Summary
After years of silence, a newNaruto Ultimate Ninja Stormgame has launched for fans to enjoy.Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connectionsis the latest in CyberConnect2’s line ofNarutoarena fighters, this time dedicated to collecting all ofNaruto’s history in one place. Players can do battle with over 130Narutocharacters, including severalBorutorepresentatives and even a few newcomers making their playable debut inUltimate Ninja Storm Connections. With so much included, calling this the ultimateNarutopackage is an apt description.
It’s an impressive effort from CyberConnect2 and Bandai Namco, even if the game’s feature set is more akin to a spin-off than a trueNaruto Ultimate Ninja Stormsequel starring Boruto. That can wait, however, as this title still dwarfsUltimate Ninja Storm GenerationsandUltimate Ninja Storm Revolutionin terms of sheer value. Fans will be occupied for a long time with what each ofUltimate Ninja Storm Connections’ modes have to offer.
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Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections’ Story Modes
First up is the main reason most players will buyUNS Connections. The game purports to collect the entireNarutosaga, complete with cinematic boss fights from past entries, and add to it with an original non-canon story set in theBorutotime frame.
History
History mode walks players through an abridged form of theNarutomanga from Naruto’s perspective, complete with anime stills, full voice acting, fightsupdated withUNS Connections’ gameplay, and some of CyberConnect2’s famous cinematic fights. These are not the full story modes from pastUltimate Ninja Stormtitles, as many smaller fights, some bosses, and segments like field maps or action stages are all gone. Still, there’s something satisfying about seeing all ofNarutocondensed like this.
Special Story
The main event for many will be the new content in the Special Story. Focused on Boruto’s dealings with a new villain group andUNS Connections' mysterious new character Nanashi, the new generation of heroes will need to avert a potential Fifth Great Ninja War. It doesn’t quite match the bombastic story retellings of the numberedUltimate Ninja Stormgames, but it is a fun addition to theNarutouniverse nonetheless.
Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections’ Free Battle
The main attraction for gameplay-oriented players will be Free Battle, which covers all the offline versus modes. AI and human combatants can be fought here in various standard fighting game match types, and it’s the best place to check outUltimate Ninja Storm’s many flashy Jutsu attacksand special character interactions. The sub-modes in Free Battle are as follows:
Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections’ Online Battle
Spirited competitors can also take theirUltimate Ninja Storm Connectionsskills online, though unfortunately there isn’t much to do there. Casual and ranked matches are the only online options at launch, with custom matchmaking set to come later. Complete with delay-based netcode, online battle is only suited for the most hardcoreUltimate Ninja Stormfans.
Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections’ Collection
The rest ofUltimate Ninja Storm Connectionscan be found in the Collection gallery or in the sub-menu, accessible from the main menu. Collection is where players can view their many unlockables, ranging from color palettes to special stills from theNarutoanime. Above all else, the Collection’s best feature is customizing character accessories, changing their appearance in online and offline battle modes.
The Sub-Menu
Meanwhile, the sub-menu offers Options, Tutorial tips, and Check Proficiency. This last feature ties a lot ofUNS Connectionstogether, as each of theover-130Narutocharacters available have proficiency levelsthat unlock relevant items as they increase. Only diehard completionists will bother checking this screen frequently, but casualNaruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connectionsfans can still tackle its provided challenges to get things for their favorite characters faster.
