Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm marks a strong and ambitious start for the franchise’s venture into its own 3D fighting game genre. With its fluid combat system, striking visuals, and deep respect for the source material, it sets a solid foundation for future titles.

Gameplay

The gameplay offers a satisfying mix of blocking, countering, and grabbing, creating a dynamic combat experience. Blocking is intuitive, but countering can be tricky to time, especially for new players. One notable issue is that the characters aren’t always balanced—some feel overpowered in multiplayer battles, while others lag behind, making certain matchups feel unfair.

In-game screenshot of Naruto in Nine-Tails chakra mode dashing toward Kisame Hoshigaki, who is preparing a counterattack with Gaara as a support character.
Naruto unleashes the power of the Nine-Tails in a fierce battle against Kisame—an explosive moment from Ultimate Ninja Storm.

Story and Content

Where Ultimate Ninja Storm truly shines is in its story mode. It faithfully follows the early arcs of the Naruto series, focusing especially on the evolving bond and rivalry between Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha. Iconic battles like the Third Hokage vs. Orochimaru and the appearances of the Tailed Beasts are recreated with impressive detail. The game includes around 28 playable characters, covering many fan-favorite heroes and villains.

Combat Mechanics

While the combat is generally smooth, it can feel slow at times. The block system is powerful—maybe too powerful—since guards can’t be broken without grabbing. This sometimes leads to repetitive battles where players rely heavily on defense.

Close-up of Naruto and Gaara clashing foreheads with glowing chakra during a dramatic moment in Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm.
When pain meets purpose—Naruto and Gaara collide in an unforgettable moment of rage and redemption.

Side Missions and Mini-Games

One of the game’s most pleasant surprises is its side content. The side missions and mini-games are fun, well-designed, and add a lot of replay value. It’s rare for a fighting game to offer this much variety outside of its main combat, and Ultimate Ninja Storm nails it.

Personal Take

As a long-time Naruto fan, I especially enjoyed playing as Kakashi, my favorite character. If you’re just starting to explore the Naruto universe or anime-inspired games in general, this is a fantastic entry point.

Pros

  • Great story faithfully adapted from the anime
  • Beautiful, stylized animations
  • Large and diverse character roster
  • Strong start for the franchise

Cons

  • Combat can feel slow at times
  • Some characters are noticeably unbalanced

Final Rating 4/5 Stars

Rating: 4 out of 5.
Buy Naruto Ninja Storm: Trilogy on PC
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