An endlessly charming game that's unfortunately quite janky. Combat is very rough, lacking many quality of life features, and is frequently frustrating because of it. Story mode is amazingly bland and repetitive with very little variety in story or side missions, and none of the amazing cutscenes this series would come to be known for. Even the best part of this game, Konoha free roam, is hindered by Konoha itself being disappointingly empty. Although Naruto's silky smooth mobility in free roam makes bouncing around the rooftops endlessly satisfying. It's a tragedy that no other game in this series tried to refine this particular aspect.

However, even having said all that, Ultimate Ninja Storm still manages to be fun and incredibly charming. The character models, animations and combat techniques are amazingly detailed, and Konoha village has been lovingly recreated by someone who either really loves the series, or was very dedicated to doing a good job. The music, aesthetics, and Japanese voices also add to the experience. Overall I'd say this is a solid foundation for a truly great series to build off of.