Summary
On the surface,Naruto X Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connectionscan seem extremely similar to its predecessor, but CyberConnect2 has made sure to alter and introduce many new mechanics and features to make for an experience that feels fresh and fun. In asimilar vein toStreet Fighter 6,Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connectionsis a game that is clearly aiming to be a lot more accessible than it has been in the past thanks to a few new additions that accommodate newcomers, so there’s never been a better time to jump in.
However, a few tweaks have still been made to some of the more complex and intricate battle mechanics that still provide enough freedom for experienced players to create some new and unique combos, too. It only makes sense that, after such a long wait, this game would have at least a fewnew features and additions, but these are the specific ones that stand out for how much of a positive impact they have on the overall experience.
6Improved Hitboxes
Unlike a lot of fighting games, theNaruto Stormgameplay doesn’t really involve light pokes or neutral attacks. Instead, the combat is all about racking upa massive comboto melt the opponent’s health bar as quickly as possible. Because of how reliant the game is on these long strings though, it meant that if a character was a bit too small or thin, they had a chance of floating out of range during a combo, which was a constant issue with characters like Konohamuru and young Rock Lee.
The hitboxes have been re-adjusted for this game, with there being much less risk of a character escaping a combo without even needing to use a Substitution Jutsu. This is a pretty small change that many new players won’t pick up on, but for any returning fans who have experienced this issue in the past, it’s a very noticeable adjustment that helps to even out the playing field.
5Free Parry
Performing A Parry Now Costs No Chakra, Making It Safer And A Little Easier To Get The Hang Of
Another small change, but one that has a pretty big impact on competitive play, is the fact that parries are now completely free to use. A parry inNaruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4would use up a substantial amount of Chakra, making it quite risky to use. InStorm Connectionsthough, the parry doesn’t cost anything, making it extremely powerful and essential to learn for anyone hoping to rack up a few wins in ranked mode.
This could end up being a little too strong and may be reversed in the future, but on the other hand, this also makes it much easier to practice and a lot safer to throw out during a fierce battle. Either way, there’s no doubt that it’s much more worth getting the hang of the parry move in this game than ever before.
4Customization
There’s A Plethora Of Fun And Vibrant Outfits And Accessories That Players Can Use To Dress Up Their Favorite Ninja
Customizing characters has been fairly limited in the previousNaruto Stormgames, but CyberConnect2 has drastically improved it inNaruto Storm Connections. When scrolling through the main menu options, players will be able to choose a Character Customization, which will let them choose which ninja they would like to dress up.
Each character will be able to change into pre-set outfits, but when clicking on the three cards just next to their portrait, this will bring up a large selection of weird and whacky accessories that can also be equipped to the character. These can range from menacing additions likeZabuza’s giant swordto more carefree options like the butterfly and rabbit ears. Because these can be equipped for any character, it gives players plenty of freedom to experiment with their own looks. Whether it’s a young Naruto wearing an Anbu Mask, a school backpack on Rock Lee, or even just a cute cat mask for Sasuke, the options are literally endless.
3Special Story Mode
Introducing A Brand New Original Story That Focuses On A Fresh Cast Of New Characters
A story mode isn’t anything new to this anime fighting game series, but because they have always re-told the events of the actual story seen in the anime and manga, it has meant that CyberConnect 2and Bandai Namcohaven’t had much of an opportunity to tell their own tale. There have been one or two occasions where the games tried to tell their own story, such as with the brief introduction of Lars inNaruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, but he was still a character lifted from another popular fighting series, and he didn’t get much screentime.
The good news is thatNarutofans can enjoy a brand-new original story inNaruto Storm Connectionsin the form of the Special Story Mode. It primarily focuses on Boruto and his experience meeting a cast of brand-new characters who turn out to either be helpful allies or villains emerging from the shadows in the hopes of turning the ninja world back to anarchy and chaos. Each of these characters is allowed plenty of time to develop and really feel like they slot into the world effortlessly thanks to how well they’re written. A few standouts include Merz, a blind madman who idolizes the work of Pain, and a brand new Uchiha member in the form of Nanashi.
2Second Ninjutsu
Each Character Will Now Have Two Jutsu Attacks That They Can Throw Out During A Fight
In previousNaruto Ultimate Ninja Stormgames, each character would have a single Ninjutsu attack they could throw out, along with a tilt attack, which was quite difficult to pull off and was a slightly weaker move that would often be very situational. CyberConnect2 has actually removed tilt attacks inNaruto Storm Connectionsthough, and has decided to make them an actual Ninjutsu, meaning that characters now have two they can perform during a battle.
As mentioned, tilt attacks were infamous for how difficult they were to perform, but many of these abilities were still very useful and even had the potential to completely change the course of a fight,such as with Itachi’s crows, which allowed him to teleport across the stage. Assigning these abilities to the Ninjutsu button makes them much more readily available and far less risky to use. It also just adds a lot more strategy to each character, providing them with some extra utility to fend off anyone who gets close.
1Simple Control Mode
An Easier Control Mode That Offers A More Comfortable Experience For Newcomers
TheNaruto Ultimate Ninja Stormgames might be considered a little easier to get to grips with compared to some of the morecompetitive fighting games, but this isn’t to say that it doesn’t still have some very deep mechanics that raise the skill ceiling. As more mechanics and systems have been introduced throughout the games, it’s made it a little more daunting for newcomers, but luckily, CyberConnect2 has taken a note out of Capcom’s book and decided to introduce a simple control layout for newcomers.
This controller layout essentially ties long combo strings to a single attack button. So, rather than having to press a specific input to Chakra Dash, attack, and perform a Ninjutsu, one button will do all of this automatically. This is a pretty simple addition, and not only does it make the game much easier to learn for new players, but it can also help out advanced players who want to focus more on their enemy’s movement and attacks rather than their own during a fight.
