,017 reviews

story73 positive mentions

optimization7 negative mentions

The combat mechanics have been improved, making the gameplay feel more fluid and dynamic compared to previous titles.
The special story mode is engaging and offers a fresh narrative that adds depth to the Boruto universe.
The character roster is extensive, with all characters unlocked from the start, allowing for immediate access to gameplay.

The history mode is poorly executed, relying on slideshows and omitting many iconic battles from the series.
There is no option to play with friends online, which is a significant drawback for a multiplayer fighting game.
The game feels like a cash grab, with minimal new content and features compared to previous entries in the series.

story
395 mentions
18 % positive mentions
75 % neutral mentions
6 % 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 from the anime, lacking the immersive gameplay and cinematic boss battles found in previous titles, while the new "special story" mode, although better received, is seen as short and lacking depth. Overall, fans recommend the earlier Storm games for a more complete narrative experience, as this installment feels like a condensed and less engaging retelling of the Naruto saga.
- “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 special story is original and is passable. But I changed my mind after playing the special story mode; it's an original story for this game. I like the epic cutscenes, the minigames, and I loved the original story so much, I'm touched.”
- “The story mode, smoothly transitioning between generations, kept me hooked with its immersive narrative.”
- “The game is a copy-paste of Naruto Storm 4, just buy the old game; the story is more complete and is way cheaper than this disappointment.”
- “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.”
gameplay
179 mentions
31 % 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 fluidity compared to previous titles, while others criticize the balance issues and lack of depth. Players appreciate the introduction of two jutsus per character and faster-paced matches, but express disappointment over the removal of beloved mechanics and the overall feeling of being a rehashed version of "Storm 4." While some fans enjoy the gameplay improvements and character roster, many recommend older titles for a more complete experience.
- “The gameplay combos and special story are good.”
- “In Storm Connections, you can almost use any character and have a chance to win thanks to the changes in combo mechanics and tweaked movesets of each character.”
- “What this game adds is a fun special story mode, great new fighting mechanics that overhaul the game, which makes it feel fresh and more competitive.”
- “Gameplay feels worse compared to the previous games, absolutely not worth the price they are asking.”
- “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 the game lose any ounce of identity it had left.”
- “This game takes most of the strategic play out of the mechanics and just makes it a jutsu spamming nightmare.”
graphics
51 mentions
31 % positive mentions
63 % neutral mentions
6 % negative mentions
The graphics of the game have received mixed reviews, with many praising the impressive visuals, beautiful cutscenes, and smoother gameplay compared to previous entries. However, some players feel that the graphics are merely an incremental update from earlier titles, lacking significant improvements and suffering from performance issues like stuttering. Overall, while the game showcases stunning visuals, it has been criticized for not fully meeting expectations given its price and development time.
- “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 and 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.”
- “I feel genuinely insulted they think this is even remotely acceptable to not have custom online matchmaking in 2023 and almost no technical upgrades to animations and graphics.”
optimization
19 mentions
16 % positive mentions
47 % 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 specific platforms like the Steam Deck with tweaks, the overall consensus is that significant updates are needed to address the persistent optimization problems. Despite improvements in gameplay mechanics, the lack of optimization detracts from the overall 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.”
monetization
18 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 development and lack of innovation compared to previous titles in the series. Reviewers feel that the game fails to justify its full price, citing low effort in both the story mode and multiplayer features, leading to a sense of betrayal among loyal fans of the franchise. Overall, the consensus is that the game prioritizes profit over quality, leaving players frustrated and disillusioned.
- “This is coming off like a total cash grab.”
- “As a Naruto fan, it pains me to say this is the very definition of a cash grab.”
- “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.”
music
18 mentions
17 % positive mentions
67 % neutral mentions
17 % negative mentions
The music in the game has received mixed reviews, with some players appreciating the inclusion of nostalgic anime songs during battles, while others criticize the limited selection and high cost of additional tracks. Many feel that the overall soundtrack does not live up to the standards set by previous titles in the series, particularly lamenting the absence of iconic background music and the disappointing menu themes. Overall, while the soundtrack has its highlights, it seems to fall short for many fans expecting a richer musical experience.
- “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 openings 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 was hoping for actual background music from the anime that could play instead of the cheesy game music that we've heard throughout the Storm games.”
- “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.”
stability
15 mentions
7 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
93 % negative mentions
The game's stability has received mixed reviews, with some players noting that while it runs well without crashes, it is plagued by numerous bugs and glitches that affect gameplay and online experiences. Many users express frustration over unresolved issues, such as poor network connections, lack of matchmaking options, and missing features, despite the game being out for nearly a year. Overall, while performance is generally stable, the persistent glitches and lack of updates detract significantly from the overall experience.
- “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.”
- “Mind you, this game took 7+ years to release, and they still have not updated graphics, fixed known bugs and glitches from previous games, and you can't even go against friends during online mode!”
- “Infinite glitches, bad network connections, no ability to play with friends, and a whole lot missing like inviting friends and creating your own lobbies.”
grinding
12 mentions
8 % positive mentions
17 % neutral mentions
75 % negative mentions
Players express frustration with the grinding mechanics in the game, noting that it requires excessive time and effort to complete collections and level up characters, often feeling more tedious than enjoyable. The matchmaking issues exacerbate the grind, as many are left to battle against NPCs rather than engaging in multiplayer. Overall, the grinding experience is seen as a significant barrier to enjoying the game fully, with some players wishing for downloadable content to alleviate the difficulty.
- “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.”
emotional
4 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 involving Boruto, to be less engaging and reliant on familiar tropes, which detracts from the overall emotional impact. While the special story is praised for its emotional resonance, the history mode is seen as lacking in conveying the emotional weight of key 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. However, it devolves into an extremely bad and boring narrative filled with the usual tropes of redemption, and Boruto's unnecessary concern for others.”
humor
4 mentions
100 % positive mentions
0 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The humor in the game is highlighted by amusing character interactions and absurd scenarios, such as using a less powerful character like Hinata to counter a formidable opponent. Players find the character creation feature adds comedic elements, and while initial experiences may have been frustrating, the game evolves into a more enjoyable and funny experience over time.
- “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.”
replayability
2 mentions
150 % positive mentions
-100 % neutral mentions
50 % negative mentions
Players find the game's replayability lacking compared to previous titles in the series, with some noting that while it includes features like playable anime songs, it fails to deliver the excitement needed to encourage repeated play.
- “The inclusion of 4 anime songs that are playable during matches adds a unique layer of excitement and variety, making each playthrough feel fresh and engaging.”
- “With the ability to choose from 4 different anime songs during matches, the replayability factor skyrockets as players can experience the game in new ways each time.”
- “The option to play with 4 anime songs during matches keeps the gameplay dynamic and encourages players to return for a different musical experience.”
- “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 development
1 mentions
300 % positive mentions
-200 % neutral mentions
0 % negative mentions
The character designs are well-received, contributing to the overall enjoyment of the series, though specific details on character development are not elaborated upon.
- “The character designs are fantastic, and this series has always been a joy to experience!”
- “The depth of character development really draws you in, making each character feel unique and relatable.”
- “I love how the characters evolve throughout the story, showcasing their growth and struggles in a meaningful way.”