Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3

Lore & Background

The game's story begins with a flashback to the attack of the Nine-tailed Demon Fox on Konohagakure, where Fourth Hokage Minato Namikaze faces Madara Uchiha and the fox. The narrative then moves to after Ultimate Ninja Storm 2, as the five village leaders confront Sasuke Uchiha, who intends to kill acting Hokage Danzo Shimura. Madara saves Sasuke and declares a ninja world war. Naruto trains to control the Nine-Tailed Fox's chakra with help from Killer Bee and his late mother Kushina Uzumaki, while the fourth ninja world war begins against Madara's army of White Zetsu and Kabuto Yakushi's reanimated ninja. Kabuto revives the real Madara Uchiha, revealing that Tobi is an imposter, and Naruto defeats Tobi and his forces.

Reader's Guide

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 received positive reviews and good sales, surpassing its predecessors. Critics praised the return of boss battles from Storm 2, the Ultimate Decision mechanics, and improved graphics and controls. Reception of story-mode development based on cutscene count was mixed, and lack of depth in fighting mechanics and under-use of hack and slash were criticized. The game introduced mob battles similar to Koei's Dynasty Warriors series, where players control a character fighting multiple enemies. A re-release, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 3 Full Burst, was released in October 2013 in North America and Japan, and in January 2014 in Europe, adding enhanced cinematics, all previously released DLC costumes (except Naruto's Goku costume and Sakura's Hello Kitty costume), more missions, one playable character, and an additional story chapter. The game was later re-released as part of a trilogy with the first two Storm games in 2017, and also released online that year.

Did You Know?

• The game was first leaked online in Weekly Shōnen Jump magazine in June 2012.
• Two alternative costumes for Naruto Uzumaki (a samurai outfit and Goku's uniform from Dragon Ball) were based on illustrations by Masashi Kishimoto.
• The Full Burst version was called a 'director's cut' by CyberConnect2.
• Downloadable content included a Hello Kitty-inspired costume for Sakura and a Swimsuit Pack.