Dragon Ball’s Triumph Forces Naruto to Step Up or Fall Behind

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The Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series is well-known for being popular Naruto games. Therefore, it was quite disheartening for many fans when Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections came out with mixed feedback. Primarily a repetition of old ideas, the game didn’t offer nearly as much content from Boruto as anticipated, often recycling animations and characters from the previous series installment. In contrast, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero has been released more recently, and it has received a much more positive response.

To stay competitive, Naruto fighting games must adapt to the rising bar set by new releases like Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero. These fresh anime fight titles offer insight into what Naruto can achieve, but its recurring issues such as reusing animations, maintaining the same roster, and neglecting storyline development have become problematic in recent years. To thrive in today’s market, Naruto fighting games need to innovate and revamp their formula.

Comparing Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero to Naruto X Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections

Dragon Ball, like Naruto, falls under the same anime category, but it’s remarkably more popular when it comes to video game adaptations. Not all of these games meet expectations, but Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero was generally applauded for its faithful representation of Dragon Ball, its diverse cast of characters, and its innovative storyline. With a successful game to its credit, Dragon Ball‘s recent success serves as a stark contrast to the slower pace of Naruto‘s progress in this area. Given its potential for a fighting game, it’s regrettable that Naruto has fallen short in this aspect so far.

Following the triumph of Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, Connections seemed to take a few steps back in several aspects. Regrettably, Connections stands as the sole Naruto game release, even though it boasts an expansive cast of characters, intricate lore, and a devoted fanbase that’s thriving over a decade beyond the manga’s end. This situation represents a squandered opportunity.

On the other hand, Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero managed to deliver complex gameplay, multiple storylines dependent on player choices, a larger roster, and additional gameplay elements and features – all within the same fighting game genre as Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm. This comparison underscores the areas where the Ultimate Ninja Storm series could have improved.

How Naruto Games Can Create a New Identity

To keep the excitement alive in Naruto games, it would be beneficial to explore new dimensions by taking inspiration from the captivating elements of Dragon Ball: Sparking! Zero and incorporating them into a Naruto game. The underwhelming reception towards Naruto x Boruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections was predominantly due to repetition in characters, animations, and narratives across several games, which fell short of effectively mirroring the essence of both the Naruto and Boruto manga and anime series.

To engage its players effectively, as Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections failed to do, a game could focus on delivering a compelling narrative mode. Regrettably, while the game revolved around the Boruto series, deep into its main storyline, the narrative mode barely touched upon Boruto‘s story. Instead, the resources for Naruto x Boruto were directed towards a fresh tale featuring an unfamiliar character, rather than sticking to the existing story and providing more content from a series that fans are already invested in. A wiser approach would be to stay faithful to the story and offer more of a series that players already appreciate, as opposed to rehashing old ideas and introducing new characters that they’re not familiar with.

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2025-02-12 03:24