Most people who have read manga or watched anime during the early 2000s have watched an episode of Naruto, read a volume of Naruto, or at the very least heard of Naruto. Yes, it was during March 2000 when we were first introduced to a ninja in training named Naruto Uzumaki who captured our hearts with his hilarious yet action-packed shenanigans. Long before Eren Yeager was taking down Titans, the OG teen anime star Naruto was using awesome Jutsus to take down his enemies and peers to reach the rank of Hokage (leader of the Leaf Village). The amazing story presented to us in the Naruto anime and manga series seems to have been made to be adapted into a video game; that was given to us with Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm on November 4th, 2008. Three games followed in the successful series, each proving to be better than the last. Most fans of the series have already finished all 4 titles, so what are we all going to do while we all wait for a possible fifth instalment? Well, looks like once again, the Switch came to the rescue.
On April 26th, 2018, the Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy was released for the Nintendo Switch. This release just solidifies the fact that games that couldn’t get much better actually can if they’re made portable. It’s a great opportunity for hardcore Nintendo fans who may wish to remain loyal to Nintendo consoles to try one of the greatest anime games currently available. The game was already graphically stunning with its first release in 2008, and with the remaster, the game has visually gone through the roof. Even compared to this year’s Attack on Titan 2, the Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy comes out on top without a doubt. Also, the game can be played in English or Japanese depending on the player’s preference. This is a feature that is often lacking in anime and manga games. The game runs super smooth too; during my playthrough, I didn’t experience any lag, and the frame-rate was constantly locked at 30fps. In the second and third instalments, there is an online mode where you can fight against other players worldwide. If this is your preferred mode, I recommend playing the online feature in the third game as it is a better built experience. Although, be aware that in the third game there is no way to invite friends to play with them. I have one issue with the games in that when you start the first game, you don’t get a set tutorial. You are very much left to figure everything out by yourself, which can make the first few battles harder than they need to be. A tutorial is essential for this series as the mechanics can be daunting on a first playthrough.
After playing through the games on the Switch, I definitely think that this is the best console to play the games on purely because of that portability factor. It is one of those games where you can jump in to a quick fight while on the bus. As I mentioned, the game doesn’t take any graphical downgrades when put in portable mode; the game is graphically stunning in both docked and handheld. I believe that this title is great for while Switch owners are waiting for the next big Nintendo exclusive and, if you aren’t looking to spend too much money, you can buy the games separately for a third of the price. With the release of the first three titles, it has left me wondering if the Switch will eventually receive the fourth instalment. The pricing on the Switch is an absolute steal. You are getting three superb games for the price of one, and if bought in the US eShop, you can save even more. It is definitely worth the money. It is a great addition to the Switch’s growing library of third party games.
Overall, the games are just as good, if not better, than what they were on their initial release and are still graphically stunning. The portability of the Switch just improves the overall experience; it is a great game to play in quick bursts. Any anime or manga fans who own a Switch should definitely buy this trilogy as it is not only true to its source material but also just an amazing game.
Developer: Bandai Namco
Publisher: Bandai Namco
Platforms: PS4, Xbox One, Switch, PC
Release Date: 26th April 2018
For more information on Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm Trilogy, click HERE