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By the end of 2008, anime fans were thrilled by the release of Naruto: Narutimate Accel for PlayStation 3 in Japan. Just five months after the release of Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes 5 on the PlayStation 2, die-hard Naruto fans eagerly anticipated the next installment on a new platform.
The game launched in the US in February 2009 as Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, and its innovative gameplay redefined the Naruto game franchise, shaping it to this day. For starters, it changed the 2D battles, which were the trademark of the Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes series, into 3D. This upgrade worked exceptionally well, especially on the PlayStation 3. The game also added character assists where players could call up to two allies to the field, which broadened the fight mechanics and strategies, making fights more immersive and fun.
Another noteworthy aspect is that Ninja Storm created a detailed Konoha Village. While previous games like Ultimate Ninja Heroes 4 and 5 offered multiple area explorations, Ninja Storm’s Konoha Village is far more immersive.
Despite having only one village to explore, the depth of interaction, environmental details, and quest system made it feel more alive and engaging than the previous games’ multiple locations. You’re probably wondering why I’m starting the review of Naruto Ninja Storm on the PS3 with this context.
That’s because this game is essentially a copy of the original, only with an optimized touch control interface and the ability to autosave and repeat failed missions immediately after failure. With that being said, let’s get on with the rest of the review.
Graphics/Visuals
If you managed to play this game when it first came out in 2009, then you know that Ninja Storm’s selling point was its graphics and animation style. The game’s graphical presentation became the blueprint of future anime-styled games with its advanced cell-shading rendering style, with the visuals being the closest anime-to-game translation in its time, all thanks to Cyber Connect2’s custom-built Graphics Engine.
Playing the game felt like watching each episode of the anime all over again, with the difference being that you could control Naruto’s movements and actions. Whether it be the first time he battles Kakashi during the Team 7 training (Ep. 03 Naruto), the boss battle where Naruto tries to land a hit on Gamabunta (Ep. 57 Naruto), or Naruto and Sasuke’s climactic fight (Ep. 134 Naruto), the presentation and gameplay made you feel as if you were watching the anime rather than playing a game.
The graphics and visuals have been translated nicely on the mobile port, and you can also change the graphic detail from low to high, which is a plus since even less powerful smartphones can run the game. The differences between graphic details are barely noticeable, particularly due to the compact display size of mobile devices.
Gameplay
The gameplay feels more like an adventure RPG than a fighting game. Players will primarily focus on Ultimate Mission Mode, starting as Naruto outside Ichiraku Ramen shop after a cutscene with his Shinobi teacher Iruka. The game tutorial teaches players how to navigate Konoha Village and interact with characters who provide quests at various map points.
Quests range from D to S rank, with some missions unlocking progressively. For example, a D-rank mission of walking 1,000 steps leads to a C-rank mission requiring an additional 2,000 steps.
Missions in Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm present players with a variety of challenges, including landing a 16-hit combo, defeating opponents within time limits, tree climbing, and enemy chases. Completing bonus objectives enhances the rewards and star ratings players receive, encouraging them to fully engage with each mission.
As players progress, they earn quest items that can be sold for ryo or exchanged for valuable upgrades. Mission XP is essential for unlocking story missions, allowing players to advance through the game and explore the narrative further.
Ryo can be used to purchase battle items, upgrade Naruto’s abilities, and buy collectibles such as figurines, background music, and ninjutsu videos. Additionally, secret scrolls may appear after missions, which players can trade with Iruka Sensei for secret character techniques, adding an extra layer of excitement and discovery.
Ultimate Ninja Storm’s Free Battle Mode is its weakest feature, offering repetitive fights without progression. In contrast, the old Naruto Ultimate Ninja Heroes game series on Ps2 provided a more engaging experience with ranked battles and a clear progression path, making free battles more enjoyable.
Controls
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm’s touch controls work pretty well, but the game is missing one big thing: controller support. Without a physical controller, playing the game feels less fun and more difficult.The camera controls can be tricky. When you’re running and trying to change your view by swiping, it can get annoying. The best trick is to stop moving before you try to look around. This helps prevent frustrating camera jumps and makes the gameplay smoother.
Replayability
After completing the story arcs, Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm struggles to maintain player engagement. While the game offers missions, ranks, battle items, figurines, jutsu videos, secret techniques, and music collectibles, repetitive missions and challenging objectives limit long-term appeal.
Ninja Storm’s free play mode offers brief entertainment but fails to provide compelling reasons for extended play after completing the ultimate ninja mode. The lack of meaningful progression and limited customization options diminish the game’s replay value which is a big deal for mobile players.
The lack of online multiplayer is a significant drawback, especially concerning replayability. However, considering this is a mobile port of a console game, this is a less surprising omission when compared to other premium console-to-mobile ports. This is a common trade-off in bringing larger-scale games to mobile devices, while keeping the game faithful to its original design.
Price
Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm is currently priced at $10 on iOS. The Android version, available on the Google Play Store, has seen prices fluctuate between $10 and $12. It’s advisable to wait for sales on the Google Play Store, as price drops happen often.
Considering this is Bandai Namco’s first mobile port and the game previously cost twice as much on PS3, the $10 price for the iOS version seems reasonable, Specially when considering that you can carry the game around on your phone and play it offline.
Verdict
If you haven’t played Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm, this mobile port offers a fantastic opportunity to experience the game. The convenience of mobile play is a major plus. For Naruto fans who’ve used emulators, this is a definitive upgrade. Ultimately, enjoyment depends on your love for the series. Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm spawned a new game franchise and with it’s graphic style, gameplay and feel, shaped the landscape of anime-themes games up to this day.
