Mar 18, 2012 12:23 AM
Games for Anime fans: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations
Anime Relations:
Naruto: Shippuuden
It's that time of the year again and that means it's time for the next installment of games that the anime it is based on that dethroned Dragonball in terms of annual yearly new games, Naruto Shippuden! Specifically the latest of the Storm series: Naruto Shippuden Ultimate Ninja Storm Generations. This game is made to appeal to the core Naruto fan base along with tweaked up gameplay mechniques along with the vast return of the franchise's past and fan favorite characters, with all of this in mind how does it stack up to the previous entries?
Susano'o is still as bullshit as it is in the anime/manga.
Graphically, it's the pin point pinnacle of the Naruto fighting game tower, the whole game in general makes the anime adaptation of the series weep with regret, a fan's wet dream in every sense of the phrase as every single punch thrown, every projectile flying through the air and every flashy attack from flaming fireballs to handheld balls of hurricane proportion, everything that is meant to emulate the anime is spot on and true to the series to the point of surpassing the anime in all aspects (Which in truth, it isn't exactly the toughest thing to do), it's like you're literally controlling the world of Naruto itself in the palms of your hands (Controllers). This is pretty much the best looking cell shaded game out there by far, setting the new standard for all cell shaded games to follow... But is only what's on display, and the graphics are just the cover of this book, how does the the rest of the game compare?
Where's Waldo? Ninja edition! Hint: he mastered the transformation jutsu, making it impossible to tell who he really is.
All the basics for your general fighting game are here: Story, Multiplayer, Options, A Gallery and an Online mode. For Story mode, it's known by now that for each new entry of the Storm series the developers drastically change how story mode progresses. In the first game you run around in a recreated hub town of Konoha accepting missions to unlock the next sequence of the story. In number two, the town is replaced by a more linear world, connecting fan familiar locations of the Naruto world by running around as both Naruto and Sasuke. Here, it's more along the lines of a simple choice of who's character's story to play through, similar to how other fighting games like Blaz Blue progresses through their story modes.
From the start your choices are among the usual characters, Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, etc. And with each one completed, another becomes available. So it's not exactly like playing through the story of Naruto (Which I'm truly thankful for, I swore if I have to play through another retelling of the Gaara rescue arc again in any future naruto game, I will kill Gaara myself just so they can skip the whole arc). And in hindsight, It's welcome change actually, despite how linear playing through the story is, the way the stories are told manages to some how make old stories feel fresh again through a narrative approach (With the Third Hokage and Tobi being the most reoccurring hosts) along with new animated scenes courtesy of the studio that makes the anime.
Story mode longtivity in general though, can be done in about roughy 6 hours as long as the spikes in difficulty don't damper your play time (Going as far as the doble the damage your opponent can deal), and ultimately doesn't offer much replay value especially since the series biggest draw, the boss battles, are disappointingly absent.
But among all of the character stories, Killer Bee's stands out, and trust me, as despite it being the final character story, it's worth all the time and effort poured into this mode.
I'm sorry, when did this happen in the anime... Oh shit! That's actual gameplay! Mind Blown!
Other modes are just as you expect them to be, have some one on one time with friends in multiplayer, buy items and collectables through the game's shop, look at the stuff you bought and unlocked and get pissed at the online players who have already managed to exploit the game's new combat controls.
Additionally, online mode received a healthy dose of more opinions to play from, with Tournament mode and video recordings of online battles being the best of the new it has to offer.
Gameplay itself has plenty of noticeable changes for those familar with the series. From the limit of the game's substitution technique (Where you escape out of combos and dangerous attacks and create an opening for a counter attack) to the flow and movement in general. It's fast paced with a hint of some severely restricted movement that is enough to throw familiar players off at first, (Like how the transition of the first and second storm games did) but it's simple enough to grasp and quickly adapt to.
Honestly too simple in fact. As arena brawlers go there's not much to do from throwing projectiles and spamming devastating blows to your opponent. There's next to no difference at all for which character does the attacks other than the theatrics of combos performed which are admittedly cool to watch, but ultimately done through the simple mashing of the direct attack button. Easy to grasp is one thing, but going to the point of making every character fundamentally play alike makes the random select the most popular choice for all players to go with. There are indeed subtle differences with each character to a certain degree to where certain characters have a greater advantage against others with long range attacks, short range attacks, etc, etc. But 90% of the roster feels like nothing more than playing one character with the world record of alternate costumes.
The biggest personal complain I have with the tweaked up controls and mechiques however, is the increase pace of battles with a limit of the game's noteworthy game mechnique, the substituation jutsus. You are now able to dash (Pressing the triangle button then the x button) mid combo, making it a faster way to react to the opponent by homing on to the target. You can subtitute against dashes, but because of how easy it is intercept on coming counters, it simply becomes a matter of who will deplete their subtituation first and get serverely punished for it as dashing mid combo enables long strings of combos that agrueably inflict more damage than the special attacks, with the simplest command of buttons.
The Raikage and Sasuke have much more in common than just their elemental jutsu of choice.
Audio wise, Naruto purists of all kinds get their fair share here as both English and Japanese voice overs are available to choose from. It is a welcome option for those who care able who they're listening to. The background music in general is fairly good, featuring the usual rock jams and Naruto anime inspired soundtracks. The cast for both dubs are present in their entirety, so no replaced voice actors are to be expected and even offers fans of the English voice over a sneak peek at how later characters in the series will sound like (Like for example, Jet's voice actor from Cowboy Bebop plays the Raikage, which is totally fine by me).
Among the praises I gave earlier, the graphical completment is truthfully a double edged sword. Yes, everything is polished to an impressive shine... But as sequels go, this one unashamitly rehashes a majority the previous entries had in terms of characters and battle arenas, it's like that to appease the fans of course, but it's still arguably lazy rehashing, in fact character combos are practicably the exact same animations the previous games used (Actually in some cases like with the character Pain, there is absolutely nothing new in slightest), it only seems different because the tweaks in the gameplay.
And the overall biggest criticism I have for the game however is the overall feeling of this game has looming over it no matter what you do, the game is essentially a filler game only adding as little content as possible as you look at it from a adaptation view point. It'll reach the point right before the The Great Ninja War arc of the series storyline, not adding many new characters as the previous games did before it. Filling up the character roster with once only characters (Like the masked man that Minato fought, who is Tobi obviously, we get half assed introductory characters to future new replacement in the next inevitable sequel), and multiple copies of the exact same character. It really brings the games down as it being nothing more than a time filler for the fanbase.
Overall:
+ Looks amazing, reaching the next height of cell shaded graphics.
+ Gameplay is tweaked up enough to feel different from the previous ones, and is easy to grasp. Online mode gains a few more options to choose from.
+ Audio choices please both fans of english and japanese voice overs.
+/- A new approach to story mode that feels fresh to new comers and vets alike. / Sudden spikes in difficulties can frustrate many.
+/- All of your favorite characters are here. / And can't wait to do the exact same thing the other character did.
- Swallow gameplay with characters that have no true difference between other than their special attacks.
- Roster is filled with more clones and copies than Naruto himself produces.
- Reused fighting animations and battlegrounds, despite how it's intended.
Single Player: 8
Multi Player: 7
Graphics: 9/Animated cut scenes: 7.5
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 6.5
Last-ability: 7.5
Final Verdict: 7.5/10
Personal Score: 7/10
Naruto fans are bound to pick this up immediately because getting to run around as their favorite Naruto character is more than enough for them, as of course it's intended for them, but anyone looking for deep gameplay and not literal clones and copies, stuff like Street Fighter is still available to choose from.
How many Narutos and Saukes in a single roster does it take to know the developers got lazy? Onnnneee~ Twooooo~ Thhhhreeeee~ Fourr~
Four, making 6 of the playable characters literally the exact same character.
Susano'o is still as bullshit as it is in the anime/manga.
Graphically, it's the pin point pinnacle of the Naruto fighting game tower, the whole game in general makes the anime adaptation of the series weep with regret, a fan's wet dream in every sense of the phrase as every single punch thrown, every projectile flying through the air and every flashy attack from flaming fireballs to handheld balls of hurricane proportion, everything that is meant to emulate the anime is spot on and true to the series to the point of surpassing the anime in all aspects (Which in truth, it isn't exactly the toughest thing to do), it's like you're literally controlling the world of Naruto itself in the palms of your hands (Controllers). This is pretty much the best looking cell shaded game out there by far, setting the new standard for all cell shaded games to follow... But is only what's on display, and the graphics are just the cover of this book, how does the the rest of the game compare?
Where's Waldo? Ninja edition! Hint: he mastered the transformation jutsu, making it impossible to tell who he really is.
All the basics for your general fighting game are here: Story, Multiplayer, Options, A Gallery and an Online mode. For Story mode, it's known by now that for each new entry of the Storm series the developers drastically change how story mode progresses. In the first game you run around in a recreated hub town of Konoha accepting missions to unlock the next sequence of the story. In number two, the town is replaced by a more linear world, connecting fan familiar locations of the Naruto world by running around as both Naruto and Sasuke. Here, it's more along the lines of a simple choice of who's character's story to play through, similar to how other fighting games like Blaz Blue progresses through their story modes.
From the start your choices are among the usual characters, Naruto, Sasuke, Kakashi, etc. And with each one completed, another becomes available. So it's not exactly like playing through the story of Naruto (Which I'm truly thankful for, I swore if I have to play through another retelling of the Gaara rescue arc again in any future naruto game, I will kill Gaara myself just so they can skip the whole arc). And in hindsight, It's welcome change actually, despite how linear playing through the story is, the way the stories are told manages to some how make old stories feel fresh again through a narrative approach (With the Third Hokage and Tobi being the most reoccurring hosts) along with new animated scenes courtesy of the studio that makes the anime.
Story mode longtivity in general though, can be done in about roughy 6 hours as long as the spikes in difficulty don't damper your play time (Going as far as the doble the damage your opponent can deal), and ultimately doesn't offer much replay value especially since the series biggest draw, the boss battles, are disappointingly absent.
But among all of the character stories, Killer Bee's stands out, and trust me, as despite it being the final character story, it's worth all the time and effort poured into this mode.
I'm sorry, when did this happen in the anime... Oh shit! That's actual gameplay! Mind Blown!
Other modes are just as you expect them to be, have some one on one time with friends in multiplayer, buy items and collectables through the game's shop, look at the stuff you bought and unlocked and get pissed at the online players who have already managed to exploit the game's new combat controls.
Additionally, online mode received a healthy dose of more opinions to play from, with Tournament mode and video recordings of online battles being the best of the new it has to offer.
Gameplay itself has plenty of noticeable changes for those familar with the series. From the limit of the game's substitution technique (Where you escape out of combos and dangerous attacks and create an opening for a counter attack) to the flow and movement in general. It's fast paced with a hint of some severely restricted movement that is enough to throw familiar players off at first, (Like how the transition of the first and second storm games did) but it's simple enough to grasp and quickly adapt to.
Honestly too simple in fact. As arena brawlers go there's not much to do from throwing projectiles and spamming devastating blows to your opponent. There's next to no difference at all for which character does the attacks other than the theatrics of combos performed which are admittedly cool to watch, but ultimately done through the simple mashing of the direct attack button. Easy to grasp is one thing, but going to the point of making every character fundamentally play alike makes the random select the most popular choice for all players to go with. There are indeed subtle differences with each character to a certain degree to where certain characters have a greater advantage against others with long range attacks, short range attacks, etc, etc. But 90% of the roster feels like nothing more than playing one character with the world record of alternate costumes.
The biggest personal complain I have with the tweaked up controls and mechiques however, is the increase pace of battles with a limit of the game's noteworthy game mechnique, the substituation jutsus. You are now able to dash (Pressing the triangle button then the x button) mid combo, making it a faster way to react to the opponent by homing on to the target. You can subtitute against dashes, but because of how easy it is intercept on coming counters, it simply becomes a matter of who will deplete their subtituation first and get serverely punished for it as dashing mid combo enables long strings of combos that agrueably inflict more damage than the special attacks, with the simplest command of buttons.
The Raikage and Sasuke have much more in common than just their elemental jutsu of choice.
Audio wise, Naruto purists of all kinds get their fair share here as both English and Japanese voice overs are available to choose from. It is a welcome option for those who care able who they're listening to. The background music in general is fairly good, featuring the usual rock jams and Naruto anime inspired soundtracks. The cast for both dubs are present in their entirety, so no replaced voice actors are to be expected and even offers fans of the English voice over a sneak peek at how later characters in the series will sound like (Like for example, Jet's voice actor from Cowboy Bebop plays the Raikage, which is totally fine by me).
Among the praises I gave earlier, the graphical completment is truthfully a double edged sword. Yes, everything is polished to an impressive shine... But as sequels go, this one unashamitly rehashes a majority the previous entries had in terms of characters and battle arenas, it's like that to appease the fans of course, but it's still arguably lazy rehashing, in fact character combos are practicably the exact same animations the previous games used (Actually in some cases like with the character Pain, there is absolutely nothing new in slightest), it only seems different because the tweaks in the gameplay.
And the overall biggest criticism I have for the game however is the overall feeling of this game has looming over it no matter what you do, the game is essentially a filler game only adding as little content as possible as you look at it from a adaptation view point. It'll reach the point right before the The Great Ninja War arc of the series storyline, not adding many new characters as the previous games did before it. Filling up the character roster with once only characters (Like the masked man that Minato fought, who is Tobi obviously, we get half assed introductory characters to future new replacement in the next inevitable sequel), and multiple copies of the exact same character. It really brings the games down as it being nothing more than a time filler for the fanbase.
Overall:
+ Looks amazing, reaching the next height of cell shaded graphics.
+ Gameplay is tweaked up enough to feel different from the previous ones, and is easy to grasp. Online mode gains a few more options to choose from.
+ Audio choices please both fans of english and japanese voice overs.
+/- A new approach to story mode that feels fresh to new comers and vets alike. / Sudden spikes in difficulties can frustrate many.
+/- All of your favorite characters are here. / And can't wait to do the exact same thing the other character did.
- Swallow gameplay with characters that have no true difference between other than their special attacks.
- Roster is filled with more clones and copies than Naruto himself produces.
- Reused fighting animations and battlegrounds, despite how it's intended.
Single Player: 8
Multi Player: 7
Graphics: 9/Animated cut scenes: 7.5
Sound: 8
Gameplay: 6.5
Last-ability: 7.5
Final Verdict: 7.5/10
Personal Score: 7/10
Naruto fans are bound to pick this up immediately because getting to run around as their favorite Naruto character is more than enough for them, as of course it's intended for them, but anyone looking for deep gameplay and not literal clones and copies, stuff like Street Fighter is still available to choose from.
How many Narutos and Saukes in a single roster does it take to know the developers got lazy? Onnnneee~ Twooooo~ Thhhhreeeee~ Fourr~
Four, making 6 of the playable characters literally the exact same character.
Posted by
artist-retired
| Mar 18, 2012 12:23 AM |
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