Ultimate Ninja 4 : Naruto Shippuden

[Charlton]

Introduction -

The Naruto: Ultimate Ninja series ( which is known as the Naruto: Narutimate Hero in Japan) is a series of 3-D fighting games, based on the popular manga and anime series Naruto by Masashi Kishimoto, for the PlayStation 2. They were developed by CyberConnect2 and published by Namco Bandai.
The series includes three games based on the first part of the Naruto story, which were then followed by two titles based on Naruto Shippūden, as well as spinoffs for the PlayStation Portable.

Ultimate Ninja 4: Naruto Shippuden (also known as Naruto Shippuden: Narutimate Accel in Japan) is the fourth installment of the Ultimate Ninja series, and the first in the Accels completely redone and improved scenes from Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3.

The game features over 52 characters (including transformations) and also has an original story mode new to the series that takes place between the Sasuke Retrieval Arc and the SHIPPUDEN Arc called The Black Shadow.

[Charlton]

Ultimate Ninja 4 introduces Naruto Shippūden characters (over 52 playable characters) for the first time. The game covers the first 17 episodes of the Naruto Shippuden series.

Free mode allows one or two players to compete in arenas with two different levels. The gameplay mechanics are simple as just hammering a single button to beat his opponent. We can still cope, jump, load or launch shurikens when the need arises, and of course it is always possible to trigger the devastating Jutsu usually illustrated by a deluge of special effects.

Ultimate Jutsu

One of the changes called Fixed Ultimate Jutsu is introduced, which change as health decreases or if the player enters any secondary mode.

History Mode includes completely redone and improved scenes from Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3 as well as redone CGI scenes. A new mode in the game called Master Mode also allows players to compete in challenging missions, explore the massive world of Shippuden and level up characters.

A Master Mode Scenerio

The graphical style of the game has also been toned down, (retaining the anime look but with much less pronounced levels must be unlocked by finding certain items while playing through the single-player aspect of the game).

[Charlton]

I really enjoyed playing Ultimate Ninja Storm, as the game was a tremendous step for CyberConnect2 both in terms of gameplay and visuals. Ultimate Ninja 4, on the other hand, is like jumping back in time and regressing to the older, less-enjoyable battle system.

Ultimate Ninja 4 is a one-on-one, fighting game that occupies the Naruto universe, where ninja and ninja-related paraphernalia are commonplace. The battle system of Ultimate Ninja 4 lets two fighters clash in a variety of levels that each have two planes of combat. At any time, you can switch between the planes and fight in the background. Besides that plane-jumping element, you'll be sticking with the traditional mashing of the Circle button and performing various Jutsu techniques, which are like special moves.

The Ultimate Challenge mode in Ultimate Ninja 3 has been replaced by a new Master Mode in Ultimate Ninja 4.
Master Mode scenario takes place in large environments in 3D which includes many impressive effects -
Naruto moving in the third person,
Player exploring dungeons,
Talking to many characters,
Get all sorts of objects ,
Face hordes of enemies appear from nowhere.

[Charlton]

Ultimate Ninja 4 is divided into three main parts:

1. Master Mode
2. Hero Mode
3. Free Battle

• Free Battle - lets you setup straight matches with any of your unlocked characters, which include older and younger versions of the fighters.
  
  
• Hero Mode - lets you play through familiar scenes and battles from the original Naruto series, but the scenes must be unlocked by playing Master Mode, which is technically the bulk of Ultimate Ninja 4.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• Master Mode - In Master Mode, players will guide Naruto through the initial plot arcs of the Shippuden series, which is punctuated by a host of side missions and normal battles. However, there battles are specific to Master Mode that actually use a different combat engine. And they are really terrible.
  These Master Battles takes place on the free-roaming 3D environments, but they really function unexpectedly with mashing the Circle button.
  In Free Battles, atleast there's way for more timing and skill involved, but Master Battles truly are button-mashers in the worst way. In this, by pounding on the Circle button, Naruto will zip from enemy to enemy and chain endless combos together without breaking a sweat. I bet countless Master battles without even looking at the screen, which is terribly embarrassing.

[Charlton]

Conclusion -

If you are completely impressed by the Shippuden series but don't have a Play Station 3, Ultimate Ninja 4 is still a fair Naruto game that enables enough unlockables with new arena to explore, tons of bonus and number of playable characters.

Despite its relatively disappointing adventure mode and its lack of major innovations, this fourth series of Ultimate Ninja for Playstation 2 still able to hold the fans of Naruto a long time.