The game is ultimately a fighting game like CyberConnect2’s other Naruto efforts, yet the Ultimate Mission Mode attempts to blend in a large amount of adventure in the form of non-combat missions, and the result is less than satisfying. Most of the missions are repetitive mini-games (a majority of which involve jumping to and dodging tree branches), and there is lots of running around from Point A to Point B while in the central hub of Konoha. Even key elements in the story are represented by glorified mini-games rather than cutscenes, and while it would work if the mini-games were unique, even some of the most integral story moments are just another rehash of the same ones you’ve already gotten bored with -- except they’re longer. It becomes a chore to finish the story and complete the missions, which is unfortunate because you really need to in order to unlock all of the characters. Some truly awe-inspiring boss fights break up the lackluster and repetitive missions, but don’t come frequently enough.

Thankfully, fighting in the Mission Mode (and the Free for All versus mode) shines. Most of the attacking is accomplished with one melee button. Tapping it multiple times will lead to combos, but mixing it up with other face buttons will lead to different types of attacks. You can jump, dash, throw shurikens and charge your chakra to release even more destruction. If you’ve played any Naruto fighting games before, Ultimate Ninja Storm will feel instantly familiar. It’s very easy to pick up, and the controls are intuitive and simple enough that a newcomer can manage some success, yet a master will almost always win.

Defending yourself is harder to master. Since it’s so easy to go on the offensive, if you’re fighting any competent opponent, defense is the key to winning. By utilizing the L2/R2 triggers, you’re able to either block attacks or execute a Substitution Jutsu by pressing the button and then hitting a direction on the analog stick at the right time.

Along with the normal actions the ninja in the game take, you can also call for support characters to assist you. These characters are called in with the press of a direction pad button, and perform a variety of attacks and skills to help you in your battle.

Perhaps the only weaknesses with the fighting portion of the game are the lack of playable characters (only 25 in total, less than even the last Ultimate PS2 release) and the continued omission of an online multiplayer. Yes, historically fighting games have been difficult to code for online play due to latency and other issues, but we’ve seen several big titles include online capabilities in the last year, so why couldn’t this game? It’s hard enough finding a friend who enjoys fighting games enough to play with, but finding one that enjoys fighting games and Naruto? That’s a much taller order to fill.

It’s too bad that Ultimate Ninja Storm itself can’t use a support character to make the Mission Mode more enjoyable. Why can’t we get a Naruto game with a story mode like Broken Bond, and a fighting system like the Ultimate series? Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm may be one of the prettiest games of the year, but even the excellent graphics can’t save it from the curse of so many Naruto games before it: it just doesn’t live up to its license, and the result feels more mediocre than magnificent. Fans of the franchise should look to pick it up purely for the awesome display you’ll see on your TV, but if you don’t own at least one piece of Naruto-related merchandise, you’re better off looking elsewhere.