Info about NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS: Official game description: Deluxe Edition ============== The Deluxe Edition includes: • Main Game • Season Pass • Naruto Uzumaki (The Great Ninja War: End) • Kakashi Hatake (Maskless) Ultimate Edition ================ The Ultimate Edition includes: • Main Game • Season Pass • Naruto Uzumaki (The Great Ninja War: End) • Kakashi Hatake (Maskless) • Costume & Accessory Pack About the Game ============== Legendary ninjas reunite in the next exciting entry of the STORM series! NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS is an action/fighting game with fast-paced ninja battles and two different story modes. • New playable characters join all past characters of the STORM series for the largest roster of ninjas ever! ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Select from more than 130 playable characters to fight in powerful ninja battles! In addition to an improved network battle experience, the new Simple mode option allows players to more easily perform various ninjutsu combos. Whether players are beginners or experts, everyone can enjoy heated battles with their favorite ninjas. • For the first time ever, the history of Naruto and Sasuke’s rivalry has been recut and combined into one game! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Combining original scenes from the Naruto anime with the high-quality battle experience expected of the STORM series development team, this game contains highlights from the beginning of Naruto’s story up to the final battle of the series. Relive the paths of two legendary ninjas! • Experience a special next generation story! --------------------------------------------- Play a new, original story where Boruto Uzumaki, the son of 7th Hokage and ninja of the new era, is drawn into a great battle involving the entire ninja world after meeting a girl in a popular online game. • Another aspect that Naruto’s fans can appreciate is customization! -------------------------------------------------------------------- During their adventure, players can acquire cosmetic customization items as battle rewards that make the NARUTO X BORUTO Ultimate Ninja STORM CONNECTIONS experience their own. Release date: Nov 16, 2023 Categories: Fighting Game, Anime, Naruto anime adaptation, Arena Fighter, Online Multiplayer, Local Multiplayer, Story Mode, Character Collection Feature scans: - MTX: score 60; verdict: Aggressive DLC monetization; summary: The reviews confirm a full-price game that also monetizes through a paid Season Pass, multiple DLC character packs, and high-priced cosmetic and music DLC bundles. Players repeatedly report that characters and basic cosmetics are locked behind extra purchases, and some allege cut content was resold. A single review also mentions a season battle pass and daily-login grind. There is no clear evidence of real-money gacha, lootboxes, or direct pay-to-win for this title, so the case is best classified as aggressive DLC monetization rather than casino-style predation. - Proton/Linux: score 50; verdict: Mixed compatibility with Linux-specific instability; summary: The feedback is mixed. Some users report the game runs well on Steam Deck with no problems, while others explicitly report constant Steam Deck crashes, random closes during play, a serious SteamOS performance bug, and possible Proton/SteamOS driver or power-management compatibility issues. There is no evidence of anti-cheat, DRM, or launcher blockers tied specifically to Linux. Overall Linux/Proton friction is moderate: playable for some, but unstable for others. - Steam Deck: score 85; verdict: Broken: frequent crashes and performance instability; summary: The filtered reviews show mixed Steam Deck experiences, but frequent crashes are the dominant technical barrier. Users report random in-game closes, post-match crashes that trigger bans, and serious SteamOS/Proton performance and stutter issues. Controller support is also criticized for poor mapping. Although some users report seamless play, the explicit frequent-crash evidence places Steam Deck friction in the Broken range. - Hardware Profile: - Summary: The lower-VRAM Windows cohorts are mostly negative due to crashes and broken online play, while the 12-15GB VRAM cohort is mixed with both stable 60 FPS reports and frequent online crash complaints. - Sample size: 96 (8% coverage) - Audience skew: Review sample is mostly Windows-based. - Windows <8GB VRAM (negative, 62 reports): Reports are dominated by frequent crashes, broken online play, lag, and poor optimization, despite a few positive match experiences. - Windows 8-11GB VRAM (negative, 15 reports): All included reports are negative, citing constant crashes, unstable online matches, and connection or penalty issues. - Windows 12-15GB VRAM (mixed, 15 reports): Some users report stable 1440p 60 FPS performance, but others report frequent online crashes, lag, and penalties. - Caveats: 96 of 1228 reviews expose hardware metadata.; Review sample is mostly Windows-based. Feature extractions: - Community Price: - Community fair range: $10.00 - $30.00 - Reasoning: The reviews consistently reject the $50-$60 full-price tier as poor value. Positive price acceptance clusters around sale pricing: one reviewer calls about $20 acceptable, another says it is worth it only at a 70% discount (roughly $18 if the base price is $60), and a lower-end reviewer would only value it around $10. Other comments ask for discounts, lower price points, or 40-50% off, which supports an upper bound near $30 rather than full price. This places the community's fair base-game range at roughly $10-$30 USD. - Playtime Metrics: - Game completion: 40.0h - Story completion: 6.5h - Session length: N/A - Endgame: 70.0h - Reasoning: Story completion is reported as 6 hours for the Naruto/Shippuden replay plus Boruto story and 6-7 hours for the main Naruto/Shippuden/Boruto story, so storyCompletion is set to 6.5 hours. A completionist platinum run is reported at 40 hours, supporting gameCompletion at 40 hours. The full-collection grind is reported as at least 70+ hours, supporting endgame at 70 hours. No consistent typical session length is reported; isolated mentions such as 0.7 hours, 2 hours, or 6 hours are not enough to establish a sessionLength metric, so it is null. - Time-to-fun: - Summary: Fun is available immediately in arena combat and local or co-op play, especially with friends; enjoyment is mode-dependent, with story and online issues acting as friction rather than delaying a later click. - Stance: Fun immediately - Anchor: N/A - Time to anchor: N/A - Friction: boring story mode and weak slideshow cutscenes; terrible online connection and inability to play with friends; tedious proficiency and title grind; removal of tilts for second jutsu and limited jutsus; crashes and spammers in multiplayer; forced repetitive VR fights to progress story - Unlock drivers: playing locally with friends; playing online with human players; focusing on arena combat and character roster - Conditions: with friends or local co-op; online against human players; for casual players or Naruto fans; if ignoring the story mode; if ignoring online connectivity problems; on discount or sale; if focusing on character roster and arena combat; if not interested in story or online - Player Archetypes: - Disillusioned Storm Series Veteran (no buy) - Motivation: To continue the Naruto Storm series and see it match the depth, story coverage, and polish of earlier entries. - Playstyle: Plays through story modes, compares mechanics and content with prior Storm games, and mixes fan-service exploration with online battles. - Experience: veteran - Purchase stance: no buy - Labels: hardcore Naruto fan; series fan - Reference games: Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4; Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 1-4 - Casual Newcomer Naruto Fan (buy) - Motivation: To enjoy accessible Naruto arena combat and the large character roster, often as a first Storm game or with friends. - Playstyle: Plays story and special story, casual local or online matches, simple controls, and character variety rather than ranked competition. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: buy - Labels: casual player; first Storm game - Reference games: N/A - Ranked Online Competitor (sale) - Motivation: To compete in online ranked matches and master the arena fighting mechanics against other players. - Playstyle: Focuses on ranked PvP, meta character picks, jutsu timing, and online matches; treats story and casual modes as secondary. - Experience: familiar - Purchase stance: sale - Labels: competitive player - Reference games: Dragon Ball Sparking Zero - Completionist Grind Collector (deep sale) - Motivation: To complete achievements, unlock collection items, titles, skins, and character proficiency rewards. - Playstyle: Repeats battles and online modes to level characters, complete achievements, and fill collection menus; treats the game as a long-term checklist. - Experience: mixed - Purchase stance: deep sale - Labels: hoarder player - Reference games: N/A Below are summaries of things people say about the game per category. Each point is assigned a weight that represents how often it is mentioned across all reviews. What players like: - Excellent story mode quality (weight 0.16): The story mode is widely described as good, interesting, and progressively better. It features cool fights and important Naruto elements, sometimes offering a challenge. - Huge character roster (weight 0.16): The game boasts the largest roster in the series, with around 130 characters spanning Naruto, Shippuden, and Boruto. This provides extensive variety and replayability for fans. - Great animations and graphics (weight 0.15): Animations are well done and a treat to watch, while graphics are significantly improved, beautiful, and solid. The game runs smoothly on PC and looks stunning. - Highly positive overall reception (weight 0.12): The game is broadly praised as very good, incredible, amazing, excellent, and fun. Reviewers consistently highlight it as a great experience overall. - Engaging Boruto story mode (weight 0.11): The original Boruto story is emotional, well-constructed, and creative, bringing nostalgia while offering something new. It is often considered the best and most developed part of the story mode. - Best Naruto game yet (weight 0.09): Many consider it the most beautiful and best Naruto game, especially compared to Storm 4. It is seen as a masterpiece and a significant upgrade. - New playable characters added (weight 0.06): Several new playable characters have been introduced, including some via DLC. This expands the roster and adds fresh options for players. - Fun multiplayer with friends (weight 0.06): The game is enjoyable to play with friends, offering good implementation of playing against others. It's a great choice for multiple people. - Smooth and polished gameplay (weight 0.05): Gameplay is smooth, fast, and easy to learn, with a polished feel. It is considered an upgrade over previous titles like Storm 4. Common complaints: - Story mode is rushed (weight 0.36): The story mode is widely criticized as rushed, lacking detail and cutting important battles. It is often described as a slideshow with minimal interaction. - Inferior to Storm 4 (weight 0.32): Players overwhelmingly find the game worse than Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, citing less content, worse story, and fewer mechanics. It feels like a downgrade despite being a newer release. - Online mode broken (weight 0.22): The online mode is frequently unplayable due to constant crashes, bugs, and connection issues. Many players report being unable to complete matches or play with friends. - Not worth the price (weight 0.17): Players feel the game is not worth its price, even at a discount. The lack of content and poor quality make it unjustifiable for the cost. - Online lag and disconnects (weight 0.13): Online matches suffer from severe lag and frequent disconnections. Players are often matched with high-ping opponents, leading to a frustrating experience. - Frequent crashes (weight 0.12): The game crashes constantly, both in single-player and online modes. This severely impacts the playing experience, especially during ranked matches. - Story is a slideshow (weight 0.06): The story mode is presented as a slideshow of still images with voiceover, lacking cinematic battles. This is a major regression from previous games. - Missing Remote Play feature (weight 0.06): The game lacks Remote Play functionality that was present in previous titles. This is a notable omission for players who used it. - No crossplay support (weight 0.05): There is no crossplay between platforms, which fragments the player base and makes the PC online scene feel dead. Players cannot play with friends on other systems. - Missing QTE in story (weight 0.05): Quick Time Events are absent from the story mode, even in moments where they would fit perfectly. This reduces interactivity and excitement. - Few new characters (weight 0.05): The roster of new characters is very limited, and existing characters have barely been refined. This adds to the feeling of a low-effort release. - Story lacks emotional impact (weight 0.05): Finishing the story mode provides no emotional payoff, unlike Storm 4. The absence of epic boss battles and a complete narrative is disappointing. - Game is buggy and broken (weight 0.05): Players describe the game as broken and very buggy, with numerous issues affecting gameplay. This includes crashes and other technical problems. Gameplay feedback: - Story mode content and structure (weight 0.34): The game features a story mode that covers Naruto's story and includes a Boruto arc or special story. It summarizes the Naruto and Boruto stories, though some players find it rushed and lacking important battles. - Slideshow-style story presentation (weight 0.24): Story mode uses a slideshow or PowerPoint-style presentation with static images instead of animated cutscenes. This minimal interaction approach is frequently criticized for feeling static and less engaging. - Online multiplayer with ranked mode (weight 0.18): The game includes online multiplayer with a ranked mode where players climb through ranks. However, online matches suffer from matchmaking issues and occasional lag, impacting the experience. - Two jutsus per character (weight 0.16): Characters now have two ninjutsu (second jutsu) per match, with the second jutsu consuming chakra. This replaces the charged shuriken mechanic for some characters and adds strategic depth to combat. - Core fighting mechanics (weight 0.09): Combat mechanics include attacks, combos, and jutsu usage, forming the core gameplay. The system is refined from previous entries, offering a familiar yet updated fighting experience. - Removal of tilt mechanic (weight 0.06): The tilt mechanic (analog stick + B button) from previous Storm games has been removed, which some players may miss as it was a part of the combat system. - Chakra regeneration system (weight 0.05): Chakra now regenerates automatically and more quickly, allowing passive recovery. This change affects resource management during battles, making jutsu usage more frequent. - Local multiplayer available (weight 0.05): The game supports local multiplayer, allowing players to compete against friends in versus mode. This adds a social element alongside online play. - DLC characters and roster (weight 0.05): The game has a base roster of playable characters, with additional characters available as DLC. Some characters are locked behind paid DLC, which may affect the full roster experience. Performance notes: - Frequent Game Crashes (weight 0.13): Many players report the game crashes frequently during play or even on startup. This is the most widespread technical issue, affecting normal gameplay and causing frustration. - Crashes During Online Matches (weight 0.11): The game crashes or closes automatically specifically during online play, often when starting a match or mid-game. This severely impacts the multiplayer experience. - Severe Online Lag (weight 0.11): Online matches are plagued by lag, high ping, and delay even with wired connections. This makes battles feel unresponsive and dragged out. - Unstable Online Connections (weight 0.08): Many players report unstable or bad connections during online matches, even with players from the same region. This leads to a poor multiplayer experience. - Steam Deck And ROG Ally Issues (weight 0.07): Performance on Steam Deck and ROG Ally is terrible, with crashes, stutters, and FPS drops. Compatibility issues with Proton/SteamOS may be the cause. - Good Performance And Ports (weight 0.06): Some players report good performance, improved frame rates, and smooth runs across platforms. The game runs on minimally powerful computers. - Poor Netcode And Input Delay (weight 0.05): The netcode is widely criticized, causing input delay and inability to perform actions online. Even with good connections, gameplay feels unresponsive. - Poor Optimization (weight 0.05): The game suffers from bad optimization, leading to performance issues on various hardware. Stutters and low GPU usage indicate poor utilization. - Freezes And Crashes (weight 0.04): The game freezes and crashes frequently, sometimes without any error message. This affects both single-player and online modes. - Controller Detection Problems (weight 0.04): The game fails to detect input devices like keyboard, mouse, and controllers, or controllers stop working mid-game. This makes the game unplayable for some. - 60 FPS Lock (weight 0.04): The game is locked at 60 FPS, and some players are unable to change it. This is a limitation for those with high-refresh-rate monitors. - Crashes Cause Ranked Penalties (weight 0.03): Game crashes during ranked matches result in penalties or bans, as the system treats them as quits. This unfairly punishes players for technical issues. - High Ping In Online Matches (weight 0.03): Players consistently experience high ping during online matches, even when using Ethernet. This contributes to lag and a poor online experience. - Crashes After Winning (weight 0.03): Some players report the game crashing immediately after winning a match, which can count as a loss or quit. This is highly frustrating. - Graphical And Audio Issues (weight 0.03): Some players notice graphical quality drops with pixelation, and audio lacks bass compared to previous games. These are minor but noticeable. - Animation Frame Rate Bugs (weight 0.02): Certain character attacks, like Susanoo's charge or Obito's fireball, appear to run at 30fps, causing visual inconsistencies. This is a niche issue. - Low PC Requirements (weight 0.02): The PC requirements are considered low, allowing the game to run on a wide range of hardware. This is a positive point for accessibility. - Widescreen Not Supported (weight 0.01): The game does not support widescreen, resulting in black bars on the sides. This is a limitation for modern displays. Recommendations: - Skip, Play Storm 4 Instead (weight 0.2): A recurring recommendation is to buy Naruto Storm 4 or the earlier Storm games instead of this title. Reviewers describe Storm 4 as better, more polished, and more complete. - Buy Only On Deep Sale (weight 0.2): Numerous reviewers say the game is only worth it at a steep discount, commonly suggesting 40-70% off or heavy sales. At full price it is widely considered a poor value. - Not Recommended Overall (weight 0.19): A large share of feedback explicitly advises against purchasing the game at all, calling it a waste of money and not worth the hassle. Many reviewers say they cannot recommend it to anyone regardless of price. - Only For Naruto Fans (weight 0.17): The game is mainly recommended for dedicated Naruto or Boruto fans, while non-fans are often told to avoid it. Even some fans note that the story experience may be better elsewhere. - Multiplayer Requires Friends (weight 0.1): Reviewers say the multiplayer is not worthwhile without a friend to play with, and recommend it mainly for local co-op or single-player. Solo online play is frequently described as disappointing. - Own Storm 4 First (weight 0.09): Several reviewers note that if you already own Storm 4 with DLC, this purchase is harder to justify. It is most worthwhile for those who have not played Storm 4 and can get it cheaply. Other player notes: - Inferior to Storm 4 (weight 0.23): This game is widely considered inferior to Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 in nearly every aspect, including story, content, and overall quality. Many describe it as feeling like a mere update or DLC to Storm 4 rather than a true sequel. - Falls short of older entries (weight 0.18): Comparisons to earlier Storm titles like Storm 2, 3, and Revolution frequently highlight that this game lacks the innovation, story quality, and engaging confrontations of its predecessors. - Ultimate Edition DLC contents (weight 0.13): The Ultimate Edition includes downloadable characters and a season pass, but some customization items are not covered. There is no upgrade path for existing owners to access these extras. - Part of Storm series (weight 0.11): It is the fifth entry in CyberConnect2's Ultimate Ninja Storm series and is often compared to the franchise's bridge games like Revolution and Generations. - Recycled content from Storm 4 (weight 0.08): A common criticism is that the game heavily reuses assets and content from Storm 4, with minimal graphical changes and a similar feel. It is often described as a copy-paste with more characters. - Story handled better before (weight 0.08): Compared to Storm 4, the story mode is seen as lacking the care and emotional impact that made previous entries memorable. Some view it as an improved retelling rather than a new narrative. - Battle pass system included (weight 0.04): The game features a battle pass, a monetization model that has been noted by multiple reviewers. This indicates an ongoing live-service approach. - Adds Boruto characters and DLC (weight 0.04): The game introduces new Boruto characters as DLC, including a Boruto Special Story DLC. This expands the roster but is locked behind additional purchases. - Moderate PC requirements (weight 0.04): The PC system requirements are considered reasonable, targeting medium-range gaming PCs rather than high-end hardware. - Often purchased on sale (weight 0.04): Many users bought the game at a discount, such as during a 70% off sale, suggesting that value at full price is questionable. Emotions: - Disappointment (weight 0.32): The game is widely criticized for feeling like an overpriced DLC of Storm 4, with recycled content, cut boss fights, and a story mode reduced to slideshows. Multiplayer is broken with crashes, bans, poor netcode, and dead lobbies. Many expected an ultimate Naruto experience but received minimal innovation and less content than previous entries. - Frustration (weight 0.22): Constant crashes, unjust bans, and penalties for technical issues beyond player control make online play nearly impossible. Matchmaking is plagued by lag, high ping, and long waits. Grinding for proficiency, low coin rewards, and missing basic features add to the frustration of a game focused on online that fails to deliver. - Satisfaction (weight 0.08): The game delivers a large character roster, enjoyable combat, and smooth gameplay for many players. The Boruto special story and new mechanics like the second ninjutsu add freshness, while local multiplayer and diverse characters provide fun. Despite flaws, it satisfies fans seeking a Storm experience. - Anger (weight 0.06): Unfair bans due to crashes, greedy DLC pricing, and lazy developer decisions anger players. The game is seen as a rip-off that exploits fans with scarce rewards, unfinished content, and misleading trailers. Constant crashes and abandoned support compound the rage. - Enjoyment (weight 0.04): Players enjoy the fast-paced combat, huge roster, and fun multiplayer with friends, especially when playing as favorite characters. The story mode and special Boruto arc provide engaging moments. The game plays like classic Storm titles, offering a blast for Naruto fans. - Boredom (weight 0.03): Repetitive story mode, slow dialogue-heavy special story, and formulaic bot fights become tiresome. Online rewards passive playstyles, and long queues with few players add to the monotony. The lack of content and meaningful progression makes the game boring after completing everything. - Excitement (weight 0.02): The emotional Boruto story, cinematic cutscenes, and improved combat with two-ninjutsu system generate excitement. Animated scenes for certain characters and satisfying finishing moves heighten the thrill. Fans are hyped by the ability to recreate iconic Naruto battles. - Annoyance (weight 0.02): Battle passes, poor controller support, and forced ranked play annoy players. High ping from bad servers and cut ninjutsu arsenals add irritation. Easy difficulty, inverted online controls, and rage-quitter issues further frustrate the experience. - Dissatisfaction (weight 0.01): Ranked mode is in a poor state with no voice chat and bad penalties. Censorship of blood, overpriced content, and outdated mechanics disappoint. Story mode is a rushed replay of Storm 4 fights with PowerPoint presentation, missing key battles. - Love (weight 0.01): Fans love the anime cutscene style, customization, and chaotic combat. Hikari Uchiha is praised as the best character, and the special story mode resonates deeply with Naruto fans. Growing up with the franchise and the game's fire soundtrack inspire strong affection. - Regret (weight 0.01): Players regret buying a game that feels like a lazy cash grab, even on sale. Many refunded or missed the refund window after spending full price for minimal changes from Storm 4. Hype and nostalgia led to a purchase that fails to deliver. - Disgust (weight 0.01): The online community is full of spam, menus feel like a cheap mobile game with daily login rewards, and gameplay suffers from slow motion. Removal of excellent levels and boss fights, reskinned characters, and PPT story content are revolting. The UI is the worst in the series. - Enthusiasm (weight 0.01): Some consider it the best in the Storm saga, praising fun and dynamic gameplay, fluid combat, and visually stunning jutsu. They recommend it to everyone and want to platinum it. The Boruto story and overall enjoyment fuel their enthusiasm. - Appreciation (weight 0.01): Players appreciate the good animations for characters like Tsunade and Ino, and the emotional original story written by Kishimoto. The Steam version allows FPS settings in ranked. Preference for Dragon Ball is noted, but the Naruto story still moves them. - Nostalgia (weight 0.01): Growing up with Naruto and Dragon Ball brings warm memories, and the special story mode recalls the anime's key moments. Replaying missions from different Storm versions evokes old times. Familiar scenes and characters make devoted fans feel nostalgic. - Sadness (weight 0.01): Naruto is fading while Dragon Ball remains strong, and the series becoming a cash grab wastes its potential. The story mode is poor and unoriginal, and Hikari Uchiha being non-playable disappoints. After over 10 years of waiting, the game is a letdown. - Hope (weight 0.01): Players hope for more new characters like Boruto-era Konohamaru and expect missing ones to be added via DLC. They wish for Uchiha Hikaru DLC or a new Filler Episodes-style game. Expectations for new content keep optimism alive. - Liking (weight 0.01): The Nanashi and Boruto relationship makes players like Boruto more, and the unique story, new characters, and modified combat are enjoyable. Good attacks and combos, plus cool characters like Kawaki and Jigen, contribute to overall liking. - Joy (weight 0.01): Excellent story and cutscenes bring joy, and the game restores combat after a mobile title's closure. Customization like changing clothes colors and adding ears is fun. A large roster and alive multiplayer without cheaters add to the joy. - Confusion (weight 0.01): Players are confused by unfair bans for disconnections and inability to hit downed opponents despite claims. The Boruto characters are unknown to some, and audio being quieter than other games at same volume is puzzling.}