Common Sense Media Review
By Marc Saltzman
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
Violent brawler packs in bonus kung fu content for fans.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 14+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Play
Videos and Photos
Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 Road to Boruto
What's It About?
Those who might've fallen behind with one of the more beloved Japanese fighting adventure series today might be able to catch up quickly with NARUTO SHIPPUDEN: ULTIMATE NINJA STORM 4 ROAD TO BORUTO, which includes the previous year's Naruto Shippuden: Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 as well as all the DLC (downloadable content) packs for the game, previously exclusive preorder bonuses, and, perhaps most importantly, an all-new adventure. Road to Boruto is a multi-hour single-player adventure that focuses on Naruto's son (and it's tied to a 2016 anime movie). Rather than follow in his father's footsteps, Boruto wants to carve his own path as a warrior, as he sets out from Hidden Leaf Village to seek out a menacing new threat in the shinobi world. Perhaps by training and mastering new "jutsu" moves and combinations, and by joining forces with other playable characters, including Sarada and Mitsuki (and others), he'll be powerful enough to defeat this threat -- even without his father's vast experience.
Is It Any Good?
For newcomers, this collection is a comprehensive adventure, but for fans of the franchise, it's just more of the same fighting game. If you haven't yet played one of these Naruto Shippuden adventures, these are story-driven fighting games with side quests. Those who love the characters and storylines will get more out of this fiction, but the actual fighting mechanics aren't anything too deep or unique (though it's fun and accessible). The locations don't seem any different than in the previous game, which is disappointing. There's a good amount of variety in the number of playable characters, though, and they can punch, kick, use swords, and use supernatural jutsu abilities to inflict damage on opponents via fireballs, magic blasts, or conjuring help from another world. Controls feel good, and it's fun to fight one-on-one or between groups at other times, as you'll need to shift your tactics accordingly.
Many of the side quests seem like an afterthought and include meaningless actions such as smashing open boxes, so you'll find yourself looking forward to the next fight scene. The tension between Naruto and Boruto grows nicely, too. So, if you already own last year's main game and perhaps some of the DLC, then the $20 price for this new mode is reasonable for the three hours or so of extra content you'll have access to. The entire $60 collection also is a good buy for followers of the series who haven't yet indulged in the latest Naruto Shippuden game, plus all the add-ons. But those who aren't franchise fans will find this a good but not extraordinary anime offering.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about violence in entertainment. How does violence in cartoons or in video games compare with violence in the real word? Does seeing it in video games reduce its impact?
Talk about friendship and helping others. How important are the bonds of friendship, and what are some ways to help out your friends?
Game Details
- Platform : PlayStation 4
- Pricing structure : Paid
- Available online? : Available online
- Publisher : Bandai Namco
- Release date : February 7, 2017
- Genre : Fighting
- Topics : Fantasy ( Magic ) , Adventures , Family Stories ( Siblings )
- ESRB rating :
- Last updated : September 30, 2025
Did we miss something on diversity?
Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by
Suggest an Update
Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.
See how we rate