Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution Review by: SacredShadow - 8.6/10
Perhaps the best installment of the series thus far dattebayo!The fifth and latest installment of the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution, published by Bandai Namco Games, features a fast paced fighting style with new and improved battle mechanics. Some of these new additions to the game include guard breaking, and new ways to form teams for team matches based on their attributes and fighting capabilities. This latest installment also features the largest character roster of the series (118 in total). Today we'll be looking at some of the new improvements this installment of the series has brought to the table.
Graphics: 10
Altogether, the graphics for this game are quite nice and sharp. All of the graphics and visuals are very fluent and they do an amazing job of keeping up with the level of visual quality expected in the anime. One thing worth mentioning is that the characters look just as good, if not better than they do in the anime, something that really adds to the experience and enjoyment of playing the game. The graphics also do an excellent job of displaying the ultimate finishing moves of each character in incredible detail. The cell shading used in this game does a great job of making the game have a more anime-like appearance, occasionally however the graphics have a tendency to falter during gameplay. This is usually the result of a shift in camera angle or a sudden shift in movement. Nonetheless, it isn't enough to take away from the gameplay by any means. Overall, the graphics are of great quality, and they accomplish their purpose of resembling the characters in the anime, therefore, the graphics receive a 10 out of 10.
Sound/Music: 8
The sound quality presented in this game is very good, and it is also very similar to the sound mechanics used in the last installment. All of the character voices sound more or less exactly as they do in the dub version of the anime which is fantastic for people that enjoy playing a certain character. As for the sound effects in this game, from a series of punches, a paper bomb explosion, to the crackle of lightning, this game features some very realistic sounds just like its predecessors. The only area this could use improvement in is the music, for a fighting type game, the music provided in each of the stages just doesn't seem as intense as it should be. Some stages don't even have music which really deducts points from the overall fighting and gameplay experience. Classic fighting games like Street Fighter for instance featured fast paced music that steadily increased in intensity during the heat of battle. Even fights or encounters in the anime present some form of music that would indicate that a battle will take place. If this game could somehow find a way to incorporate that element into the gameplay, then the score for this category would undoubtedly be higher, until then, the sound receives an 8 out of 10.
Addictiveness: 9
Fighting games have been shown to have a long history of being addicting and fun, and this game does a great job of staying true to this tendency. One reason for this is the addition of new characters not featured in the last installment of the game which makes for a total of 100 characters on the roster. A roster of this magnitude is large enough to encompass anyone's favorite Naruto character while also giving them the satisfaction of playing as them. The general gampelay is fairly simple to pick up on, with enough training, it can become incredibly addicting for Naruto fans and fans of fighting games alike. Along with the gameplay, the modes of fighting are also easy to get the hang of, and can provide hours of exciting gameplay. In total, this game features the story mode, a tournament mode, an online mode, and a vs mode which includes 1 on 1 and team matches. Altogether, this game has a lot of great features going for it that its predecessors didn't, which make it a great candidate for those in search of addicting fighting games. There's just so many different ways to go about enjoying this game, because of this, the addictiveness of this game receives a 9 out of 10.
Story: 6
If you are looking for a game that has a deep, complicated story line, than this game more than likely isn't for you. This game's story mode is based on the assumption that you are caught up with the anime and that you already understand what is currently happening in the game. Don't fret though, even if you aren't an avid Naruto fan, it shouldn't be too confusing seeing that the majority of the cut scenes don't last more than a few minutes. The good thing about the story mode is that it is simple, and it depends on your success. The formula is simple, you are sent on a mission, you complete the mission (which is usually hunting down and fighting an enemy), and after defeating them, the cut scene plays. If you are an avid Naruto fan however, you'll be happy to know that there are plenty of scenes that were cut from the anime spread throughout the story mode. In the end, this game really doesn't revolve around a deep story to capture interest. Even if this isn't your thing, this game still has a multitude of other features that more than make up for its lack of plot. In the end, the story aspect of this game receives a 6 out of 10.
Depth: 9
Content-wise, this game has a lot of new features and material that its predecessors did not, the most notable being the addition of many new characters. Aside from extra content, it doesn't take a long time to beat the Story/World Tournament Mode. Everyone's pace is different, but the majority of people should be able to beat it in a week or two with consistent gameplay. The one aspect of this game that may take a bit longer is unlocking new characters. The game starts you off with a set amount of characters, mostly being main characters like Naruto, Sakura, Kakashi and others. You earn new characters either by playing different modes of the game, or by collecting more Ryo (the game;s currency). Although there are of characters with variations to unlock, it isn't unreasonably difficult since Ryo is ridiculously easy to collect, and can be gained by doing nearly anything. Everyone plays games at a different pace, and some are more dedicated than others, nonetheless, the time needed to complete this game can range anywhere from a few days, to a month or longer depending on the player. With that aside, this game offers a lot content for you enjoy and unlock, therefore, the depth of this game receives a 9 out of 10.
Difficulty: 5
Most fighting games usually don't take a lot of time to master. Learning new moves and combos in this game comes with playing intuitively, through practice and training. Learning the basics may come more naturally to those that are more adept with fighting games, however, it is totally doable for anyone willing to put forth the effort to learn.The best way to get practice is to start with a 1 on 1 computer match with low to normal difficulty. The great thing about this game is that it dedicates an entire option in the menu to the button combinations to do an attack. You can also have them displayed on screen for easier access. You can continue to experiment with combos until you feel comfortable to raise the difficulty or move on to something else. Another way to pick up new combos is by participating in the tournaments in the Ninja World Tournament mode. It sounds foreboding, but it's essentially a group fight against three other players. It starts off at a D rank level which is great for beginners. As you improve, you can take part in C, B, A, and S rank tournaments to test your skills. Once you feel like you've become acquainted enough with the button combinations, you're pretty much set for anything else in the game, you can even test your luck online against other players. Altogether, this game is as challenging as any good fighting game needs to be, all that's needed to do well is a little practice and it becomes pretty straightforward from there. That being said, the difficulty receives a 6 out of 10.
Scoring:
(I am using a slightly different system for scoring)
Sound: 8* 25%
Addictiveness: 9* 25%
Story: 6*5%
Depth: 9* 10%
Difficulty: 6* 10%
Total: 8.6/10
Overall: 8.6/10
Overall, this game receives a solid 8.6/10. The main reason for this is largely due to the lack of story in the game. It contains mostly bits and pieces of events that occur in the anime. It also aims to explain the reason why certain events occurred in the anime assuming that you are already up to speed with what has already happened. Despite that, the plot really shouldn't be the make it or break it focal point in your decision to play this game, because it doesn't play that much of a part in the game anyway. Nonetheless, there are plenty of great new features this game possess to capture and maintain your interest. I highly recommend you check this game out, especially if you are a fan of Naruto, or if you are in search of a new fighting game to try out. I can guarantee you won't be disappointed.
Graphics
10 Sound
8 Addictive
9 Depth
9 Story
6 Difficulty
6
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