Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 Review for PlayStation Portable (PSP)

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 box art

System: PSP	Review Rating Legend
Dev: CyberConnect2	1.0 - 1.9 = Avoid	4.0 - 4.4 = Great
Pub: Namco Bandai	2.0 - 2.4 = Poor	4.5 - 4.9 = Must Buy
Release: May 11, 2010	2.5 - 2.9 = Average	5.0 = The Best
Players: 1-4	3.0 - 3.4 = Fair
ESRB Rating: Teen	3.5 - 3.9 = Good

The game's visuals also feel like they are not as good as they could be. Cinema scenes are delivered via stoic character models that barely move except to change expression. While this type of plot scene might have been acceptable four or five years ago, we've seen that the PSP is capable of far superior graphics, and it is a shame to see the hardware not put to use. The in-game graphics also suffer from low overall quality. Most of the game's platform-style levels feature bland environments composed of repetitive elements. Though fighting stages are a little more detailed, they don't have the depth that other fighting stages in the Ultimate Ninja series have featured.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 screenshot

Though the visuals are disappointing, the sound in Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 is excellent. The game features both English and Japanese voiceover, with lines and dialogue from the anime performed by the original voice actors. The music in the game is also sampled from the anime, and it is quite pleasant to listen to.

Your enjoyment of Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 will depend upon your familiarity with both the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Heroes series as well as the Naruto Shippuden storyline. If you've experienced either of these things before, then you know exactly what you are in for and will probably be disappointed by the game's lack of new content.

If you've never played an Ultimate Ninja Heroes game before, you may get some enjoyment out of this title, but because of the exclusionary nature of the storyline, don't expect to understand much of the plot. If we do get another follow up in the Ultimate Ninja Heroes series, I really hope there will be some innovation brought to the table and not more of the same, rehashed content.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor

RATING OUT OF 5

RATING DESCRIPTION

2.4

Graphics
Character models are stoic and environments are bland.

3.5

Control
Battle system is easy to learn and will feel familiar to Ultimate Ninja series fans.

4.0

Music / Sound FX / Voice Acting
Voiceovers in both English and Japanese sound great, and background music is pleasant to listen to.

3.0

Play Value
Though there is plenty to explore in the game's story mode, the story is all well-tread ground and there aren't any supporting modes other than an ad-hoc multiplayer mode.

3.1

Overall Rating - Fair
Not an average. See Rating legend above for a final score breakdown.

Game Features:

In Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 players can re-live the Naruto Shippuden storyline up to the Hidan and Kakuzu arc in the new Master Road mode as they follow the Nine-Tail Fox ninja in his continuing adventures to save his friend Sasuke.

With more than 80 action-packed missions, players' skills are put to the test as they face intense battles using one of more than 50 characters.

Now for the first time in the series' history, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 expands upon the series' renowned fighting engine and updates it for four-player brawls. Through an ad-hoc connection, players can team up with a partner to take on opponents while unleashing devastating Jutsu attacks or single-handedly battle multiple enemies.

Additionally, Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Heroes 3 features a three-player cooperative mode which allows players to experience select adventures in the main story. As Naruto explores familiar settings throughout the Leaf and Sand villages, players will also be tasked to complete specific missions including winning battles, evading danger and much more.