Like the last game, there is also the issue of the touch screen control. Although every other action is controlled by the buttons, and if you want to use a chakra attack (which you will have to do very frequently), you will need to grab your stylus and tap. This is completely inefficient, and by the time you have pulled out your stylus and tapped what you wanted, you have most likely already taken damage. This was a huge gripe for me leftover from the last Ninja Council, and the fact that this control scheme is still here is definitely annoying.

The visuals in Ninja Council 4 are about standard for the series, which actually isn’t much of a good thing. Characters are represented by animated sprites that lack detail, and backgrounds consist of plain images. Elements in the environment are also generally very stoic, aside from the odd moving platform or trap, and the visual scheme is rather boring overall.

The sound is a little better, and the game features little voice snippets from the anime. Although none of the plot scenes are voiced, you will hear characters say things in-game, which is ok. Background music is also pretty standard stuff, with different tunes playing for each level. Although there’s nothing too amazing about the sound in the game, there isn’t much bad about it either, which gives it a leg up over many other elements in this game.

I really wanted to like Ninja Council 4. I figured since it was taking place during the Shippuden saga, it would have been a good time for the series to reinvent itself and leave behind some of its poorer elements. However, Ninja Council 4 has all the same faults as its predecessor, and is made even weaker by its lack of content. It pains me to say it, but this is a Naruto title best avoided, even if you are a fan. Though the story is straight from the anime, and the game does have a few fun moments (particularly at the beginning) the tiresome platforming, cumbersome controls, and lackluster visuals just don’t make it worth your time.

By Amanda L. Kondolojy
CCC Staff Contributor