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Although Shuffle is a kinda old anime now, I still felt like I had to make a review for it, because I felt it was a little underappreciated. This won't change that, but maybe it will help one or two people discover this anime.

I have also played the VN before I watched this anime, something I don't think other reviewers for this anime mention. I'll talk about that at the overall section.

Story: The story is pretty great. It starts off as a typical harem rom com, but by the middle, that is when the anime really starts. That's when everything begins to really come together, ... and you will know when it happens. When the comedic relief starts to disappear, stuff get's real. 9/10

Art: For its time, the art isn't bad. Inconsistent, a little, but not too horribly. It's also somewhat unique, as I haven't really seen anything quite exactly like it, although I must admit to not having seen much anime from this period. 7/10

Sound: It's noticeable, I think, and I feel that it truly does help to enhance emotions in the sad and happy parts alike. The only thing that holds it back is lack of variety. 8/10

Characters: This is really where the anime shines above all else. Character development becomes important and prevalent halfway in, so it's definitely there if you can get there. Although many other people say that jealousy and anger and emotions similar to them should be more prevalent in the girls, considering the MC takes a while to choose, you also have to consider a couple of things.

Nerine and Lisianthius are not human. This may not seem to be very important, but it also means that they don't feel or react like a human girl might. There is a culture gap there. You can easily tell why Primula wouldn't feel like that. Kaede and Asa are the only ones that feel this, but only eventually, and this is due to life problems, and for one of them, serious mental issues. 9/10

Enjoyment: I really enjoyed this anime. I watched it very happily, and it wasn't a waste of time at all. 10/10

Overall: The VN this is based off of, wasn't very good. I enjoyed it, but it was short, it didn't let you connect with the characters enough that you cared much when their story got tragic. In the anime however, this problem is taken and shattered.

All unexplained things, almost all loopholes, are resolved in the anime. Not only that, but the VN was short. I finished it in about 10 hours. So, 24 episodes is actually kind of a lot. But, the anime took everything in the VN, cranked it up to Super Saiyan 4, until the anime took a life of its own. The stories and characters connect with you deeply, and you actually feel the emotion.

The girl Rin chooses was definitely unexpected for me, but it also made sense to me. And the routes are all finished almost completely, (minus the endings where they get together and everything, obviously) with tons and tons of new material that adds to it.

If you're looking for a faithful adaptation, this isn't for you. However, it is a GOOD adaptation. Which is really rare, ESPECIALLY for a VN adaptation.

Overall, I rate this anime a 9/10, one of my top 5 favorites now.

WARNING: SOME SPOILERS

Okay, this was about as good as I expected, but I was still a little disappointed.

It was cool to see alternate versions of people, I won't deny that. I do wanna say though, that they get about 5-10 minutes of screen time. I don't mind that too much.

Naruto and his parents meeting was about what I expected too. Very emotional, I liked that a lot. Probably my favorite part of the movie.

Then, you get to the action. It didn't seem forced, just, it felt like Kishimoto wrote everything except the fight scenes. Naruto actually said "There's too many of them!" at one point. ... He seemingly forgot that he could use Kage Bunshin. Actually, Naruto almost seemed nerfed.

This clearly takes place after Naruto gained the Tailed Beast Mode and met his mother. Yet, he never used Tailed Beast Mode. In the manga, he spams it like he does Rasengan and Kage Bunshin. Here, he only contemplates using it for a second.

The last fight seemed more like a slugging match, with the Kyuubi as fists. Not very much worth mentioning, just Kyuubi fighting Kyuubi, lots of claws and lasers and pretty lights.

The Akatsuki do show up, but it's painfully obvious that the only reason they show up at all is for "Wow! Akatsuki fighting as good guys! Awesome!"

I also wanted to see what everyone in the alternate world would think about how strong Naruto is, but we never get to see their reactions to that.

The time frame is AU, it doesn't fit anywhere in canon. After the Fourth World War, since Konoha isn't in the battlefield, yet they still call Tobi 'Madara.'

I guess my biggest complaint in the end, is that Naruto doesn't fight like Naruto, and we never get much interaction between the alternate characters and Naruto/Sakura.

In conclusion:

Story: 9/10 - Not bad. Points off because of the obvious AU time frame, which annoyed me a bit, but overall not too bad. Some interesting tidbits like Sakura's parents and Minato and Kushina.

Art: 7/10 - It's Naruto. The fight scenes are well animated, but there are some drops in less important scenes, and it's nothing particularly special.

Sound: 7/10 - The vocal songs were average, and the OST was just kinda what you would expect. Again, nothing particularly special.

Character: 6/10 - My biggest complaint. Naruto not fighting like Naruto, not too much character interaction with the alternate world, so not much development there.

Maybe you would put the emotional parts, like reuniting with the parents here, but I chose to put that in with the story, and focus this score on individual characters.

Enjoyment: 7/10 - I was screaming at my screen for Naruto to use Kage Bunshin, to use some new overpowered Rasengan, to use Tailed Beast Mode, Sage Mode, to do something besides hit the guy in the face. It was not to be really. I did like the emotional parts though, like meeting Minato and Kushina, and Sakura's despair at her parents being dead.

Overall: 7/10 - Better than the rest, but still just good, not 'great.'