Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections finally steps onto the stage and invites both series veterans alongside the newcomers to the world of Naruto. But does it breathe new life into the Naruto games or find itself caught in the shadow of its predecessors? Is it another Naturo fighting game or the one we’ve been waiting for since Ultimate Ninja Storm 4?
Let’s dive into our Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections review to see what the latest installment offers.
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Storm Connections – Single-Player Modes
As someone who has always wanted to spend hours in Naruto games but often failed, Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections feels like a great entry point. While that’s good news for newbies like me, the most recent entry to the series will not make the seasoned fans happy for many reasons. From its stale improvements to combat to brilliant moments in its story mode, Ultimate Storm is definitely a mixed bag in many aspects.
The latest entry in the Ultimate Storm series comes with two single-player story mods – History Mode and Special Story Mode. The former allows you to revisit the most unforgettable fights throughout the franchise, while the latter tells a brand new story revolving around Boruto’s adventures in a VR MMO game.
Naruto X Boruto: A Lackluster Storytelling of Naruto’s Saga
Unfortunately, both single-player modes come with a series of glaring issues. But the History Mode is the more problematic despite building on a very cool concept. A mode that puts you in all those fantastic battles that made you fall in love with Naruto? You’d think it would be a blast, right?
Well, it is not. Because the History Mode is basically a glorified lore recap of the entire Naruto franchise. Storm Connections seemed to pass on this opportunity by offering a lackluster slideshow of consecutive battles.
That’s why the mode feels like a plain retelling of the anime’s lore instead of an engaging narrative experience. While diving into iconic Naruto battles is always delightful, the lack of storytelling finesse surely shows at every stage.
Somehow, all those unforgettable moments in the iconic battles are transformed into an extended video essay on Naruto on YouTube. That becomes even more apparent when the mode uses cutscenes directly taken from the anime. So, instead of fully rendered cutscenes that would contribute to a more seamless and engaging storytelling, Storm Connections goes with a slideshow of Naruto’s saga.
That being said, it is somewhat understandable that they went with a more shoddy narrative with the History Mode. It should be difficult to condense the entirety of the franchise into a single-story mode, after all. On top of that, the fans of the anime can draw these scenes with their eyes closed. But still, these aren’t good excuses for such an underwhelming single-player mode.
For all these reasons and more, Storm Connection’s History Mode leaves a bitter taste once it is done. Its presentation and execution are far from conveying incredible, incredible moments that increased Naruto’s amazing impact on its audience.
Naruto X Boruto’s Special Story Mode Has Its Moments
The second single-player story mode of Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections revolves around Naruto’s son, Boruto. It is a completely original story titled Special Story Mode that takes players to an in-universe video game called the Ninja Heroes.
In this game, Boruto and his friends fight – and only fight – in a multiplayer VR MMO game where they get to be anyone they want in Naruto’s saga. It is a really strange decision to go with a narrative like this while it was possible to tell a decent story for Boruto in the first place.
It is mind-boggling that they went with a story revolving around an in-universe multiplayer fighting game.
That said, despite its pacing issues and a weird approach, the Boruto-centric plot of Storm Connections can feel genuine at times. While I can’t help but feel that there was a missed potential, the Special Story mode still does a great job of referencing the legacy of Naruto through Boruto. From intriguing schemes to political dilemmas, Special Story Mode was overall better than the History Mode for many reasons.
Thanks to the addition of fully-rendered cutscenes, voiced characters, and more than 100 playable characters, the story mode feels much closer to “Naruto” than the lore recap of a gameplay mode. It would be even better if it allowed me to take a break from the unending barrage of fights in the VR game and take a hike in Konoha. But the Boruto-centric plot lacks this much-needed gameplay feature.
In short, diving into its six-hour-long campaign of Storm Connections was…weird and also rewarding. But the endless consecutive fights and glaring pacing issues of the Special Story Mode made it quite difficult to appreciate it in the end.
A Well-Trodden Route of Combat
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is yet another Naruto game that is hesitant to deviate from its established combat formula. Despite small modifications, it is still the same combat system that we’ve mastered in the earlier entries in the franchise.
Indeed, the flashy effects and vibrant colors are fun to look at. But fundamentally, Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections utilizes the very same combat system that hasn’t changed in the last two decades. In fact, it goes for an even more straightforward approach for newcomers.
There is definitely a series of adjustments at play here. But these are far from being enough for a seasoned player. Those who’ve spent hours in the previous Naruto games will feel the familiarity of the combat system at first glance.
Undoubtedly, this is great for those who are here for a story instead of a challenge. Thanks to a simplified mode, Storm Connections allows you to survive the fights with a single button. This allows your character to attack and defend, tasking you with only moving and blocking. It is such an easy control scheme that you will mash a single button in every fight.
Of course, this has its drawbacks when testing your skills in online battles. The multiplayer might be a bit difficult after getting used to the simple and repetitive fights in single-player.
This refined approach to the combat system is certainly not for seasoned Storm players. It is absolutely one of the most critical issues that will bug Naruto veterans.
Multiplayer in Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Storm Connections
Storm Connections comes with a heavy emphasis on multiplayer. It also incorporates certain incentives like daily login bonuses, an inherent element of live-service games. But despite its heavy online focus, Storm Connections lacks the most basic features like private matchmaking.
The developer states that the feature will be implemented sometime in the future, though. Still, launching a fighting game without such a feature in 2023 is a shame.
Better for Newcomers
While the game modes in multiplayer are not that thrilling, Storm Connections’ combat system shines in online battles.
On top of all the modifications alongside Awakening, Special Finishes, Ninja, and Linked Moves, Storm Connections tries to come up with more varied combat scenarios. But for Storm veterans, these might be too small to change the dull tone of multiplayer battles.
Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Storm Connections Review – Verdict
Unlike its predecessors, Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections can’t find the delicate balance between keeping seasoned players happy and onboarding the newcomers to the series.
Its History Mode is a glorified slideshow that tries to encapsulate the entire franchise. On the other hand, the Special Story Mode takes a rather strange approach to telling the legacy of Naruto and Boruto. Despite its minor issues, it is still the better one in the bunch, with some great moments.
