NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 is an arena fighting game by CyberConnect2. The story follows Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha and their allies through the decisive battles of the Fourth Shinobi World War.

Single-player staging and free Versus duels share the same basic principle: ninjas face each other in three-dimensional arenas, combining melee combat, shuriken, chakra and large jutsu attacks.

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 was released in February 2016 for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. Steam lists February 4, while Bandai Namco gives February 5, 2016 for Europe.

The Nintendo Switch version was released on April 24, 2020 exclusively as the ROAD TO BORUTO complete edition with the additional stories and character packs.

The original version came out for PC, PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. On April 24, 2020, the standalone Nintendo Switch version followed as the ROAD TO BORUTO Edition with the previously released expansions.

PS5 and Xbox Series can use older console versions via backward compatibility. They have no separate native version of Ultimate Ninja STORM 4.

In the three-dimensional arenas, you use strikes, evasive maneuvers, chakra and ninjutsu. Each character has their own techniques and a different pace. The combat system rewards reading the opponent's attacks, breaking through defenses and timing powerful special attacks for the right moment.

Road to Boruto adds its own story with Boruto Uzumaki to the game. Further additional content includes Shikamaru’s Tale, Gaara’s Tale and the pack with the four Sound Ninjas. The Season Pass bundles several of these expansions.

The complete edition released on Nintendo Switch includes the earlier additional content. On PC, PS4 and Xbox One, the base version, DLCs and complete packs need to be told apart.

The PC version requires at least 2 GB RAM, DirectX 11 and 40 GB of free storage. A processor such as an Intel Core 2 Duo at 3.0 GHz or an AMD Athlon 64 X2 Dual Core 6400+ at 3.2 GHz is sufficient. The graphics card should have more than 1 GB of video memory.

The game originally launched with support for 64-bit Windows 7. However, the Steam client has required at least Windows 10 since January 2024.

The plot leads to the climax of the Shinobi Alliance's war. Naruto and Sasuke confront Madara, Obito and Kaguya. Large cutscenes alternate with playable battles and specially staged boss encounters.

With the Change Leader system, you switch between the characters on your team during a duel. Instead of controlling a single fighter throughout, you use the strengths of several ninjas and adapt attack sequences to the opponent. Teams familiar from the series can also be put together.

In Awakening mode, certain ninjas gain special abilities or an altered form. Such transformations change combat behavior and enable more powerful attacks. Which form is available depends on the specific character.

Ultimate jutsu are the spectacular special attacks of the ninjas. They feature their own animations and deal considerable damage on a hit. Otherwise, regular ninjutsu, kunai and shuriken remain central tools of duels.

Fighters can also use the arenas via walls. Wall runs expand movement options and help dodge attacks or close the distance. This gives duels a different rhythm than classic fighting games with a two-dimensional battle line.

Kaguya Ōtsutsuki as well as Madara and Obito in their Six Paths forms are among the playable characters. Naruto, Sasuke and numerous other characters from the anime and manga source material are also included. The characters differ in their ninjutsu, support abilities and special attacks.

The story stages key enemies as multi-phase boss battles. Regular arena duels alternate with special scenes and inputs that make important turning points of the war playable. The campaign focuses on the final phase of the story around Naruto and Sasuke.

The game offers duels against other players locally and online. Steam lists shared-screen PvP for the PC version. Battles can be fought with different ninja teams, whose members can be swapped in mid-duel.

Road to Boruto tells an additional story around Naruto's son and his generation. The complete edition combines this story with the main game and the previously released content packs. For Nintendo Switch, Bandai Namco also added Kinshiki and Momoshiki Ōtsutsuki as playable characters.

On Nintendo Switch, Ultimate Ninja STORM 4 has been available since Apr 24, 2020 as ROAD TO BORUTO. Besides the Naruto campaign, the edition includes the Boruto adventures and the previously released expansions. The publisher confirms that this content is part of the Switch version.

On PC, German on-screen text and subtitles are available. Steam also lists English and Japanese voice audio. German is not among the full dubs offered there.