I have been a long-time fan of the original PS3 game (Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm) and was extremely excited to learn a sequel was forthcoming. The gameplay videos and QTEs (quick time events) all looked really well done, and looked to be in keeping with everything that made the original good. In addition, the single-player game looked ridiculously beautiful, and that was an aspect I couldn't care less about in the original game. So... is the game living up to the hype? Check out my first impressions after the jump.
Note: This isn't a full review. I've got a couple of chapters left to go in single-player and have a handful of characters left to unlock. This will just be my first look at game, broken up by each of it's game modes. The only new game mode is online matches, the "adventure" and "free battle" modes still exist as before.
Adventure Mode: Adventure Mode (i.e. single-player) marks the largest change from the original game. While the essential elements are basically the same (a string of fights pieced together by cut scenes, running around and smaller tasks), almost everything else has changed.
First of all, gone is the sandbox method for hopping from building to building throughout Konoha (the Leaf village), replaced by fixed-camera sets that are strung together. Some of these sets are so small that you're only in that section for a few seconds as you're running by, with nothing of note happening in that section... ever. In addition, there's a quick fade-to-black between each section, which can get old after a while. The trade-off is that each and every section is gorgeous, ripped straight out of the anime making you feel like you're actually participating in the show.
The map has also expanded dramatically outside of Konoha, and you'll travel to most of the canon locations. However, you'll be getting there by walking... lots and lots of walking. At times this can be rather tedious, as there's nothing but thought bubbles from your teammates popping up on the screen along the way.
The biggest improvement from the original game's story mode is the complete absence of "run up the tree" missions. There are side and D-rank missions to fill up your time if you so desire, as well as a host of things to craft for battle prep or in-battle items, but nothing is truly required there.You can stick entirely to the main story and not have to worry about anything else.
Battles range from the mundane to truly epic, and the QTE, multi-stage boss battles are spectacular in appearance. As before, battles won't go exactly the way you remember them, but will follow the story relatively closely. My biggest gripe is any and all sequences that suddenly transition into FPS-mode... It makes little sense in the context of the game or show and just feels silly. Fortunately, those elements are pretty rare, but it will definitely annoy when it happens. Interestingly enough, you actually have to be wary of your health as you proceed through a battle, as your health won't recover between fights (though there are ways to recover it, including eating ramen!).
Overall, the Adventure Mode is very thorough. It will take you through the entire Shippuden series through the Pain arc, using a combination of cut scenes, "clickable" dialogue (with voice acting!) and extended battles. It's a little jarring to go from the game's 3D cut scenes (which are good) to stills taken directly from the anime, but everything does get covered, albeit in a cliff notes version.
Additional titles and display cards for online play, replayable battle videos and even friendship levels all flesh-out the single-player adventure, in what is perhaps an overload level of detail. Last note: For the love of all that is good in life, play with the language set to Japanese. The English voice acting is atrocious.
Free Battle: Free Battle remains largely unchanged from the original game. There are two sub-modes, "teamed" and "single" matches. Team matches allow you to have 1-2 support characters as before, single forgoes that option. Each support character has a specific type of support, guard, attack or balance (situationally a guard or attack support). This allows for extra protection while you're down or charging up, chained combos or even combined jutsus.
Most characters cannot customize their jutsus as before, but most have different jutsus in "awakening mode." Naruto and Sasuke both gain additional versions as your progress through the story, which will also change what their different jutsus and combos are. While there are a lot less customization available per character, the character and stage selection options has expanded impressively, though a huge host of characters must be unlocked through story mode.
Unfortunately, this sticking point remains a vestigial flaw from the original game. Those that want to play the game strictly as a fighter will still have to play adventure mode to unlock the characters they want. There is no other way to unlock them. On top of that, the time characters are unlocked seems very arbitrary. Kisame, for example, is unlocked the moment you fight him. Itachi, on the other hand, can't be used until you play through the Sasuke/Itachi battle five chapters into the game. Still others are unlocked simply by them being introduced in a cutscene.
The gameplay itself remains intuitive and simplistic, relying on a player's timing and planning rather than ungodly, complex combos or cheesing. Happily, QTEs are completely gone from the multiplayer experience. There are other counters to ultimate jutsus, all of which are more intuitive than the previous game's method. As before, counters, dodges and substitution jutsus make it very difficult to pin someone down for long. Overall, I still think this game offers some of the fastest-paced and most intuitive player v. player combat out there.
Online Play: Online play was one of the glaring holes in the original game and it's finally covered here! Gameplay is no different from Free Battle mode and includes both teamed and single matches as before. There are, however, two additional modes of online play, which are broken down like this:
- Player Match – Take on rival ninja to sharpen playing skills or just for kicks with the following match types:
- Quick Match: Play deadly ninja roulette with random opponent selection
- Custom Match: Define match settings and pick your battles
- Create Match: Host a match and have challengers come to you
- Ranked Match – Challenge and defeat players around the world to improve your global ranking and become the true ultimate ninja
It does take a while to compile possible players to join. While this isn't an issue by itself, the trouble comes when you try to join a session that is already "full." There is no queue to "wait in line" for a full session, no indication if a session is full, and no way to try for a different session if you fail to get into an empty session. You will be booted back to the main screen and be required to start the search for possible matches all over again. This is a very frustrating oversight that will hopefully get corrected or improved upon down the road, but in the meantime, play with friends or host your own games.
Summary: Adventure Mode has been changed in many ways, feeling less like a string of random fights and more of an actual story. It can be tedious at times, which is unfortunate as it's also required to play to unlock characters for Free or Online Play. All forms of player v. player combat have been improved upon while keeping most everything that was good from the original game. The biggest flaw is in forming online gameplay, but at least fills the gap left by the first game. Overall, the game is a blast to play and makes for some awesome battles between friends. If you're a fan of Naruto or fighting games in general, this is worth the buy.
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