Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact

Review

Common Sense Media says

Fighting game lets players act out Naruto anime battles.
greenON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
yellowPAUSE: Know your child; some content
may not be right for some kids.
redOFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
not for kidsNOT FOR KIDS: Not appropriate for kids any age.

Find out more

Quality
 
Sometimes media can be age appropriate but a real waste of time. Our star rating assesses the media's overall quality.

Find out more

Parents say

Not yet rated

Kids say

Not yet rated

What parents need to know

Parents need to know that Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact is a fighting game based on the Naruto Shippuden anime TV series. Players will go through a series of battles that are inspired from episodes of the show. Some of the missions in the game contain incidental objectives such as rescuing someone, but players are focused on combat almost exclusively throughout the entirety of the game. Some battles involve taking on hordes of faceless enemy forces, but most are protracted one-on-one fights against strong enemy characters. The battles, though sometimes intense and time-consuming, are very fantastical in nature. There are also a few sexually suggestive comments in the game's dialogue. While it is possible to play as the enemy characters, the focus of the story is on Naruto and his friends as they selflessly work to protect the world.

  • Positive messages1
    The overarching message in this game is that fighting is the solution to most problems. However, the only characters players will be forced to attack are enemy creatures that seek to cause destruction to the entire world. So although violence is a focal point of the story, there are strong elements of selflessness, saving the world, being courageous, and working together with friends.
  • Positive role models2
    Naruto is a very well-defined hero. He acts, often with no regard for his own well-being, to save others and keep the world from suffering chaos at the hands of various enemy creatures. Likewise, his band of companions are all positive role models that, despite having various character quirks, are unified in their mission to protect the world and be there for one another in any situation.
  • Ease of play3
    This game's entire focus is on fighting, so players will have to focus on mastering the combat controls in order to get through to the end. There are several nuances in the controls, and competently understanding them will greatly help players get through the game, however even a fundamental grasp of the basic controls is enough to become fully invested in the experience. The level of difficulty understandably increases as players progress through the game, creating a natural learning curve as players pick up new skills and attack techniques.
  • Violence3
    Fighting is the focal point of this game. Players are able to play out battle scenes that have occurred in the related Naruto anime cartoon series, which involve fantastical attacks filled with bursts of color and loud shouting and screaming from both sides of the fight. The battles are very often between humans and non-humans, allowing it to be detached from real life. Nevertheless, the combat sequences can contain hand-to-hand kicks, punches, and sword swipes. The battles are almost always one-on-one, making it an intense and personal experience despite all the flourishes that take it over the top.
  • Sex1
    Some of the comments in the game are sexually suggestive in nature. For example, one character is referred to as a "Pervy Sage" while another is called an "oversexed hag." One line of dialogue reads, "I didn't think you could get any hotter, Sasuke."
CloseExpand to see more details

What's it about?

NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA IMPACT follows the story of the anime TV series exactly. Players engage in several battles, each one representing a conflict from the show. The game progresses in chronological order so anyone familiar with the anime will easily follow the chain of events in the game. However, the storylines are designed such that even those who are less familiar with the Naruto franchise will still be able to follow what happens in between battles.

Is it any good?

 

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact is on par with the many other titles in this storied game franchise. There are so many Naruto game titles that they have become almost formulaic. The structure and controls remain largely the same, but the story sequences and mission objectives are updated to reflect the most recent episodes of the TV series. As such, anyone who has played previous games in the series will know what to expect here and should not be disappointed, but even newcomers to the video game franchise will catch on quickly and enjoy the variety of battles throughout the course of the game.

What families can talk about

  • Families can talk about the constant fighting in this game. What makes the violence in this game different than other forms of violence?

  • Who in your life can you count on to always stay by your side?

  • What is the goal of the enemy forces in this game?

This review was written by Mark Raby

There aren't any reviews yet. Be the first to review this title below.
This review was written by Mark Raby
Platforms:PSP
Available online?Not available online
Genre:Fighting
Developer:Namco Bandai
Release date:October 18, 2011
Price:$39.99
ESRB rating:T for Cartoon Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes
This review was written by Mark Raby
 

Review It

Share your review with others

Hang on! You need to be a member to post your review.
A safe community is important to us. Please observe our guidelines.

Screenshots

  • 1 of 3
  • 2 of 3
  • 3 of 3

Register now to save reviews and advice articles to your personal lists!

About our rating system
ON: Content is age-appropriate for kids this age.
PAUSE: Know your child; some content may not be right for some kids.
OFF: Not age-appropriate for kids this age.
Learning ratings
BEST: Really engaging, great learning approach.
GOOD: Pretty engaging, good learning approach.
FAIR: Somewhat engaging, OK learning approach.
NOT FOR LEARNING: Not recommended for learning.
Our child development rating guidelines

Great alternatives handpicked by our editors

More Naruto games
For kids who love fast-paced challenges
Browse more games
 

vote now

Will you play Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Impact?

Game on
Press pause
Game over

Already played it? What do you think?

I recommend it
It's a pass
 
More from Common Sense Media
Age-appropriate reviews
Top advice and articles

Been There? Tell us about it