Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker

While it's certainly not even close to being what we got with Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm, it's still a fun and enjoyable game that surprised me quite a lot more than I expected it to. The asking price of $60 might be a bit much to some, but if you're a fan of Naruto in any capacity I'd say the game is worth checking out at some point.

This might be the first Naruto game in a long time that does something new, blending anime with class-based online battles. The idea may seem a little strange but it works well, and it would be great to see Bandai Namco build off this with other anime franchises in future. Shinobi Striker is well worth your time if you like the Naruto series and even worth trying out if you just want a new multiplayer experience to get lost in.

If you’re looking for a deep retelling of Naruto’s story, or new chapter in the saga all together, Shinobi Striker is not for you. In fact, there isn’t really a “story” at all. Instead, Shinobi Striker focuses on online multiplayer battles and a batch of unlockable solo missions. You get the solo missions by talking to characters from the series in the small hub-world, with most of them being prefaced by a short cutscene introducing the mission. The core of the game is its multiplayer, so the lack of a full-fledged campaign isn’t too disappointing, but I can’t help but admit it would have been...

Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker has both its good and bad moments.  Unfortunately a lot of the bad moments for me was with the combat and constantly getting knocked down with barely anytime to defend myself when getting back up before the onslaught continued, but a lot of that I'm willing to chalk up to my own lack of skill.  Still, the VR Missions are enjoyable once you learn the nuances of combat, but don't expect to see me floating around the online lobbies any time soon.

This ninja has seen his fair share of fighters and brawlers over the years. However, he's now battling online so get ready to fight!

In our Naruto to Boruto PS4 review, we look at the latest gaming entry in the Naruto series and how it fairs in the world of ninja's.

I will say that Shinobi Striker certainly looks and sounds like Naruto, as it adapts Masashi Kishimoto’s distinct visual style perfectly. The music and sound effects feel straight out of the anime as well, and the inclusion of both English and Japanese voices is a nice addition.

Whether you’re a devout Naruto fan or not, I think Naruto to Boruto: Shinobi Striker is a game you should give a miss. With some major updates and a perhaps a price cut to draw more players in, it could become a decent way to spend your time. But until then, it’s likely to just annoy you. The idea of developing your own ninja is a great one, but here it relies on you engaging in action that feels borderline broken at times, sucking all the fun out of the process.