Naruto x Boruto Final Ninja Storm Connections Assessment (PS5)

With its gigantic character roster, unique story mode, and pretty expansive ‘Historical past’ mode, Naruto x Boruto Final Ninja Storm Connections nearly manages to justify its existence — regardless 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 mixtures to discover, and assembling your dream ninja squad continues 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 an honest 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 straightforward to take pleasure in simply how dynamic the motion might be — if solely due to what number of different 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 actually a Naruto MMO wherein 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 in all probability 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 finally only a collection of linear episodes (there is not any exploration, like in Storm 4’s Boruto growth), 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 fairly nicely regardless of feeling a contact uninspired, and also you get to expertise a number 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 simpler to suggest should you’re new to the collection. That mentioned, that is nonetheless an impressively complete anime fighter; the team-based gameplay holds up, the brand new modes are stable general, and sheer dimension of the character roster is difficult to disregard.