On Feb. 9, Bandai Namco Entertainment released the sixth installment and fourth main title in the acclaimed fighting game series Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4, which brought the video game series to a close as it ends the narrative that follows the popular Japanese Manga.

The main story mode of the game is a seven-hour adventure following the series’ main protagonists Naruto Uzumaki and Sasuke Uchiha, two old friends once divided by separate ideals who come together to fight against a common evil. The game provides an epic and enticing story ripped straight from the pages of the Manga.

The only downside to this narrative is that is often told through still frame cuts directly from the TV series. However, once the game surpasses where the show is in the narrative, it mainly animates itself using the characters available for players to use in the game.

Most of the seven-hour story is spent watching events occur with the occasional quick time event or fight sequence. In total there is only about an hour of actual game play, though this in no significant way hinders the game experience; it in fact engages the player even more.

As Ninja Storm 4 is a fighting game, the mechanics are what it all really comes down to. This series of Naruto games have been known for their unique approach to the fighting genre. While most fighting games are two dimensional, Ninja Storm has always been three dimensional, giving characters unmatched versatility and mobility and providing an entirely new fighting perspective. With the addition of each Storm game, new characters have always been added to the Versus Mode. Storm 4 offers what feels like the fewest number of new characters, but because the number of playable characters is well over 100 and all of the new additions are from the tail end of the manga – they are in fact quite epic – this is no problem at all.

Ninja Storm 4 has also added much more to the Naruto experience than any previous game has. Players now have the ability to select their special moves for certain characters. If they choose to enter into a team match of three characters vs. three characters, they can switch between the three characters they picked at will. This adds a new element to the game which can change the tide of battle.

Online battle, however, could be improved. This is mostly due to the fact that not many people have the game yet to play online, causing the sessions that are available to be full. During the one battle I was able to set up, I experienced excessive lag.

Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is an epic conclusion to the Naruto game series and is a blast to play. I recommend its purchase.