Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is available now and fans of the manga/anime will want to get this game to wield all the mighty power the Shinobi World has to offer.
But before you dive into the online and local multiplayer fighting, you’ll want to know all the tricks to becoming a competent fighting in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4.
While the battling is pretty simple, there are some intricacies you’ll want to be aware of especially when it comes to multi-manned teams. If you aren’t familiar with the Ultimate Ninja Storm series, check out our battle guide for help.
BASICS
Combos
Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 has very simple battle controls. Unlike a lot of other fighting games, Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 doesn’t benefit from long combo lists that many fighting game players can master and perform in competitive play.
You’ll only be using two inputs to attack and perform combos (TRIANGLE and CIRCLE for the PS4) and it’s very easy to spam CIRCLE, CIRCLE, CIRCLE, to get a good combo off. Yes, you can mix in the X button or tilt the analog stick to vary up the combo but the crux of your fighting is done with those two inputs.
Evasion Techniques
R2 is the block button and you’ll use this to block opponent's item tosses and strikes. However, THROWS will bypass any block. You can block by holding down R2 and then pressing CIRCLE.
You can also GUARD BLOCK, which acts as a counter, to push your enemy back allowing you to close the gap and perform combos of your own. This, however, needs precise timing.
If blocking is not your game, you can also press X and the analog left or right to flip to either side to avoid shuriken or ranged jutsu. It’s a nifty trick that also needs some timing but if mastered can save you some health and chakra.
And when you’re hit backwards, hold the X button to rebound off the ground quickly so you can get back on the offensive.
Weapons
The shinobi of Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 are all equipped with various weapons that help you in the right situations.
Your SQUARE button will launch kunai that you can use to inflict damage from afar, put distance between you and your opponent or it can stop your opponent from charging their chakra either by hitting them or causing them to stop and block.
Players also have four other weapons they can use by pressing one of the direction buttons on the control pad. You have paper bombs that can penetrate blocks, ground traps to keep you safe while you charge up your chakra. You can have your shinobi charge attack your opponent to break their guard and leave them temporarily stunned. Each character has different weapons. Try them all to see which works best for you.
CHAKRA
Chakra is the most important part of battles in Ultimate Ninja Storm. If you’re low on Chakra, you’re going to be in for a long battle.
Charka is used to for all of you secret techniques and Jutsu, which we will get into more later.
The bar below your health meter is your chakra meter, this will increase as you deal damage. You can also charge your chakra by holding down the TRIANGLE button but you’ll leave yourself open for a bit.
Also, if you knock your opponent to the ground blue spheres will appear which you can absorb to fill your chakra.
SUBSTITUTION
The Substitution Jutsu is arguably the most important part of fighting in Ultimate Ninja Storm 4. This technique will get you out of combos and avoid attacks by simply pressing a button. If you’re close to your opponent this will give you the opening you need to go on the offensive.
There’s a meter below the chakra meter that shows how many substitutions you can perform, and this is filled as you attack and are attacked.
It’s not unlikely for both fighters to substitute back and forth until you both are out of meter.
JUTSU
Every Shinobi has two jutsu they can use. The first is performed by inputting TRIANGLE, CIRCLE on the PS4, which will drain some chakra and you’ll need to have your meter past the first circle on the chakra meter to perform.
The other Jutsu is your Shinobi’s finishing move. Input TRIANGLE, TRIANGLE, CIRCLE to perform a more powerful attack. If you land this move, a cut scene will appear with your ninja performing some unbelievable attack.
There are also Secret Techniques that certain Shinobi teams have but we’ll get into that in the TEAMS section.
TEAMS
Like in past games, Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 allows each fighter to bring in up to three shinobi at once. This leads to some increased strategy and new techniques.
First off, input R1 and L1 to allow your other teammates to come in and perform their first jutsu. Use this to stop your opponent’s attacks or combos when you are out of substitutions.
You can also change your character or “leader” by tiling the right analog stick left or right. You can switch out characters who all carry their own chakra and substitution meters. But beware as they all share the health bar.
Each character has a team support ability that is always active in battle. There are seven different abilities and they all have different functions.
Strike Back - Support will hit back an opponent who is flung across the stage.
Charge Assist - Receive help from friends and raise your chakra.
Cover Fire - support reinforces your chakra shuriken with their own shuriken.
Dash Cut - will block an opponent who uses ninja dash or chakra dash.
Charge Guard - Support blocks enemy attacks while you charge.
Break Guard - When you suffer a Break Guard, support defends you from attack.
Secret Technique Substitution - support takes enemy’s secret technique for you.
Secret Techniques are some of the most powerful Jutsu in the game. You’ll need a team of two or three and are team specific. Not all combinations have Secret Techniques but it’s rather simple to figure out which team has them.
Team 7 will have one, the Sand Siblings or the team of Kakashi, Rin and Obito will all have one. There’s a meter that shows when you can perform this secret technique and you’ll need your chakra to be maxed out to perform it.
The game will inform you when you can perform it and you’ll just have to input TRIANGLE, TRIANGLE, TRIANGLE, CIRCLE and land the attack.
