Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy (PS4)

Bandai Namco, and their partnered development studios have always excelled in bringing to life the various anime worlds they choose to adapt. The Naruto series is no exception to that rule. In fact I think out of all their anime video game adaptations the Naruto series ranks up there among their best alongside newcomers like One Piece. Over the years Bandai Namco has published several Naruto games ranging from older yet memorable console creations to new-gen upgrades that rehash older Naruto lore while building upon it's ongoing legacy. The games included in this particular trilogy encompass all of the important Naruto origin stories as well as the more well known climactic battles built upon generations of Hidden Leaf Village ninja recruits involvement. In each of the three games you'll find story modes established upon, and driven forward by various lore inclusive interactive missions as well as a multiplayer mode that takes the chakra, and item inclusive brawls into 1v1, and team based battles. The games progressively change with each series iteration offering revamped map options, village options, and a selection of series characters sometimes exclusive to each experience. There's a lot of replay value in each game, and it all goes well beyond the item collecting. The battles themselves, which can be enjoyed in both local and online form will offer that goto entertainment that most Naruto fans look forward to. While the trilogy is dated it still holds up to today's standards with a graphics presentation fitting of a new-gen console. Even the soundtrack is impressive in it's own right.

If you choose to revisit this series you will be getting in full 'Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm', 'Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2', and 'Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3: Full Burst'. All of which are done up in a style that is honorary to Masashi Kishimoto's manga vision, and in particular the anime which was derived from said creation. Everything from the village designs to the characters, and even the cinematic sequences are done with great attention to detail that takes obvious inspiration from the given source material. Battles, whether they be in multiplayer or the "Ultimate Adventure" mode feel just as pivotal, and properly paced as the manga and anime series were.

In 'Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm' you'll get to watch Naruto grow from a newly ranked Genin to a more mature younger man as he faces the many battles against Sasuki Uchiha, and other early season antagonists. Through story flashbacks told through completed missions, and forwarding plot material you'll watch Naruto's origin story come to light. Extended play comes in the form of a 'Free Battle' mode where you can fight against computer controlled characters, or locally with a friend. Along the way you'll be unlocking the music, and other items meant to help you reflect upon your gaming journey once it's over.

Following the progress in the story of the first game, "Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 2" picks up even further into the tale with the threat of the Akatsuki, and Uchiha clan facing the Hidden Leaf Village. Naruto returns an enlightened older ninja of higher prestige who ultimately becomes the village's savior, and in doing so ends a long standing rivalry that has been building behind the scenes. As with the first entry in the game series you'll gain access to an "Ultimate Adventure" mode based in the Hidden Leaf Village where you'll once again forward the plot through a variety of different missions. New to this home hub format is a more detailed map system with multiple views, and a new villager interaction system. Village travel this time around is more guided, and less free as the first game in regards to the camera angles. Lastly you'll gain access to not only the 'Free Battle" mode, but also the newly (at the time) introduced 'Online Battle'. Unlockables come in the form of usable in-game items, gamer tags, music, and a lore encyclopedia.

The third, and last entry in the trilogy, which is actually the final rendition of the third game is, "Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 3: Full Burst". As with the second game this entry brings with it visual alterations, and upgrades that effect both the village story features, and the multiplayer portions of the battle modes. The story mode map gets yet another visual overhaul, and readjustment making the way you access it, and the way you view it unique to certain areas of the village. More importantly "Ultimate Adventure" now features star rated quick time events that reward you for pressing buttons in sync with pop-up notifications. Also included in this very cinematic, and action oriented adventure that details the Fourth Hokage's encounter with the Nine-Tails Fox as well as the events that ultimately resulted from said encounter is a plot direction choice. You are given choices, or paths at pivotal plot points that vary in difficulty. Those difficulties being either "Hero", or "Legend" with the latter being the more difficult. Depending on your choice when prompted you will earn different rewards, and change the route the story takes as you continue to play. Some pivotal battles will also feature secret actions which will result in hidden cutscenes that will once again reward you for your additional efforts. Needless to say the 'Free Battle', and 'Online Battle' returns more robust than before with new, and older characters as well as new identification options, and unlockables that can be unlocked for completing certain in-game tasks.

The Verdict ...

This Naruto trilogy is one that definitely offers the gamer more bang for their buck. At regular retail pricing you get three hefty gaming experiences that are fully intact, and seemingly enhanced for the PlayStation 4 console. I particularly liked what I saw when I played, and can easily recommend this triple game package as a reasonable purchase, especially to fans of the original Naruto series who would like to go back, and relive key moments in that story arch. It gets the Inferno's seal of approval!