Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections – Review

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is the latest installment in the long-running Ultimate Ninja Storm series. Released in November 2023, the game aims to be the ultimate celebration of the Naruto and Boruto franchises. It features the largest roster in the series’ history, refined gameplay mechanics, and a mix of classic and new storytelling elements. It cements itself as the best game in the series!

Developer & Publisher // CyberConnect2, Bandai Namco Entertainment

Platforms // Xbox One, Xbox Series S|X, PlayStation 4/5, Nintendo Switch, PC

MSRP & Release Dates // $59.99, November 16th, 2023

Reviewed On // Xbox Series X

Condensed Main Story Mode

One of the standout features of Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is its dual approach to storytelling: a retrospective retelling of Naruto’s story and a brand-new original storyline featuring Boruto. In Naruto’s main story mode rather than an extensive RPG-style campaign like previous Storm games, Connections condenses Naruto’s journey into key battles and cinematic cut-scenes. This is a double-edged sword.

While it provides a streamlined experience for newcomers, I can also see where some might feel it lacks depth for long-time fans who’ve wanted a more immersive retelling. One of my favorite things about the series was the epic battles. While I would have enjoyed more story elements, I actually enjoyed seeing a focus more on the battles. Nothing is better than playing as Hashirama against Madara or Naruto against Sasuke at Valley of the End Part 2.

Extra Unique Added Story

In addition to the main story, we get a bonus story in Boruto’s original storyline. This story is exclusive to Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections. It provides a fresh, exclusive narrative that sees Boruto entangled in a conflict involving a mysterious girl and the emergence of a potential Fifth Great Ninja War. While not canon, this storyline adds new content to the game, giving Boruto-era fans something unique to enjoy.

One of my favorite things besides the fights is the fact that Boruto chooses to use a young version of his dad as his in-game avatar. Considering how annoyed he was at times with Naruto’s busy schedule as Hokage in the show.

While the inclusion of both stories is a nice touch, the execution feels somewhat rushed. The lack of full-fledged exploration and RPG elements (as seen in earlier STORM games) might bother some. It could make the experience more like a collection of key moments for people rather than an in-depth adventure.

Fast-Paced Gameplay and Combat Mechanics

The Ultimate Ninja STORM series has always been known for its fast-paced, cinematic ninja battles, and Connections stays true to that formula while introducing some refinements. Being that I’ve played previous games the core mechanics haven’t changed much. There is still free-flowing 3D arena combat with jutsu-based combos & counterplay. Plus we still have the team-based support attacks and abilities. I always enjoyed these as they might provide extra layers of strategy for combat. With the biggest roster ever, the combinations of teams you can use are vast.

Plus who doesn’t like using the team combinations from the series too? However, there are some notable new features too that include “Simple Control Mode.” Which is a more accessible control scheme that allows players to execute complex combos with a single button press. This is great for newcomers but may feel too simplified for veterans. I’d say it’s also good for some minor accessibility. My primary team is Might Guy (War Arc), Minato Namikaze, and Kakashi Hatake (War Arc). It might change at some point, but I enjoy their fast paced Taijutsu with some minor Ninjutsu.

Refined Jutsu & Ultimate Moves

These new features also include some refined jutsu and ultimate moves. Characters now have smoother animations and improved transitions between attacks, making battles feel more fluid. Then there is also the enhanced chakra and substitution management. While similar to previous entries, chakra and substitution techniques feel more balanced, preventing overuse of spammable tactics. Overall, the combat remains fun, flashy, and faithful to the anime, with small steps beyond its predecessors.

Biggest Character Roster and Customization

One of the game’s biggest selling points for Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is its massive character roster. Featuring over 130 playable fighters, making it the largest Naruto game to date. Some notable new additions such as Indra & Ashura Otsutsuki (Founders of the Uchiha & Senju clans).

We also have Jigen, Delta, Boro, & Koji Kashin (From the Boruto series’ Kara organization). Then we get to have Naruto & Sasuke’s latest iterations (Including Baryon Mode Naruto and Karma-empowered Boruto). This massive roster provides a plethora of people for you to use making the number of different fights seem endless.

While the expanded roster is a dream for fans, some character move sets might seem similar, making certain fighters feel like slight variations rather than distinct characters. Customization is also available, allowing players to modify character appearances and victory poses. Even though the customization is minor, I’m a big aesthetic person, so I’m thankful for all the different outfits and styles you have access to. Many outfits are unlocked through different goals you do during combat.

Polished Graphics & Presentation

Visually, Connections is a polished Naruto experience. The cell-shaded anime art style remains faithful to the series. When a game is based on a show or series, I prefer it to remain as faithful as possible, so this was a bonus for me. The enhanced animations for ultimate jutsu moves look stunning and the improved lighting & particle effects make battles feel more intense.

However, it doesn’t make a major graphical leap from Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. The game looks fantastic, but some long-time players may feel like they’re playing an enhanced version of an older title rather than a true next-gen Naruto game. With that said, it didn’t bother me one bit.

Lacking Multiplayer & Online Features

Competitive multiplayer has always been a crucial part of this series and Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections keeps that tradition alive. Connections provide online ranked and casual battles. There are also the 2v2 & 3v3 team fights with improved netcode for smoother online play. While the online experience is generally stable now, I had many issues trying to get paired with people when the game was first released. That is one of the main reasons I waited so long for the review. There have been some players reporting occasional connection issues and input delays, particularly in cross-platform matchmaking. A rollback netcode system (which many modern fighting games use) could have improved responsiveness.

Sound and Music

One of the best things about the game is the sound and music you experience. We get authentic voice acting with both Japanese & English options. I will state that some have accused them of using AI. Either because they didn’t record a line, or something sounded a specific way they wouldn’t have said it. Bandai Namco said in a statement to Polygon that it sounded bad due to “inconsistencies” in the editing and mastering process. So, take that as you will.

The epic, orchestral soundtrack captures the feel of Naruto’s world which is very important to me. Then the sound effects are crisp & impactful, making jutsu attacks feel powerful and the fights sound more intense. The soundtrack is very strong with familiar themes from past games. A few more original tracks could have freshened up the experience, but I was not disappointed.

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections – Final Verdict

Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections is a great and safe entry into the franchise. It delivers fun, fast-paced battles and an impressive character roster. It does lack major innovation beyond what we’ve already seen in Ultimate Ninja STORM 4. If you’re a die-hard Naruto fan or enjoy competitive online play, it’s definitely worth picking up. However, if you were hoping for a fresh, groundbreaking Naruto game, you might be left wanting a little more. This game is definitely the best fighting game in the series though and my favorite fighting game series!

Final Score – 8.2/10

Pros:

• Largest Naruto roster ever (130+ characters)
• Flashy, high-energy combat remains fun & engaging
• The new Boruto storyline adds fresh content
• Improved animations & refined mechanics
• Accessible to newcomers with Simple Controls
• Sounds & Music

Cons:

• Online netcode could be much better
• Some character move sets might feel repetitive
• The main story mode is condensed & lacks exploration