Home Gaming Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is looking damn good in this gameplay footage

Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is looking damn good in this gameplay footage

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Naruto UNStorm4

Every single year, I laugh at FIFA and PES players for buying the exact same game. The irony of this is not lost on me however, as I’m usually playing one of the new annual Naruto games at this point as well, a series that is more copy and paste than a university essay assignment. Still, while the majority of Naruto games haven’t exactly managed to capture the spirit of the very first and superb Ultimate Ninja Storm title, they have had some solid ideas which weren’t really explored. Ideas which I’m hoping to see more of in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4.

Here’s some fresh gameplay footage from the upcoming current-gen game via AGB, featuring heavyweight characters Madara Uchiha and Senju Hashirama going head to head:

If you can’t watch the footage above, then let’s give it a quick breakdown:

Naruto UNS4 (1)

Naruto UNS4 (12)

So the one thing that I’ve never been able to fault the game on, were its visuals. They’ve always been phenomenal and perfectly translated into the gameplay itself. And while the game mechanics have always been solid, they haven’t exactly evolved too much over the years. And it looks like this current-gen version of the game will be sticking to the tried and tested formula. And that’s okay. Because it does look like it has a few new tricks up its sleeves.

Naruto UNS4 (11)

Naruto UNS4 (13)

For instance, what made the first Ultimate Ninja Storm so damn great were the boss battles. We finally saw some more of those encounters in Ultimate Ninja Storm Revolution, and I’m hoping that there’ll be plenty more of them in UNS4. Take for instance the image above, where Madara uses the Susan’O technique, creating a perfect mini-boss scenario. I dig that, and want to see more variety with other antagonists in the final game.

Naruto UNS4 (14)

I’m also happy to see quick-time sequences return. One thing that the Naruto games get right, is that they strike a great balance between button prompts and watching your actions unfold. It truly is beautiful to watch one of those QTE scenes unfold successfully.

Naruto UNS4 (15)

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Now here’s a  cool addition: Weapons. Besides the usual shurikens and ninja techniques available in the game, it looks like players will also be able to wield legendary weapons to deal extra damage as well, changing up the gameplay. That’s kinda rad, and something that fits in well with the manga. I’m hoping that this is something that will be available in free battles as well, to mix the current formula up a bit.

Naruto UNS4 (19)

Bigger boss battles will always be cool, something that has become a staple of the series. But seeing some artistic license, where Madara extends his Susan’O technique to cover the nine-tailed Kyuubi up as well? That’s actually kinda freakin’ awesome.

Naruto UNS4 (22)

Naruto UNS4 (23)

Naruto UNS4 (24)

Don’t expect this formula to change too much either. You’re essentially still playing the same game, but with a slower sense of movement, more power and a larger environment that is home to up-close and distance attacks.

Naruto UNS4 (21)

Naruto UNS4 (26)

But more importantly, keep the story intact. Digging the facial animations I’m seeing in the game so far.

Naruto UNS4

And that’s it. Not a bad slice of gameplay at all. I’m kinda of…excited for the game now. Clearly, someone has trapped me in a Genjutsu technique. Clearly.

Last Updated: February 3, 2015

8 Comments

  1. *throws smoke bomb

    Reply

  2. Ross Woofels Mason

    February 3, 2015 at 09:30

    As usual looks absolutely gorgeous but the combats enough to put me to sleep lol. Bring back the Accel series cyber connect pleaseeeeeee.

    Reply

    • Tosh MA

      February 3, 2015 at 09:32

      That’s the one thing I’ve always hated about Naruto games – the combat just goes on and on and on and on and on. And just when you think it’s over. Nope.

      Reply

    • Matthew Holliday

      February 3, 2015 at 09:37

      would never put me to sleep.
      pull my hair out, maybe.
      had no idea what i was doing in 3. didnt make it past the first real fight.

      Reply

    • The D

      February 3, 2015 at 11:09

      Accel Series? What is this? Is it fun?

      Reply

      • Ross Woofels Mason

        February 3, 2015 at 12:42

        Lol Accel was the Japanese title or narutomaite for the ultimate ninja series.

        Basically when the games where still 2D fighters, before storm came along and destroyed them =p

        Reply

  3. Skuifspeld

    February 3, 2015 at 09:50

    Looks awesome, wow.

    Reply

  4. Futureman

    March 13, 2015 at 09:28

    where can we get this game, i cant seem to find it anywhere

    Reply

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