Naruto | Geekscape

Geekscape Reviews: ‘Boruto: Naruto Next Generations’ Vol.1

by Natalie KipperApril 5, 2017

Can’t get enough Naruto? His story may have ended but its success spawned the sequel, Boruto: Naruto Next Generations, staring the now-adult ninja’s son named – you guessed it – Boruto. This series also features children of many of other characters from the original series.

In truth, I did not keep up with Naruto, but thankfully this manga has little side-notes about which children belong to which couples. As a relative newbie to the series, I greatly appreciated this feature. Without giving to much away, expect the offspring of pretty much every character you can imagine. It was fun to the teenagers from the first series as adults living peaceful, domestic lives. I imagine fans of Naruto will get an even bigger kick out of it than I did.

BORUTO: NARUTO NEXT GENERATIONS © 2016 by Masashi Kishimoto, Ukyo Kodachi, Mikio Ikemoto/SHUEISHA Inc.

The first volume centers around three key plot threads. The most prevalent of which is Boruto’s rocky relationship with his father. It looks as though, while Naruto may be a great ninja, he sucks at being an involved parent. Boruto’s dislike for his dad drives him to make several choices that I think he normally would be ambivalent about.

Which leads us to the second thread: the Chunin Exam, a ninja certification test. Originally planning to sit it out, a series of events coaxes Boruto into participating. A good portion of the volume is dedicated to the trials of the Exam. This part felt a little boring. I realize that the whole “heroes facing a trial” trope is prevalent in shonen manga but it just wasn’t something I cared about. To the story’s credit, the characters did make use of some clever solutions to their tests and I imagine that fans of this genre will be wowed.

The third and final thread follows Orochimaru’s children and the odd relationship they share with him. This sequence takes place at the end of the book so I don’t want to spoil too much but there it is safe to say that a) Orochimaru is a weirdo and b) there is a twist at the end.

As I said before, I didn’t have a ton of experience with the original Naruto manga to build on when I read this. All the same, it was somewhat enjoyable. I don’t think this is something that I would purchase nor continue to read on my own but I can imagine why readers who dig this type of story would be interested. It isn’t very often that fans get a chance to revisit beloved characters and see how their lives have progressed (fan fiction not included). That merit alone should warrant it a read for Naruto lovers.

Volume One of Boruto: Naruto Next Generations earns a 3 out of 5 in my book. If you are a fan of the first series, that score would probably be closer to a 5 out of 5. I can see this sequel caters to fans and that is awesome but it also makes it harder for those initiated to jump into the story.

[This review is based on a sample provided by VIZ Media. All opinions are my own.]

The Sound Four Make Their Long Awaited Debut In The ‘Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’ DLC Pack 3

by Josh JacksonMay 8, 2016

After a seven year wait, the Sound Four are finally coming to the Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm series as part of the Storm 4 DLC pack 3.

As the four elite bodyguards of Orochimaru, Sakon/Ukon, Jirobo, Kidomaru and Tayuya made their debuts towards the end of Part 1 of the Naruto anime and manga. Serving as foils to Kiba, Choji, Neji and Shikamaru as their squad attempted to stop Sasuke from defecting to the enemy side, each member of the villainous group has their own unique abilities, all of which are on full display once they step foot into the game. Previously appearing exclusively as support characters, fans have been pleading for these characters to become playable, so it’s good to see that CyberConnect2 is finally answering the call.

In addition to the four new characters, DLC Pack 3 will also come with three new Combination Secret Techniques in the form of the Sound Four’s “Ninja Art: Underworld Formation”, Zabuza and Kisame’s “Seven Blades of the Blood Mist”, and Zabuza and Haku’s “Cold Assault of the Demon Blade”, ten Ninja Info Cards, 10 Matching Voices and 10 costumes from past games in the Ultimate Ninja Storm franchise. Check out the trailer below to see all of these new moves and fighters in action!

Who else is planning on downloading the latest addition to the Storm 4 cast? Check out our full review of the game here, then come back and let us know what you think of the DLC set in the comments!

‘Sailor Moon Sailor Stars’ Headlines Hulu’s March Anime Releases

by Natalie KipperMarch 2, 2016

Hulu recently announced their anime release lineup for March. The highlights include a title I am particularly excited about. Additional episodes of Sailor Moon‘s fifth and final story arc, Sailor Stars, will be airing in the United States for the first time (legally). Two newly subtitled episodes will air each week. Look forward to episodes 190 and 191 on March 7, episodes 192 and 193 on March 14, episodes 194 and 195 on March 21, and episodes 196 and 197 on March 28. To add to the excitement, Sailor Moon Season Four is available to watch in its entirety.

Joining Sailor Moon are Bleach and Naruto Shippuden. The final season of Bleach (episodes 355 to 366) will be available, dubbed and uncut, beginning March 27. Naruto fans can experience weekly simulcasts scheduled every Thursday throughout March, beginning March 10 with episode 451.

Which titles are you excited for?

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’

by Josh JacksonFebruary 9, 2016

In 2006, the first Naruto video game came to the West alongside the anime’s localized debut with the GameCube’s Naruto: Clash of Ninja. Over the years, countless sequels, spinoffs, and alternate series from a wide variety of developers and publishers would be released, with the definitive experience finally settling on the Ultimate Ninja Storm series. The Playstation exclusive branch of the wildly popular franchise has wowed us for years with its incredible graphics, mind blowing boss battles that oftentimes surpass the source material, and a huge roster that’s grown significantly over each iteration.

With the manga’s conclusion in 2014, it was a matter of time before the games would reach the finale as well, eventually being forced to take its bow as one of the most consistent anime to video game adaptations in both quality and faithfulness. Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is said to be the last game in the Storm series, wrapping up the story of Naruto and his friends with its current console generation debut, upping the wow factor in ways that will definitely leave an impression. Yet, for all the things that it does right, nagging issues from previous entries still keep the game from being a premiere fighter. Still, Storm 4 goes above and beyond to give fans of the series the sendoff they deserve.

If you’ve played a Storm game before, the basic set up of the 3D fighter is the same now as it has always been. Set with a diagonal, behind the back camera perspective, each fighter has sets of land and air combos, special moves, (ninjutsu,) and super moves, (secret techniques,) the latter two of which can be customized in nearly every mode. When you consider that the cast is made up of over 100 different ninja, that becomes a whole lot of content to discover, which is exciting every time you pull off a new attack thanks to the amazing anime inspired graphics that bring it all to life, (but more on that in a bit.) As with Storm 3, countering with your substitution jutsu has its own bar rather than subtracting from your chakra, allowing a maximum of four successive counters before you’ll find yourself stuck in a combo without a way to escape. Adding an extra layer of strategy to the fights, it’s important to avoid getting caught in situations where you have to draw on your counters before you find yourself taking a pummeling. Once you’re on the brink of defeat, overcharging your meter activates your temporary Awakening Mode, which can range from a boost in power, to a full on transformation, changing your character to a gigantic beast, which can turn the tide of battle while acting as a mind blowing display of how good CyberConnect2 has gotten at bringing the show to life.

In addition to other techniques such as maintaining and charging your chakra to pull off special moves and stronger versions of standard attacks such as throwing shuriken, dashing towards your opponent, and performing double team attacks with one of your two potential partners, Storm 4 mixes up the formula with some new combat options to keep even the best ninja on their toes. Most noticeably, the new tag mechanics change counter attack lets you push back any attack when an overzealous opponent is charging at you. With a simple tap of the shuriken button while guarding, you’ll pay a quarter of your chakra bar, (as in a quarter of the bar temporarily disappears, and cannot be charged for a certain amount of time,) to keep yourself in an advantageous position.

Once you’ve mastered the art of combat, there’s nothing left to get in your way when it’s time to jump into the Story Mode, which is where most of the game’s visuals shine through. No longer broken up by the standard free roaming mode, (which would be kind of hard considering most of the world is destroyed at the start of the game,) the story starts off with a bang thanks to the ancient conflict between The First Hokage, Hashirama Senju, and the current big bad, Madara Uchiha. After a boss battle that looks and feels so grand, you would think it’s the game’s last fight instead of its first, it flashes forward to right where Storm 3 left off, right before the masked man’s identity is revealed in his first fight with Naruto. Here, the action slows down a bit in favor of mostly standard fights, although we occasionally get rail shooter and beat em up inspired stages to give us something special in between battles.

Most fights are bookmarked by long cutscenes that move the story along at a decent pace. Yet, these scenes constantly kept me enthralled rather than take me out of the experience, partially because of the fact that this game is the first time that the finale of the series has been animated and voiced. Then again, I use “animated” loosely, since the majority of the scenes are just still shots from the anime with voice overs over them. Ironically, the anime’s overabundance of fillers worked in the game’s favor eventually, since all the scenes that take place after the anime’s current storyline are fully animated with the in game models. For anyone who is worried about how well the ending plays out, fear not. Everything is here, from the end of the war, to a SNES-era Final Fantasy level ass pull with Kaguya’s debut, all the way up to the fateful fight between the two leads. Aside from a small amount of censorship, everything from the animations to the voice acting and the over elaborate quick time events that blows away the action of both the manga and anime, serving as a satisfying conclusion to Naruto and Sasuke’s tale.

Although the story sticks close to its source material, sometimes, this isn’t for the better. As if trying to emulate the anime itself, there are a TON of flashbacks, to the point where even when I was really into the story, I was getting tired of the big finale being largely relegated to a glorified slide show. While I do appreciate that each chapter has a time estimate for how long you’re going to be watching, it made me miss the free roaming sections that broke up the action in previous story modes. For better or for worse, free roaming has been separated into its own adventure mode which takes place immediately after the final battle. As Naruto, Sakura and Hinata, the three ninja travel to iconic locations throughout the series on various missions that trigger flashbacks of some of the Hidden Leaf Village’s greatest battles. Here’s where you finally get an excuse to play as those characters who you completely forgot about in between all of the Infinite Tsukuyomi nonsense. I’m talking Chiyo vs. Sasori, young Naruto vs. Young Gaara during the Chunin Exams, and so many “memories” as the game calls them, essentially serving as a Naruto retrospective as the finale settles in. Of course, you can also play the Adventure Mode before finishing the story, but why would you do that?

However, like the Story Mode feeling tired with no breaks, Adventure Mode falls even harder in this sense. The free roaming content was never particularly good in past games, with very little interactivity with your surroundings, but at least you had the story to will you forward. What can only be described as constant filler content, there are no real stakes involved to keep you enthralled when it comes to getting absorbed in the world you’re exploring, leaving you with shallow feeling side missions to fill time. If only CyberConnect2 would not have stagnated in this sense and eventually gave us something more akin to Ubisoft’s highly underrated Xbox 360 exclusive Naruto games in terms of exploration, then Storm 4 would have been the perfect package. Sadly, free roaming failed to evolve like the rest of the series has.

Thankfully, the Online Mode is where the game feels like it has grown the most, which is fantastic since the Vs. modes are where the meat of any fighting game lies. Aside from your typical Vs. and Survival Modes, which offer various modifiers that can either help or hinder the player, the online play is the best it’s ever been. Not only does the mode allow all of your customized fighters carry over like in previous games in certain match types, but the overall experience feels much more fleshed out with various incentives to play. Including special events that come with bonuses when you play during certain times, or daily log in bonuses for extra money and Ninja Treasures that can be exchanged to unlock one of the near countless items to earn, you’ll always have a reason to log on outside of beating down other ninjas from around the world. On that note, the online play itself seems leaps and bounds better this time around, which is a huge step up for a series that’s always been marred with crippling lag. In my case, (as the Geekscape Games listeners can attest to,) I have horrible connection speeds. Yet, every match I fought was either as seamless as if I were playing on the couch, or with barely noticeable input lag that I couldn’t blame my losses on. Despite it taking so long, I’m glad the final Storm game finally got it right.

As commendable as these improvements may be, Storm‘s biggest hurdle from the beginning is that its fighting mechanics are shallow. Yes, the tag and counter features add more to an admittedly improved package, but it’s not enough for it to stand out as anything more than a really good anime fighter. All Jinchuriki, (tailed beast hosts such as Naruto,) will have a giant transformation. Almost all Sharingan users, (like most of Sasuke’s seven versions,) have a Susano’o form. Aside from puppet users, (who each feel similar as well,) every character feels relatively similar to one another, despite the 100 + character cast outside of their standard ninjutsu and animations. Even then, roughly 20% of the roster are just alternate forms of the same person. So here’s to hoping you really like Naruto, Sasuke, Obito and Kakashi, because they could make a fighting game with just the different versions of those four and have a roster that rivals the total character count of other games in the genre. Unfortunately, its game play doesn’t measure up in the same way. What’s worse is that some of this repetition could have been alleviated by the extra team attacks and characters that are locked behind the DLC paywall, but alas, it’s 2016. DLC is expected at this point, although locking away attacks for sets of characters that are on the standard roster feels a bit low.

As my time with Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 drew to a close, the amount of content to play though both by yourself and with friends, the cinematics and graphics that often left me in awe as it wrapped up this eight year tale in satisfying fashion, and the highly entertaining combat, (despite its shallowness), are all more than enough of a reason to pick this up. While its flaws with the sameness of its cast, overuse of still frames to tell its story, the separation of the free roaming and campaign segments, and locking content that’s already in the game behind a pay wall are all apparent, its refinement of what works while vastly improving its online component make this final Storm game the best by a long shot. Non-fans will get a kick out of its incredible presentation, while long time Naruto followers will find the sendoff that the franchise deserves, riding into the sunset on top. So take a bow, CyberConnect2, because Storm 4 has set a new benchmark for what games based on anime should be.

Final Score: 4.25/5

Geekscape Games Presents: The Top 16 Games Of (The First Half Of) 2016

by Josh JacksonJanuary 31, 2016

I thought Christmas was supposed to be in December! Yet, as we wrap up January and head into February, you would think it was the end of the year considering how many amazing games are hitting the shelves. From high profile sequels to remakes, spinoffs and new IP’s that have demanded our attention, it won’t be hard to find a game or three to play in what’s typically supposed to be the slow winter and spring months. With so many to choose from, where do we start!? In no particular order, here are the 16 games of (the first half) of 2016 that we’re the most excited about.

Honorable Mention: Pokemon Red/Blue/Yellow

Date: February 27th

For: Nintendo 3DS

It’s rare that people get so excited for a Virtual Console re-release, but c’mon, this is Pokemon! While not a full release, (and thus, being excluded from the proper list,) we’re too thrilled not to mention these titles! With Pokemon Red, Blue and Yellow hitting our 3DS handhelds via the eShop in about a month, these ports will let us connect via built in wireless to rebuild our classic Pokedex’s with ease, all while poking at our nostalgia. It’ll be good to see what Missingno. has been up to after all these years!

Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End

Date: April 26th

For: Playstation 4

As one of the many games that was delayed in 2015, it’s easy to see why we’re anxious to go on one more adventure with Nathan Drake in Uncharted 4: A Thief’s End. With rumors of this being Drake’s last adventure, with some hoping that Naughty Dog focuses more on expanding on The Last Of Us going forward, this very well could be the last time we travel the world with the charismatic adventurer. While it may sound crazy to drop such a popular franchise, it’s not like Naughty Dog hasn’t done it before with series’ like Crash, (which was admittedly out of their hands,) and Jak, and suddenly, it’s not so unheard of. Are you ready to say goodbye?

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4

Date: February 8th

For: Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC

While we’re talking about goodbye’s, Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is being touted as the final Storm game. If this is true, it will signal an end of an era for the franchise, which brought incredible visuals, intense boss fights, and a giant roster to the popular series. Oftentimes surpassing its source material when it came to showing off how crazy Naruto and his friends can be when in a fight, it’s appropriate that the fourth game plans on wrapping up the story ahead of even the anime. As the final fights come to a close, we’re hoping we’re left with a game that’s fun enough to carry our fandom for a long time to come.

The Legend Of Zelda: Twilight Princess HD

Date: March 4th

For: Wii U

For those who listen to the Geekscape Games podcast, (thanks, Jeremy!), you’ll know that I’m generally against HD remakes, especially when they feel largely unnecessary. As with most poor life choices that I’ve made over the last year though, amiibo have changed the way I think. Coming bundled with a sweet Wolf Link amiibo at a standard MSRP of $59.99, the figure unlocks a brand new dungeon, alongside support with other Zelda amiibo to change the game in various ways.

Quantum Break

Date: April 5th

For: Xbox One

As the first game from Remedy since 2010’s excellent Alan Wake, Quantum Break looks to continue the developer’s penchant for innovative action game play to go with its stellar story telling that originated with Max Payne. Starring Shawn Ashmore, the cinematic style from their previous games is still going to be a heavy focus, but unlike many games these days, it doesn’t seem like the game play will be compromised because of it. Promising solid action-adventure elements with puzzle solving areas, we’re looking forward to finally getting Quantum Break in our hands.

Trillion: God Of Destruction

Date: Spring 2016

For: Playstation Vita

This Vita exclusive from the publishers and developers behind the Hyperdimension Neptunia series, (which we’ll get to soon,) Trillion: God Of Destruction has you amass an underworld army designed to take down a seemingly unbeatable god with a TRILLION HP! As you chip away at it over time, you’ll get stronger by training in secret and building relationships with your potential underworld waifus. Because we all need a little love in between fighting an indestructible monster.

Mario & Luigi: Paper Jam

Out now!

For: Nintendo 3DS

The Mario and Luigi and Paper Mario RPGs have been one of Nintendo’s best kept secrets for years now, providing laugh out loud comedy to go with its interactive turn based combat. But what happens when you combine both into one game? Mario and Luigi: Paper Jam looks to find out, bringing Paper Mario into a new world for a brand new team up. With new abilities, jokes abound, (usually at Luigi’s expense,) and rewarding game play, what’s not to love?

Note: Keep an eye out for our upcoming review!

Final Fantasy Explorers

Out now!

For: Nintendo 3DS

Described as Final Fantasy meets hunting and crafting games like Monster Hunter and Fantasy Life, Final Fantasy Explorers lets players team up in parties of up to four and fight some of the franchise’s most infamous monsters in their pursuit to complete quests. As they’re completed, characters can make new equipment, experiment with various jobs, and even temporarily take the forms of some of the greatest heroes in Final Fantasy history, including Cloud, Squall, Lightning and Yuna! Already adventuring? Share your friend codes with us in the comments and let’s get exploring!

Digimon Cyber Sleuth

Date: February 2nd

For: Playstation 4, Playstation Vita

As the first Digimon game to hit the current generation, as well as the first RPG to release in forever, Digimon Cyber Sleuth features hundreds of champions to collect and fuse as you and your team save the real and digital world from a new threat. Developed by Media.Vision, the RPG masterminds behind the Wild Arms series, and it’s safe to assume that the other beloved monster collecting franchise is in good hands.

Star Fox Zero

Date: April 22nd

For: Wii U

Speaking of being in good hands, the long awaited Star Fox follow up seems like a match made in heaven, (assuming the Lylat System believes in such a concept.) As a collaboration between Nintendo and Platinum Games, what we’ve played of Star Fox Zero with its free range, on rails and on land game play has had us desperate for more. Which made it all the more heartbreaking when it ended up like Uncharted and got delayed from 2015 to this year. Still, it’s looking like it’ll be more than worth the wait, and it will be great to gear up with the old team again.

Project X Zone 2

Date: February 16th

For: Nintendo 3DS

If Star Fox represents a strong team, then Project X Zone 2 is on a whole different level. Not only will Namco Bandai, Sega and Capcom team up for a second round of action packed turn based strategy, but Nintendo is getting in on the fun as well, with Chrom and Lucina from Fire Emblem and Fiora and Metal Face from Xenoblade Chronicles all appearing in the game. As one of the biggest surprises of 2013 for me, I can’t wait to get my hands on this crossover extravaganza once again.

Fire Emblem Fates

Date: February 19th

For: Nintendo 3DS

After Fire Emblem Awakening blew away all expectations in terms of both sales and popularity, the 3DS release served as a type of arrival for the strategy franchise, allowing it to take its place as one of Nintendo’s premiere IP’s. Capitalizing on this, Fire Emblem Fates will release with two versions with two different story perspectives. Featuring solid strategy game play, light dating sim elements and a custom character to lead the cast with, Nintendo is banking on Fates being just as popular, especially with special bundles, 3DS models, and even a downloadable third story on the way.

Megadimension Neptunia VII

Date: February 2nd

For: Playstation 4

Despite it seeming like Neptunia refuses to take a break with so many spinoffs, remakes, and sequels for the remakes, Megadimension Neptunia VII is the first sequel to the core franchise since 2012’s Hyperdimension Neptunia Victory. Now that everyone *should* have caught up after being bombarded with so many mostly solid games over the last year and a half, (assuming you have a Vita or Steam,) it’s time to take Gamindustri to the NEXT level! Featuring multiple stories, new characters, updated transformations and some much needed changes to the combat, and it’s looking like Neptune’s current gen debut might be one of the highlights of the year.

Gravity Rush HD Remaster

Date: February 2nd

For: Playstation 4

For my money, Gravity Rush is still the best game to release on the Vita. It’s breathtaking visuals, innovative game play and exciting exploration using the manipulation of gravity was too good to be ignored. Which is why I’m *really* pulling for Gravity Rush HD Remaster to shine in front of a bigger audience on the PS4. With reworked game play controls to work better on a Dual Shock 4, updated visuals, and all of the DLC included for $29.99, there’s no excuse not to get. Except for the fact that it’s mostly digital only if you’re already out of hard drive space…

If that’s the case, be like me and get the physical version which is exclusive to Amazon, and fall in love with Kat all over again!

Pokken Tournament

Date: March 18th

For: Wii U

Pokken was a long time coming, then all of a sudden, it was right around the corner! This collaboration between the team behind the Tekken series and The Pokemon Company brings together some interesting choices from the Pokemon roster to do battle in a 1-on-1 3D fighting game setting. Most importantly however, is that Pokken is looking to open the floodgates with the series’ first amiibo Card, coming packaged with Shadow Mewtwo. I hope you all have that second mortgage ready to go!

Mirror’s Edge Catalyst

Date: May 24th

For: Playstation 4, Xbox One, PC

Another game that felt like it would never see the light of day. After years of hoping until finally being confirmed back in 2013, Mirror’s Edge Catalyst will finally be in our hands in a few short months! Serving as a prequel that explores Faith’s background, we’re counting on the innovative first person platformer to wow us again. If DICE can pull off the same magic that they did the first time around, then we have nothing to worry about!

Street Fighter V

Date: February 16th

For: Playstation 4, PC

Unlike most of the games on this list, the time it took from announcement to release was relatively short. Not that we’re complaining, because a new iteration of Street Fighter is always something to get excited about! With four new characters to accompany a wide variety of reworked veterans from Super Street Fighter II to Street Fighter Alpha 3, the new V system that’s looking to mix up the rules of battle, and an expanded story mode that looks to bridge the gap between the original cast and Street Fighter III, why wouldn’t we be frothing at the mouth to play this?

As you can see, we’re going to have a busy time throughout the year. What games are you most looking forward to, and are there any that we missed? Let us know in the comments, and check back for the latest news, previews and reviews on the games listed, and everything else in between!

See Boruto And Sarada Square Off Against Naruto And Sasuke In The Latest ‘Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’ Trailer!

by Josh JacksonJanuary 15, 2016

Kids often feel pressured to live up to their parent’s examples, but when your parents are two of the most powerful ninja that ever lived, chances are you’re going to crash and burn.

Still, that doesn’t stop Boruto Uzumaki and Sarada Uchiha from trying to teach Naruto and Sasuke a few tricks of their own, as the new generation tries to take on the old guard in the latest Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 trailer!

Growing up as the opposite of his father, Boruto is a talented ninja who is expected to be a great ninja in his own right, despite him hating the position of Hokage due to it taking his father’s time away from him and his family. Somewhat spoiled and overconfident, that doesn’t mean that Boruto can’t hold his own in a fight, already mastering the Shadow Clone Jutsu, as well as developing his own version of his dad’s signature Rasengan ability.

Sarada on the other hand, is a serious, studious girl who dreams of becoming Hokage someday. Since Sasuke was absent through most of her life due to him traveling the ninja world in secret to detect hidden threats, the young Uchiha kunoichi admires Naruto and his position as Hokage while still holding a deep respect for her dad after discovering his reasons for leaving the village. Weiding her mother’s strength and her father’s Sharingan eyes, it seems like the Uchiha legacy is in good hands.

But how can they fare against their famous parents? See them in action for yourself below and let us know what you think! To play as Boruto and Sarada, as well as versions of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Hinata, and Hokage Kakashi from The Last: Naruto the Movie, you’ll have to make sure to pre-order the game for PS4, Xbox One or Steam before its February 9th release date! Check out our hands on previews to hold you over, and make sure to check back with us as more details surface!

Naruto And Sasuke Approach Their Final Battle In These ‘Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’ Screenshots

by Josh JacksonJanuary 12, 2016

After 15 years, the Naruto manga finally reached its conclusion in November 2014. Never far behind, it’s about time the games followed suit. In about a month, we’ll be able to play Naruto and Sasuke’s final battles in Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, and if the latest batch of screenshots are anything to go by, the story is sure to go out with style.

Focusing on the history leading up to this final clash, the game is looking to dig deep into the history of the series, showing off childhood fights from before the friends were ninjas, all the way up to their fateful battle to decide the future of the ninja world. Seeing the full Team 7 back together and facing off against Princess Kaguya is something many fans of the manga have been waiting to play for what seems like forever, but unlike a dream from the infinite tsukiyomi, this is real life. And we’ll get it on February 9th!

Considering the games tend to be way more over the top than the source material, I can’t wait to see what CyberConnect2 is going to do with the grand finale. Anyone else excited for the next big Naruto game? Let us know below, and make sure to check out our E3 and Anime Expo impressions while you’re at it!

Geekscape Games Reviews ‘J-Stars Victory Vs.+’

by Josh JacksonSeptember 30, 2015

Game: J-Stars Victory Vs.+

Available For: PS4, PS3, PS Vita, (Reivewed on Vita.)

Publisher: Namco Bandai

Developer: Spike Chunsoft

MSRP: $59,99 (PS4), $49.99 (PS3) and $39.99 (Vita, digital only.)

Importers went crazy back in 2014 when J-Stars Victory Vs. hit the Japanese PS3 and Vita. This crossover fighter that brought together Shonen Jump’s most popular franchises and characters into one explosive package was never expected to arrive outside of Japan. Much like Jump Superstars for the Nintendo DS, we figured licensing issues would be tough to sort out, especially for a niche title such as this. Yet, Namco Bandai surprised us late last year when they announced that not only would the game receive a Western release, but it would include an extra game mode and a PS4 release as well! Now dubbed J-Stars Victory Vs.+, characters from Dragon Ball Z, Naruto, One Piece, Bleach, Yu Yu Hakusho, Rurouni Kenshin, and so many more franchises will finally get to brawl in the West. Now that the title has come and gone, was it worth the wait?

J Stars uses a somewhat basic model for its fighting mechanics, which typically take place as a two on two showdown with a third character acting as support. Standard matches end once the first team reaches three KO’s, but can vary depending on how many people are fighting in that particular battle. On the surface, every character is essentially the same, with a weak, strong, and special attack button making up their offense. Special moves cost meter, which can be charged up at any time, while tapping the block button right before you’re hit results in a teleport behind your opponent, leaving them wide open. I mean sure, you could just block, but absorbing too many hits will result in a guard break, with no choice but to accept your incoming punishment. Double jumps, dashing, and the ever important lock on button round out the game’s basic functions, with these three moves being especially vital since it would be easy to get lost in the game’s mostly large 3D arenas. Nothing sucks more than getting ambushed because you had no idea where the enemy was.

Using a unique momentum meter that constantly fluctuates as the fight goes on, once one team shifts it all the way to their side, the team will be able to activate their Victory Burst, a temporary state where their attributes are slightly boosted. More importantly however, is that players can choose to sacrifice time in this state in exchange for an Ultimate Attack, your character’s strongest ability that has the potential to do HUGE damage to the opposing team. Great for when you’re behind in a battle and need to shift the tide of battle, or when you’re dominating and want to put an exclamation point on your win, watching these animations, (and the resulting destruction,) is often rewarding.

As I mentioned, at first glance, each one of the 39 playable characters has similar combos and team attacks, making the core mechanics feel repetitive quick. What fixes this however, is that most characters have special properties that usually reflect their powers from their respective properties. For example, Goku and Vegeta can both charge up their second meter just as fast as their first, (as opposed to most of the cast’s meter gain slowing down after the first one is filled,) and once maxed, results in a Super Saiyan transformation. Naruto absorbs and stores his energy all at once, doubling his meter after risking precious seconds being completely vulnerable, can switch to Sage Mode, giving him the option to throw his Rasenshuriken, and gains a completely different move set during a Victory Burst with his Nine Tails Mode! Yusuke will revive in his demon form at no cost if KO’d during Victory Burst, but will immediately fall once it ends, while Seiya will sport his golden armor… The list goes on and on. So while the depth of the mechanics might not be all there, the special traits of each character still keep most of the cast varied, especially for fans who follow these Jump properties closely.

Then again, what good are the fighting mechanics if we don’t mention the modes? J-Stars has a variety of ways to put this fighting to the test, including Free Battle, Arcade, Victory Road, Online and J-Adventure Modes. Most of these are your standard fighting game affair, with Free Battle letting you fight against the CPU or your friends locally with custom conditions, Arcade, where you fight a series of enemies with increasing difficulty, (though this game’s version has a variety of tracks to take on set by how hard it is to at the start, much like Mortal Kombat), and Online, where you fight friends and strangers alike in this strange space we call the Internet. Just expect lag. And rage quitting. And no penalty for those who quit while those who stay get no reward. If you couldn’t tell, Online isn’t worth the trouble.

While these staple features are all well and good, most of the game’s unique single player content comes in the Victory Road and J-Adventures modes. In Victory Road, players will pick a team and take on themed battles against the CPU, where you’ll have to meet certain requirements during battle to earn a 100% clear rating on each fight. As you progress, the fights will continuously alter their settings and completion conditions, so it’s constantly asking you to approach battles differently. Unfortunately, the game doesn’t actually tell you what the challenge conditions are until AFTER the fight, so that bit of forced replayability will likely have completionists playing through each fight more than once.

J-Adventure on the other hand, starts off strong, but wears out its welcome for far too long. Choosing between one of four paths led by either Luffy, Naruto, Toriko or Ichigo, each story follows these characters as they navigate Jump World, a land where all these characters exist in the same universe. While attempting to assemble a team of fighters to win an upcoming tournament, each path leads to different partners, support characters, and missions to find on the world map. Using a ship to traverse the world, (which gains enhanced mobility as the story progresses,) players will earn precious currency to unlock new ship parts, characters, and J-Cards, items that can tweak the attributes of your team, while leveling up their fighters. Unfortunately, this is a case of too much of a good thing. Each story is so long that it’s unlikely that players will be able to get through one path, let alone all four. The camera is too close to your ship, often leading to accidental battles against opposing ships in the environment, and with no way to back out of them once their triggered. What’s worse, is that once your main objective in the story mode is complete, a whole new plot point opens up, extending the game even farther when you’ll likely be tired of the adventure mode by then, kind of like certain Shonen Jump stories that drag on 500 chapters past what should have been their ending point. Even though I had fun playing J-Stars, the combat is too shallow to maintain interest for that long, especially when you’re forced to play as the same three characters for the majority of these adventure sections.

So is J-Stars the dream crossover that Playstation fans have been waiting for? Not exactly, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t plenty of fun to be had. Between the huge character roster, the unique abilities for each fighter, lots of goods to unlock and plenty of modes to use them in, fans of at least a few of these properties will surely enjoy picking their favorite manga fighter and pit them against an opposing team. Yet, the shallow core mechanics, the overly drawn out story mode that’s seemingly mimicking the 700+ chapter stories from the Shonen Jump books, poor online and artificially lengthened content is sure to be put off some people. If you’re an anime or manga fan, you’ll surely have a great time with J-Stars Victory Vs.+, but everyone else would do well to get their fighting fix somewhere else.

tl;dr:

+ A huge roster that will surely satisfy the Shonen Jump faithful.

+ Unique abilities for most of the cast, adding a feeling of authenticity to their portrayal.

+ A good amount of modes to play around with.

+ Tons of unlockables, including characters, ship parts, and customizable cards.

– The core mechanics are shallow, forcing most of the characters to feel identical from a basic combo standpoint.

– Story mode is far longer than it should be, failing to keep an already repetitive experience interesting for long.

– Some modes like Victory Road are artificially lengthened by withholding challenge requirements, while the rest of the modes don’t offer anything new.

-Online is a mess.

Final Score: 3/5

Anime Expo 2015: The Hyuga Clan Arrives On The Battlefield In ‘Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’

by Josh JacksonJuly 28, 2015

E3 has come and gone, but I have to say that the insane action of Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 still has a pretty strong hold on me. Once we hit the Anime Expo floor and noticed an updated build with even more characters to play with, we couldn’t resist putting our ninjutsu skills to the test for a second time, with the addition of series mainstay, Kakashi, to the previously established cast of Naruto, Sasuke, Sakura, Obito and Madara, the bigger story was seeing all three Hygua children as fighters as well. While Neji and Hinata are expected at this point, Hanabi, Hinata’s younger sister who has only ever been playable in 2008’s Naruto Ultimate Ninja 3 as somewhat of a joke character, makes her big return to follow up her prominent role in The Last: Naruto The Movie. We took this opportunity to play as her alongside the rest of her family, and came across some surprises along the way.

Hanabi essentially uses altered versions of her family’s attacks, consisting mostly of chakra sealing open palm strikes. Her version of Neji’s Kaiten still envelopes her in a protective shield that blows away any opponent caught in its radius, but unlike her older cousin, she travels across the stage while performing the move. This allows her to corner enemies who are attempting to flee, creating a different set of strategies both when fighting as and against her. Similarly, Neji himself uses many of the hard hitting 8-Trigrams techniques, using his fingertips to assault his enemies’ weak points. Not to be outdone, Hanabi has her own more elegant version, which serves to be just as effective. If up close and personal isn’t your style, Hinata brings in the long distance combat. While her strikes aren’t as punishing as the rest of her family, she makes up for it with her 8-Trigrams Vaccum jutsu, which launches a huge amount of force from her palm, attacking opponents at long range.

Even if each member has their own strengths and weaknesses, it’s clear that the three are at their best together. As with previous games, creating a three person team of characters that have close relationships with each other can result in some unique Ultimate Jutsu attacks. This is no different when it comes to the Hyuga clan, who can cover for each other quite well when dropping in for support attacks. Once its time to activate their ultimate attack, the team doesn’t disappoint, surrounding the enemy at all sides and pummeling each of their chakra points. If three wasn’t enough, the head of the clan, Hiashi Hyuga, drops in to help deliver a four pronged finishing blow, all with the amount of flash that we’ve come to expect from the series.

So it’s safe to say that the Hyuga Clan are as bad ass as ever. Who else do you want to see make the cut in what might be the last Naruto game? Let us know in the comments, then check out the latest trailer, which also reveals the big bad of the series, Princess Kaguya, in her video game debut.

E3 2015: ‘Naruto Ultimate Ninja Storm 4’ Is As Over The Top, (And Over Dramatic,) As Ever!

by Josh JacksonJune 24, 2015

So as you may or may not know, the main Naruto series wrapped up late last year. With the story coming to fruition, that leaves the video games wide open, with the ability to feature a full roster, expanded abilities, and some of the craziest jutsu’s you’ll likely ever see. Considering the Ultimate Ninja Storm series always manages to take things to an even higher level than its source material, and I knew that Storm 4, the upcoming title that looks to explore the finale of the Fourth Great Ninja War, would not disappoint. As expected, the E3 demo had more of everything when it came to its five playable characters. More moves, more awakenings, more flashbacks, more angst… It’s what we’ve all come to know and love about the Naruto franchise!

Having the option of fighting with up to two partners for support, Storm 4 doesn’t veer far from the game play of the previous games. Starting battles in a more dynamic way, with each team clashing at the center of the stage before the fight starts, each ninja will be able to mix up normal attacks, special attacks, substitution counters, and Ultimate Techniques to take out their opposition. Using techniques from the final chapters of the manga, characters like Obito debuts in his Six Paths form, while Edo Madara and Sasuke can each fight as or unleash their Susano ability, which results in some wildly over the top scenes. Even Sakura got a significant update, mirroring her crowning achievement in the final chapters. What adds an even more authentic touch, is like in previous games, defeating enemies with an ultimate jutsu results in a flashback, with the winning character delivering some inspirational, sometimes angsty internal dialogue. Just wait until they start crying blood!

Now that I mentioned it, fighting AS Susano is pretty great. As veterans might have figured, this is Madara and Sasuke’s Awakening ability, which is a powerful transformation that’s triggered when low on health and after the super meter is charged beyond capacity. Not allowing the Uchiha clan to have all the fun, Naruto can go full Nine Tails mode, firing off Bijuu Bombs like nobody’s business. Sakura’s chakra release reveals her full strength, with each landing blow resulting in an earth shaking pause. I have to say, watching Awakened Sakura in action was the highlight of my time, since the game finally captured how much of a badass she can be. Then again, it took almost 700 chapters for the manga to realize it, so the game gets a pass.

If you’ve played a Storm game before, you know what to expect, only now, with a bigger, better roster and move set. If you’ve never played them before, these games just might be the mindless, button mashing fun you’ve been looking for. Considering I’m still having so much fun with the game after I’ve played every one in the series since it debuted, it shows how much fun summoning a giant fox on top of ninjas can be.

Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 wraps up the series this fall, for PS4 and Xbox One.

E3 2015: ‘J Stars Victory Vs.’ Is The Anime Brawler We’ve Written Fanfics About!

by Josh JacksonJune 24, 2015

Due to how licensing works, it’s rare that we get the crazy anime crossovers that Japan plays fairly often. When J Stars Victory Vs. was released for the PS3 and Vita last year, it was one of those times that we were thankful that those systems are region free, since there was no way this game was coming to the West.

Right?

By some small miracle, the stars aligned to make J Stars Victory Vs. + a reality for us Western and European fans. Pitting the likes of Goku from Dragon Ball, Yu Yu Hakusho‘s Yusuke, and Naruto from, well… Naruto, some of Shonen Jump’s biggest heroes and villains clash in this 3D fighting game. As I’m not one to pass up witnessing a miracle in person, I got to check out a demo of the localized build at Namco Bandai’s E3 booth and find out how it’s coming along.

Taking place in a variety of iconic locations from each series, battles consisted of two on two matches with a third character acting as support. Having a full 3D space to fight in, players will have to take cover behind structures, keep an eye on their opponent and attack fast, since each character will have a variety of ways to take down their opponents. Being able to lock on and dash towards your target closes what can be a considerable distance between you and your enemies down quickly, and making sure to charge your energy to unleash weak, strong and area attacks were the biggest keys to victory, especially when this power can ultimately unveil each character’s transformed state. Including Goku’s Super Saiyan, Naruto’s Sage Mode, and Kenshin drawing his sword, new, more powerful abilities become unleashed, destroying your enemies, (and the environment,) in the process.

On the subject of victory, winning is achieved in a slightly different way in Jump compared to most fighters. Rather than simply KO both teammates, your pair of fighters fills their win gauge every time they defeat an enemy. Three victories result in a win, so one partner can lose all three times and blow it for their team. It’s a good thing single player hands you a CPU teammate to blame when things don’t go well, but you might want to apologize in advance to your friend if you lose during a co-op match.

With the final version featuring over 50 characters from over a dozen series’, any anime fan, and ESPECIALLY Shonen Jump enthusiasts will want to mark June 30th on their calendar. J Stars Victory Vs. + will be available for PS3, PS4, and PS Vita with online and offline play, an adventure mode that ties these worlds together, and an arcade mode that’s exclusive to this “plus” version! Check back for more details on the rest of the roster, and our more in depth impressions once we’re able to play the full game!

The Cosplay Of Anime Expo 2014

by Josh JacksonJuly 22, 2014

Now that Anime Expo has come and gone, and as we gear up for Comic Con this week, what kind of jerks would be be if we didn’t share the incredible cosplay from the event?

From Monster Hunter to Hyperdimension Neptunia. Blazblue to Phoenix Wright. And of course, there was plenty of Sailor Moon at the show. Check out the best of AX 2014’s cosplay, and stick with Geekscape as we move on to Comic Con!

Xbox 360/Xbox Live Users Can Now Have Some Fun Naruto Inspired Avatars!

by Kari LaneJanuary 9, 2014

Hey Xbox users, check out some new avatars you can get! Read on to learn more and see more avatar pics!

VIZ Media gives Xbox 360 and Xbox Live users across North America a fun new way to show their love for the hit NARUTO SHIPPUDEN anime. Fans can customize their avatars with a selection themed iconography from the hit series, including t-shirts and full costumes. Xbox Live Avatars represent users of the Xbox Live service on the Xbox 360 and Xbox One video game consoles. Users are invited to visit http://marketplace.xbox.com/en-US/AvatarMarketplace to shop a range of fun NARUTO SHIPPUDEN-inspired items that are available now.

A selection of NARUTO SHIPPUDEN custom virtual attire, including four (4) t-shirts and eleven (11) costumes, are now available for between $1.00 and $3.99 each. NARUTO avatar themes are available to Xbox 360 and Xbox One users of the innovative Xbox Live service. Fans can also purchase real-world versions of the virtual NARUTO t-shirts from leading apparel retailers, including ThinkGeek: http://www.thinkgeek.com/product/11a4/.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga properties. The manga series (rated ‘T’, in print and digital editions) and anime counterpart (NARUTO & NARUTO SHIPPUDEN, rated ‘TV-14’) are some of VIZ Media’s most successful titles and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe, and South America. Additional information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.viz.com/Naruto.

‘Naruto Shippuden’ To Debut On Adult Swim’s Toonami!

by Kari LaneNovember 9, 2013

VIZ Media recently announced that Naruto Shippuden will debut on Adult Swim’s Toonami programming block in January 2014! Fans in North America can catch dubbed and uncut episodes from the beginning with a new episode airing each week. Make sure to check local listings for specific airtimes and channel availability. Read on to learn more!

Adult Swim (AdultSwim.com), launched in 2001, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.’s network offering original and acquired animated and live-action series for young adults. Airing nightly from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET/PT), Adult Swim is basic cable’s #1 network with persons 18-34 and 18-49, and is seen in 99 million U.S. homes.

Created by Masashi Kishimoto, NARUTO was first introduced in Weekly Shonen Jump magazine in Japan in 1999 and quickly became that country’s most popular ninja manga properties. The manga series (rated ‘T’ for Teens, in print and digital editions) and animated counterpart (NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN rated ‘TV-14’) are some of VIZ Media’s most successful titles and have captivated millions of fans across North America, Europe and South America.

In the NARUTO manga and animated series, Naruto Uzumaki wants to be the best ninja in the land. He’s done well so far, but Naruto knows he must train harder than ever and leaves his village for intense exercises that will push him to his limits. NARUTO SHIPPUDEN begins two and a half years later, when Naruto returns to find that everyone has been promoted up the ninja ranks – except him. Sakura’s a medic ninja, Gaara’s advanced to Kazekage, and Kakashi…well he remains the same. But pride isn’t necessarily becoming of a ninja, especially when Naruto realizes that Sasuke never returned from his search for Orochimaru. Plus, the mysterious Akatsuki organization is still an ever-present danger. As Naruto finds out more about the Akatsuki’s goals, he realizes that nothing in his universe is as it seems. Naruto is finding that he’s older, but will he also prove wiser and stronger?

More information on NARUTO and NARUTO SHIPPUDEN is available at www.Naruto.com.

Additional information on titles available from VIZ Media is available at www.VIZ.com.

Anime Expo 2013: ‘Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower’ Arrives on September 17th

by Josh JacksonJuly 10, 2013

It wasn’t just a matter of if, but when the next film in the Naruto franchise would be released in the West. But for those few who might have doubted it, rest assured. Naruto Shippuden: The Lost Tower is headed to DVD and Blu Ray combo pack on September 17th.

The Lost Tower involves Naruto chasing a deadly new foe, one unlike he’s ever seen before aside from every movie villain before this one. But unlike enemies of old, this fight will see Naruto sent back in time where he meets Minato Namikaze, the man who would become the legendary 4th Hokage. Hmm, the only other dark blonde character in the entire world. I wonder if they’re related…

Keep your eyes peeled for the film’s release, which is sure to hit Viz’s streaming service, Neon Alley, shortly before the release date. But until then, we’ll just have to wait and see how Naruto avoids shattering the space time continuum or preventing his own birth fully English dubbed. Any Naruto fans out there excited? Watch the trailer below and get hyped! Believe it!