Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is the last ultimate Ninja series in the Naruto game developed by CyberConnect2. Since its release in 2016,Storm 4 has sold over 10 million copies, becoming the best-selling Naruto game ever.
Popular games with online functionality, like Storm 4, delight gamers who want to play their counterparts remotely from their different consoles.
A game has to be cross-play for this to be possible. Is Storm 4 cross-play? Can you play the game against someone using a different console in another location? Read on to find out!
Is Storm 4 Cross-play?
Ultimate Ninja Storm 4 is not cross-play. While you can play Storm 4 on your PC or console and enjoy the online multiplayer mode and couch co-op mode, you can’t play an online multiplayer game with any of your buddies using different consoles.
However, it passes for a cross-platform game because you can play it on different platforms like PS4, Xbox, PC, Steam, and Switch.
Fans have been divided over this question because many don’t know what cross-play or cross-platform is. So before we delve further, let’s understand the meaning of cross-play or cross-platform.
What Is Cross-play?
A cross-play game allows you and your buddies to enjoy a game using two consoles. Storm 4 doesn’t pass for this category. Therefore, it is not a cross-play game.
Cross-play software or games work across different platforms. However, beyond that, cross-play games support online multiplayer game modes with players using different consoles.
Cross-play Vs. Cross Platform
Many people confuse cross-play with cross-platform. These words appear synonymous, and gamers often use them interchangeably. However, they don’t mean the same thing. Understanding the difference between them becomes necessary.
As the name goes, a game or software is cross-platform when it can work or play across different platforms or operating systems without any hitches or extra preparation.
For example, Rocket League is available on PC and three consoles (Xbox, switch, and PS). The software can work on any of these systems. You only have to download Rocket league software compatible with your device to play the game.
Another example of a cross-platform game is Call of Duty. If you have Call of Duty on your PS4 console, you can still play the online multiplayer game mode with your friend that has Call of Duty on a PC.
Using different consoles, you can also connect to play Call of Duty with or against each other. Therefore, Call of Duty is not only cross-platform; it’s also cross-play. People use cross-play and cross-platform interchangeably because most cross-platform games are usually cross-play.
Is Storm 4 Enhanced 2020 Version Cross-play?
The Storm 4 Enhanced 2020 version comes with new and exciting features. But does it support cross-play? Many fans argue that the Storm 4 enhanced 2020 version (Road to Boruto) is cross-play, so let’s clear that up too.
When Road to Borutofirst launched in 2017, it was only playable on PS4, Steam (PC), and Xbox. However, the 2020 version came with the release of the Nintendo Switch port.
Nintendo Switch is a flexible video game console. It comes in different models and is playable in handheld, TV, and desktop or tabletop modes. You can play the game in three modes with the Nintendo Switch console.
A handy tip: You can download and play your purchased games on multiple Nintendo Switch family systems, and the system will save your history on the cloud. To do this, you will need to log in to your Nintendo account on a primary console (your first console), then log on to other consoles with the same Nintendo account on your primary console. You will need an internet connection.
Nintendo Switch And Storm 4
The Nintendo Switch’s flexibility makes gaming more interesting. You can enjoy Storm 4 with your friends even if you own two switch console models or play in different modes.
For example, if you own a handheld Switch, you can still play with a friend who owns a TV or table mode Switch console.
However, playing with friends who own a different model of switch console doesn’t make Storm 4 a cross-play. The reason is that the Nintendo Switch is just one platform, even though You can use it in different modes. All the modes and models share just one server.
You can’t enjoy multiple players online with a friend on a different platform like PS4 or PC. What’s more, to play an online multiplayer game with a Nintendo switch, you must have a Nintendo switch online account.
What Makes Storm 4 More Fun Than Other Versions?
Storm 4, originally published for PS4, Xbox, and Steam, now has an expanded version of the game in 2020 titled: “Ultimate Ninja 4: Road to Boruto.” You should be familiar with Borunto’s story if you have been a fan of the Naruto Movie.
Although it is not cross-play, there are many new and improved features to enjoy in storm 4. Being the last main version of the Ninja storm series, the game is a major upgrade of the previous versions.
Storm 4 is not cross-play, but don’t lose your interest. Although the game is not a cross-play, the public and fans of the Naruto series have received it well and rank it as arguably the best Naruto game.
Storm 4 is fun for several reasons, from the gameplay to new characters and combos. Let’s dive in.
The wall running feature is back in Storm 4. If you played the original “Naruto: Ultimate Ninja Storm,” you’ll remember that it featured exciting wall battles where the characters could climb the walls of the selected stage while fighting.
No other storm series has retained the wall fight feature since the Ultimate Ninja storm, but CyberConnect2 has brought it back with Storm 4.
A handy tip: If one character runs up the wall in storm 4, the other can still fight from the ground.
Storm 4 comes with the leadership swap feature: Storm debuted an exciting feature called “leadership swap.” The leadership swap feature allows players to change their main character to another character in their team to have a better chance at defeating an opponent.
To ensure the game maintains balance, the “swap characters” will share the same life with the main character. Skillful players can also use the leadership swap feature as an attack and defense technique.
The swap could easily disengage or invalidate attacks on you while changing and allowing you to attack. As a result of this feature, support-only characters were omitted.
You can activate all fighting styles in Storm 4: Another interesting feature of Storm 4 is that players can activate all three fighting styles (Ultimate, Awakening, and Drive) anytime in a battle. No storm series has had this feature since Storm Revolution.
Unlike in the previous Storm series, you can now choose between multiple Jutsus and ultimate Jutsus before a battle.
Storm 4 has a more realistic gameplay: Storm 4 is more realistic than other Naruto game versions. For example, in previous models, you could receive hit after hit, and your outfit will remain unaffected.
That has changed in storm 4; your outfit can damage during a fight or even wear off with time. Jutsu has a longer effect on the outfits.
Fire can burn your attire when attacked with a fireball, but you could also quench the fire by moving away from the fireball or going close to water. Also, stage destructions during fights have become better in Storm 4. The game also offers a more detailed picture.
Storm 4 comes with more characters and moves: As expected, Storm 4 has the largest number of fighters since the Naruto series began. It boasts over a hundred playable characters, including characters from the Naruto universe and their duplicates.
The road to Boruto and Next generation DLC added to the series make things even more interesting. The developers added a new cast in the Boruto version with the introduction of BorutoUzumaki, SaradaUchiha, and Mitsuki. Also, Boruto’s story would take about three hours to play (more fun time for everyone).
The next generation DLC brings in Kinshiki and MomoshikiOtsutsuki as playable characters, plus it gives us the adult-skin version of other supporting characters.
The body replacement meter in Storm 4 recharges faster than the previous series, like Generation 3 and Revolution. So you can conserve the meter across team members with ease, making the game more interesting. Many other features make storm 4 a favorite among fans, but you have to play it to find out for yourself.
Conclusion
Storm 4 is an awesome game that fans and the public have received well, but it is not a cross-play. Cross-play games are games you can play together with your friends even if they own different sets of consoles from yours.
Storm 4 doesn’t have the cross-play feature. However, you can play it across different platforms like Xbox, PS4, PC, and Switch. The Switch port for the game was introduced in 2020. Switch, being a hybrid console, gives fans different gameplay options.
