You’ve seen the trailers. You’ve seen the massive roster. Maybe you even saw that 130-plus character count and thought, "This is it. This is the definitive Naruto game." But if you’re looking to pick up Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections PS4, there is a lot of noise out there you need to filter through first. It isn't just "Storm 5" by another name. It’s a weird, experimental bridge between generations that feels great to play but leaves some long-time fans feeling a bit cold.
The biggest elephant in the room is the hardware. If you are playing on a base PS4, you are fundamentally having a different experience than the PS5 crowd. It's locked. 30fps. In a fighting game where a millisecond of lag or a dropped frame means getting hit by a Planetary Rasengan, that matters.
The PS4 Performance Reality Check
Let’s be real for a second. Playing Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections PS4 means accepting the 30fps cap. While the PS5 and Xbox Series X versions push 60fps, the last-gen version sticks to the old standard. Is it playable? Absolutely. Is it smooth? Kinda. If you’ve spent the last decade playing Storm 4 on the same console, you’ll feel right at home. The game doesn't stutter often, and CyberConnect2 has optimized the engine well enough that the massive Ultimate Jutsu animations don't tank the frame rate into single digits.
But there’s a catch.
Online play is cross-gen but it is not cross-frame-rate in the way you’d hope. When a PS5 player matches with a PS4 player, the game has to reconcile that difference. This usually leads to a "syncing" feeling that can make the netcode—which already lacks rollback—feel even more sluggish. Honestly, if you’re a competitive sweat who cares about ranked leaderboards, the 30fps limit on PS4 is a genuine handicap. You simply have fewer frames to react to a sub or a counter.
That Roster is Massive (And a Bit Lazy)
One of the main selling points of Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections PS4 is the roster. Over 130 characters. That sounds incredible until you realize how many of them are different versions of Naruto and Sasuke. You have Kid Naruto, Shippuden Naruto, Sage Mode Naruto, Kurama Link Naruto, and now Baryon Mode Naruto.
The new additions are actually pretty cool, though. We finally got the Otsutsuki brothers, Ashura and Indra. We also got the Kara members like Jigen, Delta, and Boro. These characters feel fresh. They don't just use the same recycled combos from 2012. Jigen, in particular, has a playstyle that feels oppressive in a way that fits his character perfectly.
- New Faces: Kawaki, Jigen, Ashura, Indra, Delta, Koji Kashin.
- The "Legacy" Bloat: Expect to see the same PTS (Pre-Time Skip) characters that haven't had a move-set update since the PS3 era.
- The "Simple" Fix: There is a new "Simple Control" mode. It's basically an auto-combo system. Great for younger siblings or if you just want to see the flashy stuff without learning the timing for a tilt (which, by the way, have been removed).
The Story Mode Confusion
There are two story modes here, and the naming is a bit confusing. You have "History Mode" and "Special Story Mode."
History Mode is essentially a PowerPoint presentation of the entire Naruto series. It uses static screenshots from the anime with voiceovers. If you were expecting the high-budget, cinematic boss fights of Storm 2 or Storm 3 to be remade here, prepare for disappointment. It’s a recap. A long, slightly dry recap.
Then there’s the Special Story. This is the "real" content. It’s an original tale written specifically for the game, focusing on Boruto and a new character named Nanashi (Hikari Uchiha). She’s a girl Boruto meets in a virtual reality game called "Ninja Heroes." Without spoiling too much, the story actually gets surprisingly emotional. It deals with the Uchiha legacy in a way that feels more "Naruto" than most of the actual Boruto anime filler.
The downside? On the PS4, the loading times between these story segments are noticeable. We’re talking 15-20 seconds versus the near-instant loads on modern consoles. It breaks the flow, especially when the game asks you to do five "VR battles" in a row.
Combat Changes: More Than a Reskin
Don't let people tell you the gameplay is identical to Storm 4. It isn't. The removal of "Tilts" is a massive change. In previous games, flicking the analog stick and pressing attack gave you a unique move. In Naruto x Boruto Ultimate Ninja Storm Connections PS4, that’s gone. Instead, every character now has two Jutsus.
This changes the neutral game entirely.
Chakra also regenerates automatically now. You don't have to stand still and charge nearly as much. This makes the game much faster. It encourages aggression. If you sit back and try to play a defensive game like it’s 2016, you’re going to get overwhelmed by someone spamming long-range Jutsus that now refill on their own.
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Is It Actually Worth It in 2026?
We are well into the life cycle of the PS5, so why buy the PS4 version? Price is usually the answer. You can often find the PS4 disc for under $30 now. If you’re a casual fan who just wants to play as Baryon Mode Naruto and see the new Boruto story, it’s a solid deal.
However, if you are looking for a deep, competitive fighting game, the lack of rollback netcode is a dealbreaker for many. The "Connections" in the title is a bit ironic given how often the online matches can stutter.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Check your display: If you are playing on a TV with high input lag, the 30fps on PS4 will feel even worse. Switch your TV to "Game Mode."
- Prioritize the Special Story: Don't waste your first three hours in History Mode unless you really need a refresher on the plot. The Special Story is where the new animations and "soul" of the game live.
- Manual vs. Simple: If you want to actually "git gud," stay away from Simple Controls. They limit your ability to cancel combos into subs, which is essential for high-level play.
- Check the DLC: A lot of the "missing" Boruto characters were added as DLC. If your favorite character isn't on the base roster, check the PlayStation Store before you buy the game.
The game is a "Greatest Hits" collection with a few new tracks mixed in. It's not a revolution, but for a Naruto fan still rocking a PS4, it's the most content-heavy package you can get, provided you know exactly what you're signing up for.