The beloved Naruto series is celebrati??ng a major milestone �its 25th anniversary �with a special promotional video released to commemorate the occasion. This iconic manga, which was first released in 1999, has since become ??a cultural phenomenon, and the anniversary PV is a heartfelt tribute to the maverick ninja.

The anniversary PV beautifully captures some of the most iconic moments from both Naruto and Naruto: Shippuden, taking fans through key battles, emotional scenes, and memorable characters that have defined the series. From Naruto’s early days as the underdog ninja in Konoha to his evolution int?o the Seventh Hokage, the video serves as a nostalgic trip down memory lane f?or longtime fans.

For the uninitiated, the story follows Naruto Uzumaki, an orphaned ninja o??stracized by his village due to the powerful Nine-Tailed Demon Fox sealed within him. To gain recognition and prove his worth, Naruto dre??ams of becoming the Hokage, the strongest ninja in the village.

Naruto, penned by Masashi Kishimoto, first debuted as a manga series in Weekly Shonen Jump in 1999. In 2002, the manga was adapted into an anime by Studio Pierrot, marking the beginning of its international success. The anime ran for 220 episodes, covering Naruto’s early years and his growth as a ninja. Its sequel, Naruto: Shippuden, conti?nued the story from 2007 to 2017, with 500 episodes that focused on Naruto’s maturation and the climactic battles that decided ?the fate of the ninja world.

The franchise has also received a number of spin-off manga series, as well as movies and video game adaptations. The manga can be read on MANGA Plus and VIZ Media, while the anime is available for streaming on Crunchyroll.

The post N??aruto receives PV in celebration of ?25th anniversary appeared first on Destructoid.

The Naruto franchise has made a name for itself across the globe. It's one of the biggest anime titles in the industry?, and it comes as no surprise that it has received numerous adaptations acro??ss different media �from light novels to video games. Justifiably so. After all, we're talking about ninjas here.

Among its numerous sp??inoffs, a number of them come in the form of manga. If you're wondering what those spinoffs are, read on.

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring serves as a prelude to the Boruto: Naruto the Movie. The manga is set 15 years after the Fourth Shinobi World War and follows Uchiha Sarada, Sasuke's daughter. The story revolves around Sarada's existential crisis and her personal mission to discover?? the truth behind her identity. During this, however, she gets entangled with a mysterious enemy connected with Orochimaru and the Uchiha Clan.

Naruto: The Seventh Hokage and the Scarlet Spring is one of the very few Naruto spinoffs Masashi Kishimoto wr??ote and illustrated himself. The mini series ran from April 27, 2015 to July 6, 2015 and was compiled in a single volume.

Naruto: The Path Lit by the Full Moon

Naruto: The Path Lit by the Full Moon is the other spinoff written and drawn by Kishimoto. Unlike the first one, however, this is a one-shot manga, acting as a prelude to the Boruto manga series. In fact, it's included as additional content for the first volume of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations.

As for the story, Mitsuki, the final member of Team Konohamaru, gets the?? spotlight. Similar to Sarada's soul-searching, Mitsuki gets dumped?? in a head-scratching situation. He wakes up injured and with missing memories, and his only chance to retrieve them is by following Orochimaru's ploy. It gets more complicated as Orochimaru reveals himself to be Mitsuki's parent.

Boruto: Naruto Next Generations and Boruto: Two Blue Vortex

Boruto is both a spinoff and the sequel to the original Naruto series. It follows the story of Naruto's son as he follows his own ninja way. Unlike the original, however, Boruto tackles a more modern approach. It introduces technology and aliens to the beloved world of ninjas. But like Naruto, it features a significant timeskip. Naruto Next Generations is the pre-timeskip narrative, while Two Blue Vortex is the post-timeskip.

Boruto: Two Blue Vortex is still ongoing and releases updates on a monthly schedule. It's?? been taken over by Kishimoto's chief assistant, Mikio Ikemoto, and with the help of Ukyo Kodachi.

Naruto: Sasuke’s S?tory—The Uchiha and the Heavenly Stardust

As the title suggests, this spinoff follows Sasuke as he goes on a? mission to unravel t??he mystery of the isolationist land of Redaku. He has to rendezvous and work with his wife, Sakura, as he pretends and mingles with deadly criminals. Their goal? To uncover the traces of the Six Paths.

Naruto: Sasuk?e’s Storyâ€?”The Uchiha and the Heavenly Stardust is actually a manga adaptation of the light novel of the same name. It's also been adapted into the Boruto anime â€?specifically, episode 282. Yes, the one where Sasu?ke fights a dinosaur.

Naruto: Konoha's Story—The Steam Ninja Scrolls

Unlike the other spinoff manga, Naruto: Konoha's Story—The Steam Ninja Scrolls doesn't follow the common Uzumaki or Uchiha character. Instead, it's centered around Sarutobi Mirai, the late Sarutobi Azuma's daughter. Mirai is a fiery character wanting to prove herself as a mighty shinobi. The moment she's a?ssigned on a mission with the veterans Might Guy and Kakashi, the Sixth Hokage, she puts her whole heart into the mission. However, the mission seems to be more like a vacation than a danger-filled ninja quest.

Similar to Naruto: Sasuke’s Story—The Uchiha and the Heavenly Stardust, this spinoff is also based on the light novel of the same name. It is also more lighthearted a??nd less action-focused compared to the other spinoff. That is not to say that it doesn't offer some fight scenes, because it does. And it ties well with Mirai's character and lineage.

Rock Lee's Springtime of Youth Full-Power Ninja Chronicles

Like the title suggests, this comedy spinoff tells the wh??acky adventures of Rock Lee and Team Guy. As you would expect from this kind of title, it doesn't have any serious plot. It's all fun shenanigans in chibi form. And it's a big success.

The series ran from January 2013 to September 2014, with seven tankobon volumes. It even received an anime adaptation titled Rock Lee & His Ninja Pals.

Naruto: Chibi Sasuke’s Sharingan Legend

Following the success of Rock Lee's Springtime of Youth Full-Power Ninja Chronicles, Kenji Taira returns with Naruto: Chibi Sasuke’s Sharingan Legend. This time, however, the focus is on the nonchalant Uchiha. It features the chibi forms of Sasuke, the members of Taka, Itachi, and many more. The series ran from November 2014 to April 2017, and ?the chapters are compiled into three volumes.

The post All Naruto spinoff Manga listed and explained appeared first on Destructoid.

The subject of this list has likely been the most m?emefied of all time, but that's likely the work of the villains and traitors who want to make their vile crimes seem more ?passable via the filter of easy Internet laughter. That shall not pass.

Anime is everyone's go-to for over-the-top act??ion and drama, meaning it also sets the pe?rfect stage for some of the most heartbreak and revenge quest-inciting moments of all time. Let's take an actual serious look at the vilest betrayals in the history of anime.

10. Aizen is actually evil, but actually cooler than you knew (Bleach)

Aizen betrays the soul society to reveal not that he was working with the bad guys, but that he was the bad guy. Aizen then goes on to pull his hair back and toss his glasses away, giving us the second surprise reveal that he'd been a total chad the entire time. Thi??s is an awesome betray??al that even mimics the popular Hollywood trend of showing the culprit's supposed corpse beforehand an attempt to throw audiences off.

I'm not giving Aizen's betrayal a low ranking because I think it's bad. I'm giving it a low rank because I think it's actually a pretty cool ??betrayal and one that's not heartbreaking at all.

9. Frieza turns on the Saiyans (Dragon Ball Z)

This is one of the best betrayals in anime history because on top of showing true villainy, it also reveals the villain's greatest shortcomings. Though incredibly powerful and respected by the Sayians, Frieza's fear that?? they'll turn on him h?as him deciding to destroy their home planet in an attempt to kill all birds with one energy ball.

It's a cute idea, though Frieza probably should've put more thought into the part where he willingly leaves Prince Vegeta, ??the most vengeful and most powerful known Sayian threat to Frieza's rule,?? out of his murderous plan.

Reiner and Bertholdt (Attack On Titan)

The events of Attack On Titan are kickstarted by the Colossal and Armored Titans, two of the most powerful villains that ?we encounter throughout the entire series. They show up numerous times to spread death? and destruction, then vanish before getting caught or killed.

The whole thing seems fishy from the get-go, but viewers are struck by a punch in the gut when they ?learn that these aren't just brainless monsters, nor even full-time Ti??tans. These are actually the Titan forms of Reiner and Bertholdt, two people you'd expect to be fighting against the Titan threat.

7. Itachi does a mass murder (Naruto)

Ninjas are no stranger to killing, but there's killing your enemies and then there's killing your own folk. Itachi doesn?'t seem to make that distinction, as he conduc?ts the massacre of his own clan.

In Itachi's defense, he does it out of self-preservation and to save his little brother. This gives this character way more depth than what one would expect from someone responsible for this kind of dee?d.

6. Ultimate Walter is a completely different guy (Hellsing Ultimate)

Walter spends most of the show being the efficient Butler/handyman of Integra Hellsing in the Millenium organization, then has a change of heart that puts the main characters in serious jeopardy. By itself, this isn't a huge betrayal because turns out he's actually evil because he'd been brainwashed, but it gains a lot of weight if you've known the previous iteration of Hellsing.

Before Hellsing Ultimate, there was just Hellsing, another highly popular anime in which Walter stays loy??al to the "good guys" until the end, even nearly sacrificing his own life out of loyalty to the cause.

5. Kaworu loves Shinji but has second intentions (Evangelion)

Kaworu is such a famous character that it's hard to believe he only shows up in one episode of the original Evangelion. He and Shinji, the main character, share the closest Shinji ever? has to a real friendship, but it just doesn't last.

It turns out that Ka?woru ??is an angel, and his objective is to reach the base of NERV's headquarters. Even though he's there to pretty much end the world as we know it, his feelings for Shinji are true, which makes this one of the most bittersweet betrayals in anime.

4. Kyubei is the worst cat (Madoka Magica)

What if the fairy godmother was an evil mischievous being who only "helped" to suit her ulterior motives? That's more or less the h?idden premise of Madoka Magica, a story? a seemingly cute cat asks girls if they want the power to fight an important battle against evil.

Who would say no to cool anime powers? The problem is that Kyubei doesn't immediately state that those who accept will either have to fight forever or will become that evil themselves. Kyubei is les?s of an empowering mentor and more of a merchant of death who sells non-cures for the disease it's responsible for spreading.

3. Harry MacDowell shows his true colors (Gungrave)

Brandon Heat spends the first half of GunGrave helping his friend, Harry, get to the top of the Millenion, the largest criminal organization in the world. It's only when they're at the cusp of reaching their goal that Harry makes Brandon an offer he can't refuse. Still, Brandon doesn't immediately accept it, and that's more than enough for Harry to try to off Brandon right there and then. Harry's rash betrayal paves the way for Bra??ndon's brutal revenge arc in the second half of the series.

Seeing the main character trusting his best friend against his better judgement, on?ly to see his supposed best friend killing him off out of feeling offended is just rough.

2. Griffith sacrifices the band of the hawk (Berserk)

What makes this one of the most interesting betrayals of all time is that Griffith states at the very beginning of Berserk that he will do whatever it takes to achieve his dream. Still, we see him grow closer and closer to his men, especially Guts, which leads viewers to believe he's actually learned that there are more important things in life. Maybe he really did, but his luck takes a turn for the worse. Griffith finds himself tortured over the course of a year, losing most of his physical?? and likely mental capability in the process.

In the end, Griffith sacrifices everyone he supposedly loved just so he can become very powerful. This isn't one of the biggest betrayals in anime beca??use it reveals a character in peak villainy mode, but because of the depth involved in his choice. In his position, how many of us wouldn't at least feel very tempted to do the same?

1. Nina's fate (Fullmetal Alchemist)

Early in Fullmetal Alchemist, we're introduced to scientist Shou Tucker, his daughter Nina, and their dog. Everyth??ing seems fine at first, with the show giving us a few scenes that cement the daughter and the dog as characters you'd like to have around going forward.

That's not to be. Shou, out of all characters, reveals himself to be an absolute piece of crap who uses alchemy to merge the bodies of hi??s daughter and their dog. You'd expect this show to come up with a happy resolution to this situation, but the best that it does is just put this new creature out of its misery. This whole subplot isn't just one of the saddest moments in anime, but one of the saddest that I can think of and my immediate go-to moment whenever someone asks me about a cruel twist.

What makes this the greatest betrayal in the short but intense history of anime isn't the fact that it's betraying the characters. The scientist never swore loyalty to Edward. You would, however, expect that he'd owe his daughter his love. In that scene, Fullmetal Alchemist is betraying the actual v??iewers, and the result is a wound t??hat'll never heal.

The post Top 10 actual anime betrayals appeared first on Destructoid.

One Piece has a number of spinoff mangas. These range from sharing Ace's story to following Sanji as he cooks delectable meals for his friends. T??he stories provide windows into the lives of side characters while also providing various art styles starkly contrasting with the main series.

Without much ado, here is an explanation of every One Piece manga spinoff, all of which can be found on VizMedia.

Ace's Story

Ace's Story begins by following Ace on his pirating adventures before joining the White Beard Pirates. To avoid heavy spoilers, I won't discuss the plot details or nuances. I will say that, as a fan of both Ace and One Piece as a whole, I thoroughly ??enjoyed this spinoff and highly recommend it.

The art is drawn by Boichi. Many of you may be familiar with his work, as he also draws for Dr. Stone. This particular artist shines thanks to his attention to detail, showcased through his gorgeous and incredibly consistent panel work. Though very different from Eichiro Oda's own art style, the mang??aka's style exceptionally highlights Ace's personality.

Naoshi Komi Covers Vivi’s Adventure

This particular one-shot is a redraw of a preexisting manga chapter. As the title states, Naoshi Komi covers Vivi's adventure. Specifically, they cover chapter 216. For those unaware, Naoshi Komi is the artist for Nisekoi, a romance manga.

Unlike Boichi's art, which utilizes harsh lines to highlight details, Naoshi Komi's recreation of One Piece utilizes smooth li??nes to create a soft mood. This spinoff doesn't provide any new narrative or lore but rather allows you to relive a favorite moment in a different light.

Boichi Sensei covers the Zolo vs. Mihawk Battle

Similar to the previous entry, Boichi Sensei covers the Zolo vs. Mihawk Battle is ?a redrawing of a preexisting event in the original manga, again illustrated by Dr. Stone artist Boichi. The art is incredibly detailed and provides a vastly different reading experience compared to Eichiro? Oda's typical weekly entries.

Shokugeki no Sanji

Are there any Food Wars fans here? I have great news for you. Shun Saeki, the artist for Shokugeki no Soma, g?ives Sanji a new life. He creates incredibly fancy dishes, dazzling all those lucky enou??gh to feast on his masterpieces. The narrative is set before Sanji joins the Straw Hat Pirates.

The artist created it while participating in an event to promote and commemorate One Piece.

Monsters

To be honest, I might be stretching it a bit by calling Monsters a One Piece manga spinoff. In actuality, this is a one-shot Eichiro Oda made before One Piece, and it doesn't make its relation to One Piece too obvious. However, most One Piece fans don't realize the ch??aracter in Monsters is referenced a number of times.

The main character of Monsters has the same name as Ryoma, a legendary swordsman from One Piece. This is the skeleton Brook's shadow takes over on Thriller Bark. According to One Piece, Ryoma is a samurai from Wano Kingdom who slays a dragon. In Monsters, he's a wandering ronin.

The post All One Piece manga spinoffs listed and explained appeared first on Destructoid.

You know him, you love him, and even if you think you don’t â€?you do. Prolific doesn’t even begin to describe Yuri Lowenthal’s voice acting career,?? as the actor ha?s over 800 credits to his name across movies, TV shows, and video games.

When Lowenthal is not voicing major superheroes and lovable main characters, he’s tackling all sorts of background characters in smaller franchises you may have heard of, like Mortal Kombat, Fallout, Mass Effect, and Final Fantasy. Most recently, he even confirmed his involvement in Helldivers 2, a performance, ??"heavily inspired by Starshi??p Troopers."

I could write a novel-length piece about Lowenthal’s ridiculous career, but this little ?overview into just a smattering of his best roles will have to do.

Ice-Man/Bobby Drake (X-Men)

It’s hard to really make an impact in the X-Men franchise. There are so many characters with so much history that most fans already have their favorites picked out. Despite that, Lowenthal definitely managed to move the needle when he portrayed Bobby Drake, and he made Ice-Man into a top-tier character for a generation of X-Man fans, myself included.

He voiced Ice-Man in Wolverine and the X-Men back in 2008 and again in 2014’s Marvel Disk Wars: The Avengers. The Wolv??erine series is the only one that’s really worth watching, but Lowenthal is a joy in both shows.

Tobias Nebbins (Catherine)

This is the first character I think of when I think of Yuri Lowenthal, but admittedly I’m a bit of an oddball. Toby was a supporting character in Atlus' 2011 Catherine, and his cringe-worthy, but somehow charming, obsession with finding love has?? stuck with me ever since. Toby is a great example of how Lowenthal evokes pathos, even in his comic relief performances.

More importantly, he’s emblematic of all the other work Lowenthal has done with Atlus, including multiple Shin Megami Tensei and Persona projects. In Persona 4 (and P4: Golden), Lowenthal plays Yosuke Hanamura, a core member of the investigation team. He played the lead character Makoto Yuki in Persona 3: Dancing in the Moonlight, and he recently had a small role as Eiichiro Takeba, the scientist who created Aigis, in Persona 3 Reload.

Ben Tennyson (Ben 10: Alien Force)

If you were a Cartoon Network kid like me, then you know exactly who Ben Tennyson is. In Ben 10: Alien Force, the conveniently named kid got access to an alien armband that allowed him to transform into different creatures. Naturally, he needed to take on a new alien form every week to dea??l with another extraterrestrial and existential threat to the planet. Lowenthal voiced the character through multiple shows and video game tie-ins, and his performance elevated Ben from a goofy cartoon character to a bona fide sci-fi hero. 

Frodo (Lord of the Rings)

Elijah Wood is inarguably our live-action Frodo, but for over a decade, Lowenthal has been the iconic Hobbit’s video game counterpart. Lowenthal first tackled the character in 2009’s The Lord of the Rings: Conquest on PC, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360, a?nd �bizarrely �Nintendo D??S.

Since then he’s played the character five more times in various video games, but it’s been a while since we’ve gotten to see him sink back into the role. His last outing as Mr. Baggins was in Lego Dimensions all the way back in 2015. Lowenthal’s take on the character is the only one that comes close to Wood’s portrayal, so hopefully, we’ll see him back in the role somed??ay.

He-Man

Even when Lowenthal is playing heroes, he seems to gravitate toward characters who rely on brains over brawn. Whether it's Peter Parker or Donatello, Lowenthal doesn't often end up being the voice behind muscle-bound warriors like He-Man. But in Netflix's Master of the Universe, Lowenthal stepped into the shoes of the mightiest hero around and nailed it. There’s a definite throughline from Lowenthal’s previous roles to He-Man, bu??t if you aren’t already a believer (and really you should be), then this show will prove to you that Lowenthal doesn’t just play one-note heroes.?? 

Sasuke Uchiha (Naruto)

For a long time, it was easy to say that Sasuke Uchiha was Lowenthal’s most iconic character. Now there’s a certain web slinger who’s vying for that title, but for a generation of anime fans, Sasuke is still the man. Lowenthal started voicing Sasuke when Naruto started airing in 2007, and? since then he’s stepped into the vocal booth countless times to pick the character back up.

More than any other character, Sasuke has given Lowenthal the chance to act his way through an entire heroic journey, complete with epic failures and inspiring redemption arcs. I’m not going anywhere near the subs v dubs debate, but Lowenthal’s talent alone is a compelling reason to experience Naruto in English. 

Spider-Man/Peter Parker

Everyone knows that Lowenthal voiced Peter Parker in the PlayStation Spider-Man games, but that franchise wasn’t his first outing as the wall crawler. Lowenthal actually first voiced Spider-Man in two different 2008 video games: ZEN Pinball and Spider-Man: Web of Shadows.

Since then, he's voiced the character more than a dozen times in various animated shows and video games. In my opinion, Lowenthal is one of the best Peter Parkers that we’ve ever gotten. He’s got the comedic timing that makes the webhead so entertaining, but he also really understands the more tragic aspects of the character. In his performance as Peter, Lowenthal really captures the mel??ancholy optimism that has been a part of the ch??aracter’s comic book persona for decades. 

The post Yuri Lowenthal’s best roles, from Helldivers 2 to Naruto’s iconic Sasuke Uchiha appeared first on Destructoid.

Assume running position

Naruto fans have reason to raise their eyebrows (and arms) today, as a Bandai Namco trademark seemingly points to a new title in CyberConnect2 developed Ultimate Ninja Storm series.

As spotted by Gematsu, Bandai Namco filed a trademark just yesterday with the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) for an "Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections" �a title that has yet to be ann??ounced or even hinted at by the publisher.

The series' most recent entry, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, launched way back in 2016, (although it did receive a Switch port in 2020), so it has been quite some time since Naruto and pals got their... erm... Ultimate Ninja on. The most recent Naruto title was 2018's Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Strikers, though some of the anime/manga series' spritely sluggers have since joined the roster of crossover characters in Epic Games' battle royale juggernaut Fortnite.

No doubt we will be hearing more news on this new Naruto trademark from Bandai Namco at some point in the near future. In the meantime, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is available now on PS4, Xbox One, and PC.

Bandai Namc?o trademarks Ultimate Ninja Storm CONNECT??IONS in Europe [Gematsu]

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Gaara and more join the battle royale

This week, Fortnite gets even more Naruto characters in the mix. Four more characters from the manga and anime series are dropping into Fortnite's Item Shop on June 23, this Thursday.

The four candidates chosen this time around are some recognizable faces, even if you're not too familiar with Naruto. Itachi Uchiha and Orochi??maru bring some menacing presence to the field, while Gaara is the rival-turned-ally of the group. Also joining the crew is ?Hinata, a Hyuga clan Shinobi who grows close to the cast, especially Naruto.

Add these to the already added Naruto characters in Fortnite, like Sasuke and the titular shinobi, and you've got a lot of options for ??fans of the ninja-themed series.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=np7xNgjFqdw

Alongside the skins themselves, there are also a bunch of backpacks, gliders, and emotes to pick up as part of this "Rivals" drop. There are bundles too, packing together some of the characters, cosmetics, and some loading screens as well. You can find the full rundown here.

Return to the village

Additionally, from 8 p.m. ET on June 23 to 8 p.m. ET on July 7, the gates to the Hidden Leaf Village Map will open up again. The adventure area has plenty of locations to explore, as well as quests to complete and unlock more areas. Nindo Community Challenges are als?o back, oepning up today to earn some cosmetic rewards.

Now, I'm not the biggest Naruto fan, so these admittedly do little for me. But if I may still make a humble request: if we're going to keep adding Naruto characters to Fortnite, Rock Lee needs to be in the picture.

The post More Naruto ski?ns are coming to Fortnite this week appeared first on Destructoid.

Oh Boy

[Update: The official PlayStation Blog has now confirmed that June's PlayStation Plus titles are indeed God of War, Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker. All thr??ee titles will be available to add to your library until July 5.?]

In what has now become a regular monthly event, the next PlayStation Plus offerings have been leaked ahead of their official announcement �As noted by regular spoiler billbil-kun of Dealabs, June will see PS Plus subscribers bag themselves copies of Sony's God of War, Gamemill's Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl, and Bandai Namco's Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=Np1jPkg3R6Q

Assuming that the leak is genuine, (and there's very little reason to believe it isn't), the three titles will be available to download from June 7 until July 5. The June titles will replace May's offerings of EA's FIFA 22, Focus Entertainment's Curse of the Dead Gods, and Gearbox Publishing's Tribes of Midgard, so be sure to secure your license for these three titles before they vanis??h for good.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Yl-_LYD0ik

June will also see Sony launch its revamped PlayStation Plus subscription service. The new service offers three distinct subscription tiers �Essentials, Extra and Premium �which will afford access to a rotating library of PlayStation releases ?on PS5, PS4, PS2, and the original P??layStation, dependent on your membership. Sony will continue to offer up a monthly selection of "to-keep" titles for all subscribers, regardless of their respective subscription tier.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=8ypgtAyjSCo

For more information on the new PlayStation Plus service, see our previous report right here.

The post June’s PlayStation Plus games include God of War and Nickelodeon All-Star Brawl appeared first on Destructoid.

Link your account with a site

The Naruto x Fortnite event is underway, and there's quite a bit of stuff to sift thr??ough. But one thing that might fly right over a lot of heads is the "Nindo" challenges, which is run on a completely separate site, and unlocks the Kurama bundle (a glider and loading screen), which normally goes? for 1,200 V-Bucks (roughly $10). Here's how it works.

First, lin??k your Epic Games account to the promoti??onal site. So each day the Naruto x Fortnite event will count down five different challenges. The first one is done, but you still have time for the rest. Today's challenge is "deal damage to players," which takes hardly any thought at all (yesterday it was score eliminations). Just note that you need to play solo, duos, trios, or squads for it to count toward the challenge.

The timer resets at roughly midnight, eastern, and will cycle through new challenges each day. If you link up and participate, you'll unlock free emoticons for Naruto (yesterday), Sakura (today), Sasuke (tomorrow), and Kakashi (the? day after). On the following day (Day 5), if you earn two points you'll unlock al?l of the emoticons you haven't earned yet (it's kind of like a catch-up day).

But the real crown jewel is un??locked through hitting the challenge milestone in one total day. On day one, it was to earn 35 eliminations that day (not just the minimum). Today, it's "deal 100 damage to opponents" to earn one point, with a milestone of 100 points. Here's the main reward that you're gunning for, which will unlock if you hit a milestone:

It's the Kurama Glider and Shinobi Teamwork Loading screen bundle: which is 1,200 V-Bucks on the item shop. Note that if you already bought it, you should be getting an in-game refund. The season is set to end pretty soon on December 5, so this Naruto stuff is one of the capstones.

The post You can earn free stuff ??during the Naruto x Fortnite event appeared first on Destructoid.

More than just some new skins

The Naruto crossover dropped into Fortnite yesterday, bringing the popular series into the ba??ttle royale's universe. And while a few skins of some main characters were to be expected??, I'm a little surprised by how much ar?rived along with it.

In the Fortnite blog, Epic details exactly what's arrived with the Naruto collaboration. Outfits that will turn you into Naruto Uzumaki, Sasuke Uchiha, Sakura Haruno, or Kakashi Hatake are all available, as well as some extra variant styles. Pl??us, there are a bunch of other cosmetics, like Back Blings, Pickaxes, and a Kurama Glider.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=38exZ1KijN0

What really caught my eye was the Hidden Leaf Village Adventure Map, though. It's a separate map that recreates the Hidden Leaf Village from Naruto inside Fortnite. You can roam around, see the sights, and see the characters in? their own environments.

Plus, there are quests to complete that will unlock even more locales, li??ke the Final Valley and Chunin Exam arena. It's a surprising and fun way to see this area laid out, and I really dig it as a way to do a tie-in.

//www.youtube.com/watch?v=2aOlXoPlrTU

This isn't entirely new for Fortnite, as it's done some special Creative maps and areas in the past. But seeing it used for this tie-in gives me hope for some future ones that could also use source material in fun ways. Can you imagine a Dragon Ball cross????over with Roshi's Island or King Kai's planet? It'd be pretty rad.

So even as someone who doesn't play much Fortnite and could take or leave Naruto, I d?ig this crossover. If anything, it's got my fingers crossed for some cool ??crossovers to come.

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Believe it!

Yes, it's really happening. Fortnite is adding another famous franchise to its battle royale, and it's Naruto.

The Fortnite Twitter account confirmed the crossover today with an image, saying "Fortnite x Naruto Shippuden" and "Believe It!" with a date of Nov. 16, 2021.

//twitter.com/FortniteGame/status/145855506353485414??5

We'll probably learn soon enough exac?tly what this entails, though a skin of the titular ninja or possibly some other main characters would be rad. Although I'm sure dataminers are probably already uncovering it as I type this.

The Naruto crossover was in the documents revealed as part of the Epic v. Apple court battle, which contained a bunch of potential partnerships. Whether this sparks hope in some more of them still coming to fruition or not, putting some Naruto in Fortnite is pretty wild. I mean??, think about it: this is now a video game that has Timothée Chalamet's Paul Atreides, Kratos, and the Master Chief. And now, the world-famous ninja franchise will join the mix.

Fortnite also recently added Jinx from League of Legends, as part of Riot's big content rollout around the Netflix series Arcane. As Fortnite continues to grow and evolve, th??e amount of crossover in it is ?just going to feel wilder and weirder with each new addition.

We'll see what Naruto Shippuden is bringing to Fortnite as we approach the teased Nov. 16 date.

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Choose your fighter

I want to see the Venn diagram for Bleeding Edge, Madden NFL 20, and Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. Is there any??one out there who has equal love for all three of the?se very different games?

Today through April 26 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific, Microsoft is running a Free Play Days event for the trio. Xbox Live Gold subscribers can download, install, and play these three games for the duration of the promo, and that also includes achievements if you're looking to pad out your running total. Bleeding Edge, in particular, ?on?ly has 10 achievements. Earning all 1,000 points is a matter of if, not when.

Frankly, I wasn't that hot on Ninja Theory's team-based brawler, but I do think it's worth checking out for free – and I hope they make the shift to free-to-play while they can. For now, a small group of developers is working on tidying up matchmaking woes, latency and lag issues, and other pressing concerns before introducing a new hero, Mekko the dolphin, who will join the roster in the?? next patch??.

I imagine most folks know where they stand with Naruto Shippuden by now. As for Madden, with a distinct lack of sporting ev??ents in the world, I wonder if people are getting their fix with video games.

The ?promo also applies to Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscribers, and ?all three games are discounted.

Free Play Days – Bleeding Edge, Madden NFL 20, and ?Na??ruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 [Xbox]

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Out this winter on mobile devices and browsers

Naruto will never die. In what is assuredly the Dragon Ball of this generation, the Naruto manga/anime moved on to Boruto, Naruto's son, who now has his own follow-up series that will also last hundreds of episodes. But that doesn't mean the powers that be won't trot out Naruto every so often to sell some product, and that's just what Bandai Namco is doing with their new game, Naruto x Boruto Ninja Tribes.

Announced today, Ninja Tribes is a mobile slash browser game that brings "fan favorite characters" together across several generations of the series in an all-star format. Bandai Namco is calling the game a "one-tap team-based battle system," and although all we have is the teaser trailer below for now, it'll be playa??ble for the first time at the Crunchyroll Expo on August 3?0-September 1 in San Jose, California.

Oddly enough the browser edition has a "unique IP experience," where the game can connect to Crunchyroll for some sort of anime functionality. Expect more info to come during a panel at the expo, but for now you can probably play one of your many Naruto games while you wait.

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Besides J-Stars Victory VS

J-Stars Victory VS was kind of a huge deal, mixing a ton of different franchises together in the form of a brawler, but it fell flat for a lot of folks. Bandai Namco is trying again with Jump Force, and this one looks a little more cle??an and more l??ike a fighter -- which will naturally help its cause.

We got a decent look at it when it was unveiled at E3, but now thanks to a new gameplay clip we have a better idea of how it actually plays. It seems to be a 3v3 team fighter (assists are in) with a focus one one-at-a-time matchups (as opposed to the chaos of J-Stars Victory VS), and Goku, Luffy, Naru??to,? Zoro and Sasuke are shown off.

The gritty and cartoony juxtaposition looks weird to me, but as long as it pla??ys well I'm on board. I need a demo or a hands-on to really see what this thing is made of. Either way it's coming in 2019 on PC, PS4, and Xbox One.

The post Get a good look at Jump Force, where ??Naruto can punch Frieza in the ?face appeared first on Destructoid.

Intense anime action coming this Summer

Bandai Namco have announced that anime brawler Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker will receive a Western release on August 31, just one day a??ft??er its Japanese launch.

Unlike in Japan, where the game will only be available on PS4, North America and Europe will also be getting the game on Xbox One and PC. Europe will also receive a limited Uzumaki Edition, which includes a copy of the game, a season pass for nine upcoming DLC packs and a diorama of Naruto Hokage and Boru??to, all housed in special packaging.

A lengthy new trailer has also been released by Bandai Namco. The video reveals two new characters - Gaara? and Deid??ara - and takes a look at the game's roster, locales and modes. These include the base-invading Flag Battle, the checkpoint-holding Base Battle and some good, old-fashioned ninja warfare in the down-and-dirty Combat Battle.

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker launches on PS4 in JapanAugust 30 and on PS4, Xbox One and PC worldwide on August 31.

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Put your hair up and square up

Anime-fighting fans rejoice! The Nintendo Switch edition of punch-up compendium Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy will arrive on U.S. shores day and date with its Japanese release, schedul??ed for next month.

The trilogy package contains all three Ultimate Ninja Storm titles, as well as previously released DLC costumes. Those of you none-too-keen on the idea of indulging in the game's trademark frantic fighting action with Joy-Con will be pleased to know that t?he title supports the Pro Controller.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy, which is already available now on PS4, Xbox One and PC, will be downloadable from the Japanese and U.S. eShop on April 26. The port is yet to re??ceive a Eu?ropean release date.

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Out on April 26

It's no longer in the rear view window -- Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy is Switch-bound, and it has a trailer and a release date to prove it. Previously announced just for Japan, Bandai Namco has confirmed a western release today in the UK. The trilogy, which includes HD remasters of Ultimate Ninja Storm, Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, and Ultimate Ninja Storm 3: Full Burst, will drop? in digital and physical form on Sw??itch on April 26.

As a prep of sorts the original trilogy was 18GB on PS4, supports two players locally, and eight players via online play. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is still only available on PC, PS4, and Xbox One -- but it's probably a given that it'll also arrive at some point on Switch if the Trilogy is coming.

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In Japan, but it'll likely reach western shores

Whether you like it or not, Naruto games and an inevitably. CyberConnect2 and Bandai Namco have been pumping them out like candy for a long while now, and since 2008, they've been producing the Ultimate Ninja Storm series together.

Just last year they even released a trilogy with enhanced visuals (as all of the games were on PS3 and 360), and in addition to the original PC, PS4, and Xbox One launch, it's now coming to Switch. Bandai Namco has confirmed that right now it's only slated for Japan, but given that pretty much every Naruto game eventually arr?ives west, it's likely just a matter o?f time.

For reference this does seem to be the trilogy and not the "Legacy" pack, which includes the trilogy and the current generation Ultimate Ninja Storm 4.

Naruto: Ultimate Storm Trilogy Coming To Switch [Japanese Nintendo]

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Work Time Fun

If there's one common element ??in a lot of anime, it's the almost endless struggle to achieve a dream or com??plete a mission. From training to make oneself stronger to working a job just to make ends meet, anime is crazy enough to mix the mundane grind with exciting adventure and hijinks for our entertainment.

Loot Anime brings us some goodies from anime all about the grind with last month's box featuring: the hilarious action-packed Gin Tama, the stylish action of Soul Eater, supernatural detectives of Bungo Stray Dogs, and dragon turned human dressed up as a maid in Miss Kobayashi's Dragon Maid.

What is Loot Anime??? It is a monthly mystery subscription box featuring merchandise from anime and manga. There will be 4-6 licensed items with each box, about $60+ in retail value, as well as exclusive Loot Anime merchandise.

Check out the video above and the gallery below to get a look at the contents of the latest Loot Anime crate themed "Work For It!".

Next month's Loot Anime is themed: "Survive!". It will feature anime goodies from Death Note, Black Clover, Naruto: Shippuden, and Deadman Wonderland. Check out the exclusive Gin Tama figure reveal for next month's Loot Anime!

Loot Anime&n??bsp;is a monthly mystery subscription box featuring merchandise from anime and manga. There will be 4-6 licensed ?items with each box, about $60+ in retail value, as well as exclusive Loot Anime merchandise.

If you are interested in signing up for next month's themed box, use the code "JAPANATOR" for $3 off first your order at Loot Anime!

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Guess who they are! Don't look at the header image!

It's been a great week for reveals if you like anime fighters. Alongside the trailers out of EVO and yesterday's character reveal for Dragon Ball FighterZ, we now know two new fighters joining the roster of Namco Bandai's Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker.

As reported in Japanese publication Weekly Jump, Rock Lee and his terrifying eyes will be joining the battle, armed with his faithful Taijutsu style. Also coming to break heads will be fan-favourite Hinata, whose quiet demeanor belies the spirit of a w??arrior.

The article also featured a brief overview of some of the fighting styles available to the current roster of characters, which includes Naruto himself, alongside Sakura, Choji and Sasuke. Thanks to Goutou Gamer for the translation.

It's looking to be a great year ahead for the anime fighting genre, and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, will be hoping for a piece of the action when it drops in 2018 on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

The post New characters revealed for Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi S??triker appeared first on Destructoid.

Unlimited Lens Works

The concept of shops and restaurants based on existing properties is something I'm always down with. You get to see a neat take on your favorite fictional titles, and it gives you the chance to interact with people who share your interests. While we're on the topic of businesses with themes, an anime glasses store called Animegane is opening in Akihabara on July 15.

Aside from the shop's brilliant decision to combine the words "anime" and "megane," I'm digging the idea of them selling eyewear based on Japan's animated shows. Since they're carrying stuff from titles like Fate/Stay Night: Unlimited Blade Works, Touhou, Steins;Gate, Boruto, and the Metal Gear series, they seem to?? have some great options for their future customer?s.

If they have a nonprescription lens option, I wouldn't mind getting the Saber or Archer glasses from the Fate anime series and visual novel games. Thanks to Animegane's stylish inventory, I have a new place to che??ck out when I visit ?Japan one day.

Animegane:?? World's first anime eyewear store opens ?in Akihabara [SoraNews24]

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Believe it

If you've missed out on any of CyberConnect2's Naruto fighters last gen, then now's the perfect time to jump on them. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy may be a hell of a name to swallow, but it's also offering a hell of a lot. The collection offers all four mainline Ultimate Ninja Storm titles -- Ultimate Ninja Storm, Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst, and Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto -- with all DLC, remastered visuals for the ol?der titles, and twe?lve minutes of anime. 

If you just wanted the first three games, Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy will be available digitally. But I'll probably go for the one with the art book and th?e anime. Though I have no idea what a "Boruto" is. 

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy will be out on PlayStation 4 and Xbox On?e August 25. It'll ru?n you $79.99 USD. 

The post Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy dattebasas the Americas Augus??t 25 appeared first on Destructoid.

Four game collection combines all Ultimate Ninja Storm games

I know it may not be the coolest thing to admit, but when I was first getting into anime I was a huge Naruto stan. I'd write fan fiction, try and find manga scans on the Internet because they hadn't released in the West yet, and naturally, played almost every Naruto fighting game I could get my hands on. My favorite series of them, to this day, is the Ultimate Ninja series.

While I may prefer the early 2D versions on the PlayStation 2, the jump to a full-scale Naruto experience in the Ultimate Ninja Storm series was an awesome one. Legacy collects all four of the games -- Ultimate Ninja Storm, Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst, and Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto -- with remastered visuals for the last gen iterations, all of the released? DLC, a steelbook case, and a bonus anime episode.

Needless to say, if you've been even slightly curious about this franchise this is the package to get. Also on the way is Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker, a four versus four fighter that lets you believe it dattebayo with seven other ninja buddies.??? 

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Legacy is coming to PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and PC this fall, and Naturo to Boruto: Shinobi Striker is releasing at a later date. 

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Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy also announced

The weekly print of Famitsu magazine announced two new Naruto video games: Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy and Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker. Appropriate to its name, the trilogy will only contain the first three Ultimate Ninja Storm entries and will release? for Pla??yStation 4 on July 27, 2017 in Japan.

Naruto to Boruto is a Soleil-developed action game for PS4, Xbox One, and PC.?? The trailer was lea??ked, so the embedded video may go down at some point. If it does I'll try to find another.

Personally I have never been too interested in Naruto. More of a Bleach fan, I've always been jealous of the high-quality Naruto and One Piece games. Some of the Heat the Soul games are apparently not completely? awful I guess.

The post Trailer for one of two new?? Naruto games, Naruto to Boruto: Sh??inobi Striker, leaked appeared first on Destructoid.

'Road to Boruto'

Bandai Namco noted that Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 was the last game in the Ultimate Ninja series, but like Dragon Ball Z, the fox boy will live on.

On February 3, 2017, a boxed expansion will be released titled Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto, priced at $50, and will include the base game and the extra content. If you already own it, you can download it on all three platforms for $20. It'll feature storylines from the Buroto movie, as well as new characters for mu??ltiplayer.

I liked Ninja Storm 4 well enough but I'm mostly set for now with this series. I kind of wish I knew someone locally who was really into? it though so I could explore it more.

The post Just when we thought the last Na??ruto Ninja Storm game came out, here comes an expansion appeared first on Destructoid.

Blaze it!

Although the recent Naruto Shippuden game was technically developer Cyberconnect2's last foray into the series, you'd be crazy to think that Namco Bandai would just let that franchise die out. Nope, the magical ninja crew is appearing in yet another Naruto game on Android and iOS, called Ultimate Ninja Blazing. It's free-?to-play, coming "soon," and is only? announced for Japan so far.

I always think it's a hilarious juxtaposition to the rest of the industry -- to see games basically announced and released within weeks of said announcement. Meanwhile we're still waiting for the next Zelda and Mighty No. 9 years later.

Ultimate Ninja Blazing [Naruto]

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UGUUU~

If you missed out on Steam's Anime sale last year, Valve is giving you another chance right now.

This weekend, you get can up to 90% off of games such as Grandia II, the Blazblue series, the Naruto series, Deathsmiles, and my personal favorite, Poker Pretty Girls Battle: Texas Hold'em. Booby jokes aside, I've heard good things about Dragon Ball Xenoverse and someone recommended Higurashi When They Cry to me awhile back, so I might try those. There's a ton of ??stuff I've never heard of here, so I'm sure everyone can find something they're interested in.

A??nd before you tear me a new anime asshole for that header, Valve decided that Mega Man is anime, not me??.

Anime Weekend Sale [Steam]

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April 12, my birthday!

CyberConnect2's 3D fighter Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is getting DLC on Dark Souls Day, April 12. My ?birthday, incidentally. You only have a couple more weeks to shop.

The second $10 DLC piece contains "Gaara’s Tale Extra Scenario Pack," a Gaara-focused story line set after the main game. It also comes with a Sasuke Uchiha Wandering Shinobi costume, as well as 10 more from previous games and other in-game items. There are also four new Combination Sec?ret Techniques.

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Simple, flashy, over the top

Almost a decade ago, in my mid-teens, I was hugely into Naruto. As a socially awkward nerd who had just discovered that Dragon Ball Z and Sailor Moon were part of a larger media genre, I spent years avidly following the adventures of the titular hero, Sasuke, and Sakura from their beginnings as trainee ninja??s into adults dealing with complex issues.

And then one day, I just stopped following the series. The Great Ninja War had dragged on for over a year of manga chapters, with diminishing amounts of weekly progress killing my interest in continuing to read. I still cared about seeing a resolution to the story some day, but I convinced myself it would be easy to jump right back in when the series r?eached its conclusion.

Last year when Naruto's manga came to a close, I tried, unsuccessfully, to reproduce my initial enthusiasm and finish the series. Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 provided an abridged recap, a final chapter in the saga, and the closure I needed ?to put the series aside.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 (PC, PS4 [reviewed], Xbox One)
Developer: Cyber Connect 2
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Released: February 9, 2016
MSRP: $49.99

Much like the previous Ninja Storm games, this is a combination of 3D multiplayer fighting with a truncated re-telling of the story of Shippuden. Starting in the midst of The Great Ninja War, Ultimate Ninja Storm 4's story mode tells the same tale as the manga and a?nime, cutti??ng out any side action and pruning what’s left to the bare essentials. Where did Kakashi get his Sharingan? Who is the guy in the orange mask? Will Naruto ever convince people to “believe it”?

As a reminder of the story’s progression and to round off my enjoyment of Naruto, Ninja Storm 4 was a solid, satisfying experience. Featuring full English and Japanese voice tracks from the cast of the anime, the story mode tends to switch between ten-minute chunks of anime cutscene and short fight sequences as appropriate. There's an awful lot of watching compared to playing, but as someone looking to ge??t through the story, that suited me jus??t fine.

The combat, which remains unchanged between the single-player story and multiplayer modes, favours style over substance. Characters use the same combo button presses and control in much the same way as each other. The primar?y difference between the cast is in visual flourish, the speed at which they move, and the type of over-the-top special attack they employ. It's designed so that once you have wrapped your head around controlling one character, you can switch and play as another with very little additional practice needed.

In versus mode, you pick three characters from which to build a team. While you can switch characters mid-battle, the most interesting aspect of team selection is that pairing together characters ?with pre-existing narrative ties can result in the ability to perform special combination moves unique to the game. Put Sasuke and Naruto together, for example, and you'll see a pretty cool-looking lightning Chidori Rasengan combination attack.

This simplification of combat mechanics is, in many ways, a welcome blessing, as the roster in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is enormous. There are multiple variants of the main cast with unique move-sets, everyone from end-of-the-story villains to minor characters. I spent hours with the game just trying to see every character's top-end skills pulled off, an??d am well aware there's a whole bunch of combination attacks I still have not seen.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is fairly simple as a fighting game, and has evolved little mechanically over past iterations. Thankfully for me, it really didn't need to do either of those things. It's an extravagant, over-the-?top spectacle where you get to watch teenage ninjas blow up chunks of the planet using magic attacks, and that's pretty cool.

If, like me, you fell off the Naruto bandwagon during the early parts of Ninja War, it's a great way ??to put a few hours in and still know how the whole narrative ended up playing out.

_{[This review is based on a retail build of the game provided by the publisher.]}

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Ninja magic explosions everywhere

Yesterday, in the hidden-away London offices of Bandai Namco, I sat down at a TV and pretended to be an anime ninja??. I blew up half the planet, became a multi-tailed animalistic monster, high-fived magical fox powers onto an army, and punched ??an old man using a gigantic tree.

Yep, I played a bunch of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. That game is nothing if not over th??e top and ambitious.

While I was able to play three missions from Ultimate Ninja Storm 4's single-player story mode, I was only able to capture footage of?? one of them, "Roar of the Ten Tails."

All of the missions I played through followed a very similar formula. Show a faster-paced, 3D animated account of the plot of the Naruto anime and manga, throw players into a narratively relevant figh??t or gameplay section, jump back to a long animated plot dump, and continue.

As someone who read Naruto until deep in?? the Great Ninja War before dropping out, the video game's narrative pacing was a good way to catch up and remind me of the plot, while moving f?orward and experiencing new content from that story.

The big problem with what I saw of the single-player, as shown in the video above, is the repetitive nature of what should be some high-action set pieces. The fight between the nine tails and ten tails should be a huge, challenging experience. It boiled down to running left and right, then s??pamming projectiles until I was allowed to scratch the beast in the eye. It just wasn't terribly taxing.

The Versus mode in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is largely unchanged mechanically from past iterations in the series. Every?? charact??er uses the same button combos for their main attacks, mainly varying in speed and visual style. The roster is huge, spanning a huge amount of the series' named characters as playable fighters, with the intent that you can jump in and try anyone and you'll already know what you're doing.

Want to see a really big Chidori? Pick ??up Sasuke and do the same button combo that made Naruto do his Rasengan. If you've got the basics down with one character, you'll be able to work out how to do cool-looking moves with? pretty much any other.

Versus mode has a pleasantly gentle learning curve. Within a few hours, I not only had my head a??round the ??basics of the fairly simple control system, but understood it well enough to start playing with the differences in reach, speed, and power of the roster.

While Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is still several weeks away from release, I feel relatively safe saying it's going to be a visual treat for Naruto fans. Want to blow som?eone away with a basic combo that rips a hole in reality? Well, it probably won't take you long to pull off.

It might not be th??e deepest fighter out there, but it sure knows how ?to do large-scope fanservice.

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