Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4
Developer(s)	CyberConnect2
Publisher(s)	Bandai Namco Entertainment
Director(s)	Yohei Ishibashi
Producer(s)	Yuki Nishikawa
Writer(s)	Shigeaki Fujino
Composer(s)	Chikayo Fukuda
Series	Naruto: Ultimate Ninja
Platform(s)	Microsoft Windows PlayStation 4 Xbox One
Release date(s)	PlayStation 4, Xbox One JP: February 4, 2016[1] EU: February 5, 2016[2] NA: February 9, 2016 Microsoft Windows‹See Tfd› WW: February 5, 2016
Genre(s)	Fighting, action
Mode(s)	Single-player, multiplayer

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, known in Japan as Naruto Shippūden: Narutimate Storm 4 (Japanese: NARUTO-ナルト- 疾風伝ナルティメットストーム 4, Hepburn: Naruto Shippūden: Narutimetto Sutōmu 4),^[3] is a fighting video game developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Bandai Namco Entertainment for PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Steam. It is the sequel to Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution. Comprehensively built for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One, a two year development schedule took place. It is the last installment in the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series.

Gameplay

Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 features gameplay akin to that of previous games in the series, in which players battle each other in 3D arenas. A returning feature which was omissed since the original Ultimate Ninja Storm is the ability to Wall Run. Players will be able to dynamically take to battle to the sides of the arenas, and battle on the walls of each stage. A major change to the feature is the ability to have one character be on the wall, while the other stays on the field. Originally the second player was automatically moved to the wall, to keep the battle flowing and the system in check. The option to select one of three different fighting types has been removed, which was introduced in Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution, restoring the previous system of Ultimate Jutsu and Awakenings seen in the rest of the series. Another new feature is the ability to swap characters during battle, similar to games like Marvel vs. Capcom 3. Awakenings and ultimate jutsus from previous games also return, and can now be shared between the switchable characters, meaning players can build up their meter with one character, switch to the other and use said abilities with the other character. However, the characters will now all share the same life bar. Also new to the franchise is the ability to break weapons and armor, both in free battle and boss battles. To support this, they have added the ability to create elemental damage; For example, fire can burn away clothing. Players can, however, get rid of the fire by moving around quickly throughout the area or by getting hit with water attacks.

Plot

The plot of Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is played via a series of linear segments that branch off into separate stories, allowing the player to go back and replay certain events in later stages.

The story begins where Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst and Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution left off, in the middle of the Fourth Shinobi World War fought by the Allied Shinobi Forces from the ninja villages against the mysterious Tobi and the legendary shinobi Madara Uchiha. Naruto destroys Tobi’s mask, and he is revealed to be Obito Uchiha, Kakashi Hatake's former teammate who was thought to have been killed in the last war. Obito reveals his actions stem from rage at Kakashi for letting Rin die. Madara joins the fight with Obito as Naruto (in his Kurama mode) and Killer Bee (in his Eight-Tails form) attempt to destroy the Gedo Statue, with Tailed Beast Balls. Their attacks are proven futile, as the statue resurrects itself into the gargantuan demon Ten Tails.

The Allied Forces arrive to aid but endure a lengthy and destructive battle with the Ten Tails, wherein Neji Hyuga is killed while protecting Naruto and Hinata, and the Ten-Tails destroys HQ along with everyone there. In Konohagakure, Sasuke, along with Orochimaru and Team Taka, use the Reanimation Jutsu to resurrect the previous Hokage so he can learn what a ninja is. Hashirama (the First Hokage)'s reply prompts Sasuke decide to protect the village or else destroying it will make Itachi's sacrifice meaningless and he heads to the battlefield. When he arrives, he joins forces with Naruto and Sakura, and they each use the Summoning Jutsu to attack the Ten-Tails. Despite help from the previous Hokage, Obito seals the Ten Tails into himself, becoming its jinchuriki. This greatly increases his strength and powers, allowing him to summon the Shinju, the Divine Tree from which all chakra was created, and to annihilate much of the Shinobi Forces.

Obito believes himself to be the new Sage of the Six Paths who will wipe out the world, but Naruto and Sasuke combine their powers with all of the shinobi to combat him. Throughout their battle, Obito is mentally lectured by Naruto and he begins having second thoughts about his ultimate purpose. With help from the other shinobi, Naruto and Sasuke extract the Tailed Beasts out of Obito, causing Obito to ponder his loss and admit defeat. To repent for his crimes, Obito prepares to use the Gedo Art of Rinne Rebirth to resurrect everyone he had killed, but is suddenly possessed by Black Zetsu who uses the technique to fully resurrect Madara instead. Acquiring another Rinnegan, Madara summons the Gedo Statue and absorbs the Tailed Beasts. Kurama is pulled out of Naruto and sealed into the statue, which mortally puts Naruto in near death. Sasuke steps in, but is also fatally wounded. Madara resurrects the Ten Tails, subsequently absorbing it and becoming the Ten Tails’ jinchuriki.

Naruto and Sasuke are revived through the combined efforts of Obito (who manages to steal Kurama from Madara and reseal it back into Naruto) and Kabuto Yakushi (who escaped Itachi's Izanami), and meet an incorporeal Hagoromo Ōtsutsuki (the Sage of the Six Paths) who was the original Ten Tails’ jinchuriki. Hagoromo explains to Naruto and Sasuke that they are the reincarnations of his sons Indra and Asura, and only by uniting their powers can they seal away the Ten Tails. After asking them what their plans were after the war and hearing their answers, Hagoromo gives Naruto and Sasuke his powers to defeat Madara: Naruto gaining Sage of Six Paths Senjutsu and Sasuke's left eye evolving into a unique Six-Tomoe Rinnegan.

After battling Naruto and Sasuke, and becoming almost overwhelmed by their new powers, Madara steals Kakashi's Sharingan and then Obito’s Rinnegan before absorbing the Shinju. This allows him to cast the Infinite Tsukuyomi onto the moon, placing nearly all of the Shinobi Forces under genjutsu and completing his Eye of the Moon Plan. Team 7 and Obito manage to escape the genjutsu and Madara declares he has saved the world before being betrayed and fatally wounded by Black Zetsu. Black Zetsu explains that it truly serves Kaguya Ōtsutsuki, the mother of Hagoromo and the progenitor of all chakra, and uses the Shinju in Madara to transform him into Kaguya. After explaining it was responsible for creating shinobi history as part of his goal of resurrecting Kaguya, Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Kakashi and Obito fight Kaguya across several dimensions. Obito sacrifices himself to save Naruto, Sasuke, and Kakashi from being killed by Kaguya, and reconciles with Kakashi before dying. Team 7 comes up with a strategy for sealing Kaguya, and with help from Sakura and Kakashi keeping Kaguya in place, Naruto and Sasuke seal Kaguya and Black Zetsu away in a massive Chibaku Tensei, a prison of stone which becomes a second moon.

Freeing the Tailed Beasts from Kaguya, Naruto and the shinobi are victorious in the war. Hagoromo reappears and brings Team 7 and the tailed beasts back with the help of the previous Kage. Hashirama and Madara reconcile as they die and Naruto bids farewell to his father. Hagoromo instructs Naruto and Sasuke how to free the rest of the shinobi. But Sasuke didn't want to free them until he can kill the five Kage and explains his goal to create a world with no darkness by starting a revolution. Naruto stands against Sasuke and Sakura told Sasuke before he uses genjutsu on her. Naruto and Sasuke journey to the Valley of the End where they originally separated, in order to have one final confrontation. After draining each other’s power and burns their arms, Sasuke questions why Naruto refuses to sever ties to him and Naruto's reply about hurting without him makes Sasuke realize he has always been jealous of Naruto and they have an unbreakable bond. After his many years of walking down the dark path, Sasuke accepts Naruto's friendship and Team 7 reunites for good. Naruto and Sasuke free the shinobi from the Infinite Tsukuyomi and Sasuke credits Naruto for teaching him the meaning of a shinobi.

In an epilogue, Sasuke is pardoned for his crimes by Kakashi, who had become the Sixth Hokage, and leaves Konohagakure on good terms with everyone (confirming he returns Sakura's feelings and accepts his former headband from Naruto). Years later, Naruto succeeds Kakashi as the Seventh Hokage and Sasuke continues with his traveling. As they continue shinobi history through the new generation, Naruto's son, Boruto, and Sasuke's daughter, Sarada, are growing up in the village.

Players have access to several side stories throughout the game. One side story examines the youth of Kakashi and Obito, exploring Obito’s descent into evil. Another side story follows Sasuke and his group as they resurrect the former Hokage and Sasuke questions them as to the meaning of the village and shinobi.

Development

Hiroshi Matsuyama stated that he wanted the game's life to be as long as possible. In order to achieve this, he and his team made significant changes to the game's combat mechanics, which will include a new system of strategy developed exclusively for the game, as well as changes to the game's internal combat and damage system. The team has also taken on board the feedback given from the Naruto gaming community and has focused on the addition of more story based elements, rather than the traditional jump from fight to fight. The game is set to feature the largest number of fighters in the series history. The roster will include fighters from the entire Naruto universe, including characters from The Last: Naruto the Movie and Boruto: Naruto the Movie, also making Storm 4 the second game in the series after Naruto: Ultimate Ninja 2 to feature characters from a Naruto movie, as well as the first such game to be released internationally, since the guest character Doto Kazahana is only featured in the Japanese release of Ultimate Ninja 2. The game was playable to the public for the first time at Gamescom 2015. In August 2015, it was announced that the game would be delayed until February 2016.^[1][2] The reason cited for the delay was to make the game more authentic and up-to-date.^[2]

An expansion, titled Road to Boruto, which features elements from Boruto: Naruto the Movie, will be released on February 27, 2017. The release of this expansion will mark the end of the franchise, as publisher Bandai Namco Entertainment decided to retire the series.^[4]

Reception

On June 2016, TV Tokyo announced the title sold over 1.5 million copies worldwide.^[10] On September 12, 2016, Bandai Namco Entertainment announced that Storm 4 had shipped 2 million units by that point.^[11]

It has a score of 79% on Metacritic.^[5] GameSpot awarded it 7 out of 10, saying "Everything, from the visual touches to the character interactions in and out of battle to the voiceovers, is meant to make Naruto fans happy--though the fact that there’s a fun little fighting game underneath certainly helps."^[7] Destructoid awarded it a score of 8 out of 10, saying "It's an extravagant, over-the-top spectacle where you get to watch teenage ninjas blow up chunks of the planet using magic attacks, and that's pretty cool."^[6] IGN awarded it a score of 5.5 out of 10, saying "Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm's strong combat is countered hard by poor AI and connection problems."^[12] Hardcore Gamer awarded it 3 out of 5 and said "Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 has solid controls and an outstanding roster of characters, but suffers from too many flaws to allow the average gamer to drop $60 right now."^[9] The Escapist awarded it 9 out of 10, saying "Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is solid, both in gameplay and narrative. It has been a long time since a fighting game has been this fun for me."^[8]

References

External links

• Official website