With its gigantic character roster, authentic story mode, and pretty expansive ‘Historical past’ mode, Naruto x Boruto Final Ninja Storm Connections nearly manages to justify its existence — despite the fact that, at its core, that is just about a repackaging of earlier Storm titles.
That includes each playable character from previous video games alongside a smattering of contemporary Boruto faces, that is the collection’ most complete instalment when it comes to gameplay. As a three-on-three enviornment fighter, there are god-knows what number of crew combos to discover, and assembling your dream ninja squad remains to be nice enjoyable.
The fight system itself additionally holds up, with its considerably tactical implementation of particular strikes, character switching, and help assaults permitting for a good diploma of depth. The Storm video games have by no means been what we might name ‘balanced’, and the identical is true of Connections, however it’s simple to take pleasure in simply how dynamic the motion will be — if solely due to what number of assorted characters are at your disposal.
Now then, the brand new single-player modes. ‘Particular Story’ is a bizarre one; you play as Boruto, who dives into what is basically a Naruto MMO during which customers battle it out as well-known ninja. His digital escapades happen alongside an precise conspiracy that is unfolding within the Hidden Leaf. That is most likely the place most of Connections’ funds ended up, because the mode consists of voiced cutscenes and distinctive fight encounters. The tone’s a bit unusual and it is in the end only a collection of linear episodes (there is not any exploration, like in Storm 4’s Boruto enlargement), however it’s oddly entertaining whereas it lasts.
‘Historical past’ mode, in the meantime, makes an attempt to retell the entire main plot factors of Naruto and Naruto Shippuden by way of key fights and stills taken from the anime. It is executed moderately effectively regardless of feeling a contact uninspired, and also you get to expertise a few of the actually cool-looking, QTE-laced boss battles from earlier Storm video games.
There’s additionally a ridiculous quantity of stuff to unlock as you play by way of Connections. Alternate character costumes, color schemes, beauty equipment, artworks… it is sufficient to maintain hardcore gamers busy for weeks.
As a result of a lot of its content material is repurposed from previous video games, Naruto x Boruto Final Ninja Storm Connections is less complicated to advocate when you’re new to the collection. That stated, that is nonetheless an impressively complete anime fighter; the team-based gameplay holds up, the brand new modes are strong total, and sheer measurement of the character roster is difficult to disregard.
