Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst Review

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3, published by Namco Bandai

With a furious heart and maniacal finishers, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst is a blast of enjoyment; whether you play vs. mode, online battles, or ultimate adventure mode the combat is frantic, quick and easy to learn, yet difficult to master.



I wasn't sure how much I would enjoy the game, but I nevertheless gave it a purchase at the behest of a family member; all I can say is that it's a great thing I listened. Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 blows me away with its intangibles and well-polished visuals. Intangibly this game has heart and character. Tangibly, visual and design wise, this entry into the Naruto Ninja Storm series materializes a vibrant and well-choreographed reproduction of the popular manga and anime.  Fans and non-fans of the series will find something to embrace with this title. I find that with myself I am an off and on again fan, never really finding a quintessential balance. So, I can say, with reasonable experience, that it isn't solely on its fanatical embrace of the canon that this vagabond fighter is lofted--in my opinion, of course--to great combative heights, but, rather, it is how this commitment to fan expectations is achieved that gives me cause to praise the entire package that is Ultimate Ninja Storm 3.


First off, the core game-play is that of a simplistic, few button requisite combo-masher; or so it may seem at first. The circle button--on the PS3--is used to perform a number of combination attacks that only differ in input ever so slightly. For instance, the basic combos for every single character may boil down to four circle button presses on the controller, and that would be it. But I tend to think that this sheds itself of some of the excess of other fighters (read, by fight-fans: complexity and depth); this streamlining, if you will, doesn't mean less mechanical depth, on the contrary, there are--as I had to discover--quite the few nuances hidden within the games design. The triangle button--used to load one's chakra (energy/chi/Qi--life force)--adds another layer to each basic button function; it acts as a modifier allowing one to perform Ninjutsu (ninja techniques) and Ultimate Jutsu. The triangle button also allows the player to modify their movement speed (using the triangle and X buttons in combo) and throw energized kunai/shuriken (using the triangle and square buttons in combo), which when utilized effectively allows you to close the distance between yourself and an opponent--this is a more costly and proficient version of ninja dash, which is itself performed with a double-tap of the X button--and deflect opponents attacks. Add ninja movements--stylish, acrobatic maneuvers; ninja items--including attack/defense boosters, bombs, chakra refills, etc.; squad constructions-- both in their implementation within team battles and in the unique construction of certain character combinations and their special finishers/ jutsu's; and the ability to use powerful states called awakenings and you have some very interesting and varied mechanics and systems at play. 

 *Jutsu moves are hosts to embellished, screen-filling productions that are unique to individual characters* 

What makes the game so enjoyable, neglecting the authentic anime-like graphics, is the way that you slowly/ or quickly--pending your prior experiences--discover ways to combine the available blocks and grab moves and open-ended combo attacks. Yes, the game uses the circle and triangle buttons for the majority of its fighting, but, honestly, they work. Tactical appraisal is important, and finding one's own (easily accessible) groove can separate the button mashers from the adept players. Stringing together a quick four button combo, then quickly utilizing the chakra dash to break out of the current combo and smoothly transitioning with a combo cancel to the next string of an organically massive combo barrage, next using the substitution jutsu (allows you to quickly substitute your avatar with what is usually an inanimate placeholder, usually being wood)--which has a gauge of its own--to avoid the opposition then finishing with ninjutsu, plays out in a visually satisfying, absorbing and skillful dance that can be as precisely and rewardingly implemented as in any fighter. 




The simplicity is only superficial; it gets deeper the more you play. For some, this system may never appeal to them and that is fine--this game may not be their idea of a competitive fighter. But I will argue that given some time and an honest attempt, the game begins to actuate the perfect blend of graphical/game-play purée all with player emphasized control, which tends to be relegated to the off-hand cut-scenes--of which there are quite a few, but they don't denigrate the entire experience. The story mode is comprised of an RPG-lite, exploration mash-up called ultimate adventure mode. Within the story mode, of which the vast majority of my time was spent, the player is free to roam around recognizable replications of the Naruto ninja world; this includes The Village Hidden in the Leaves, in the land of Fire and other such ninja world regions and locations, like the location of the Five Kage Summit. Wandering around can be quite linear during the main-campaign, but the scenery reminds me quite a bit of the rainbow pastel that was Ni no Kuni, by Level 5. The game opens up a bit more at the end and you can return to unlock alternate ninja paths, present within certain branching point in story battles. These branching forks in the road allow the player to either take the legend path or the hero path, both supposedly unlocking different cut-scenes/ variations in how the fights play out--sometimes possibly giving the player control of a different move-set or finisher/ or even character and extra items; however slight the changes, this system adds to the replay-ability and sense of involvement.  The cut-scenes, if I haven't made it clear, are phenomenal. These set-piece pastiches of the Naruto manga and anime co-opt memorable moments into an appealing ensemble that will grip even those most unfamiliar with the series, but will excite and enchant those who find it all too familiar controlling the rasengan wielding, ultra confident combatant in a deadlock waterfall showdown with an intimate rival.   




Overall, I can say with confidence that I can recommend Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 to those who are interested in a feast for the eyes (anime-style, of course) and a different, more open take on the fighting genre. Battlefields are greatly varied and lovingly crafted--just as the explorable village and areas of exploration in story mode, though they do lack interactivity. The story follows the latter half of the still running Naruto Shippuden--which is itself the second half to the Naruto series as a whole--series; Naruto still intends to bring back a close and dear friend in Sasuke Uchiha and the fourth great ninja war has begun. You travel on linear paths between battles, but the added in-engine cut-scenes are well thought-out and work to tie things together. Non-fans can still find some of the grandest animation and graphical workings, intermingled with a nuanced battle-system that will leave them wanting more. The many character monologues can be overwrought and overly dramatic/silly, but--for the most part-- the story is quite enjoyable and grounded in a sense. Themes of friendship, commitment, self-identity and inner strength are all communicable and relative and can lead to players, unfamiliar as some may be, caring about what's to come next. I can imagine that I'm missing something here...either way, I hope that I have communicated my own message about my thoughts on this butter-smooth combat/ story/ set-piece/ fan-appeasing experience. 


Note: Generally all that is within Full Burst seems to be relatively the same within the base package. The Full Burst version seems to add the DLC which is bundled for sale (at, I believe, 9.99) on the respective gaming networks--PSN and Xbox Live. The package also claims improved cut-scenes, but because I have honestly neglected to sink a large amount of time into the non-burst version, I am reluctant to make a judgment on this either way. I will note that I stand by the claim that this game is beautifully crafted and has bright absorbing graphics and well-structured cut-scenes and quick-time events that aren't too intrusive--you feel like you're in the show/or manga.   

I give Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 a:        

8.4/10   

Thanks for reading. Any thoughts, comments, questions, etc. let me know in the comments, or by e-mail/ Twitter.