Naruto Konoha Spirits [PS2/JPN]

Bonus Schwag (No longer available)
    All orders for Naruto Konoha Spirits will include two puppets that are made of paper parts that players punch out. The first paper puppet features Naruto and the second is his sensei, Kakashi. Each puppet is made of 7 parts that move independently of each other when manipulated. Strands of string and plastic bolts are included to assemble the puppets together and hang them from a cardboard "control" to make them swing, dance, and even sashay. Update 08/15/18: All of these puppets have been given away.

Jan Code: 4582224491407

View the back cover and screenshots on the main NCSX website.

» In the intro to the game, a blue sphere appears with a halo around it as green and pink halos enter from the left and right. They're joined by more spheres. Heavy rock music blasts out as the Naruto characters are shown in profile mode as well as in fighting action sequences against each other and against strange and menacing creatures. Samples from the game play are shown where the fighters are polygon based and animate smoothly. We prefer cel-shaded Naruto but this also works since the game runs quickly.

» Begin a new adventure and the spheres from earlier appear followed by a big green shadowy creature that undulates in the darkness. The green sphere forms into another creature that looks like the Iron Giant and the pink sphere turns into a hornet that drifts in the darkness with eerie pink light highlighting its form. The creatures talk amongst themselves and conspire...

» As the game opens up, Naruto is shuffling outside and talking to himself when he spins around and disappears. A guy in a ninja suit with a mummy-like thing tied to his back is running and Naruto greets him. He spins and something in the distance and the two ninja watch as three long-clawed humanoid creatures appear. Naruto approaches closer and knocks them out with a few kicks and punches. He rejoins his friend and the two run off together.

» At the beginning of the game, the camera rests on Naruto who stands in the center of the screen as he faces ahead. The view is from a 3/4 perspective from the back of the hero.

CONTROLS
L-Analog..........Move. Push in a direction and Naruto slings his arms back, pushes his head forward, and runs. Like Forrest.
R-Analog.........Swivel camera
X-Button..........Jump. Surprisingly, pressing X again in succession doesn't force a double-jump
Square.............Attack
Circle...............Toss shuriken in a lazy trajectory forward
Triangle...........Strong Attack
R1-Trigger......Use Skill - Multiplies Naruto exponentially if used in sequence
R2-Trigger......Use Skill - Dash attack

Both special skills use up Naruto's blue power gauge located below his green life bar.

» Run ahead and reach the wooden post with the Sharingen symbol. A cinema sequence will play where Naruto and friend rush forward and encounter a gang of long-clawed creatures mechs who ramble forward. A battle begins. The action runs smooth but the camera doesn't keep tabs on Naruto's (player's) perspective when running around the battlefield. For example, rush past enemies and you'll have to swivel the camera manually to get a bead on them. The action is fast and entertaining but familiar. Activate the Kage bunshin no jutsu by pressing the R1-Trigger and watch as Naruto clones explode from his body and set upon the enemies like an raving ninja gang.

» After the first battle, an interactive sequence plays where Naruto and friend are confronted by metallic salamander creatures and minions. Kakashi appears and attacks but the lead salamander rotates into a ball shape and spins forward. A sequence plays where the two parties talk and face each other but the salamanders eventually disappears into thin air leaving the trio of heroes chatting amongst themselves and planning their upcoming adventure.

» Later, in Tsunade's office, the party of three describe the situation with the salamander creatures. After this sequence is over, players are prompted to save their progres s to a memory card in slot 1 or 2.

» After the introduction to the storyline in the game, Naruto appears in an overhead map where he may travel to other areas by highlighting one of four other locations and then pressing the O button. When he travels on the map, Naruto again pushes his head forward and slings his arms behind him. When traveling on the map, Naruto may encounter unwelcome foes but they are generally easy to beat under a minute.

» Naruto eventually reaches a village that's burning. Sakura and Kakashi run towards him and remark on the situation at hand. The flames roar in the background and Naruto runs on a roof and shifts to join his sensei and Sakura as they confront a band of brigands who are approaching. Naruto faces them but since Sakura and Kakashi are now in his party, the active member may be toggled at any time by pressing the L2 trigger and the change happens quickly on the fly. If running, pressing the L2 trigger will switch characters quickly and without interruption.

» If Naruto touches flames in the burningl, he'll recoil backwards and scream, "Yiahhhh" with a blood curdling timpani.

» If the Kage bunshin no jutsu skill is triggered with no enemies on screen, the gang of Naruto just sort of stand there with their arms swaying back and forth. The first goal in the inferno level is to run up to the roof of the house on the south end of the village and then punch the water tower on the roof so that it jets out some life saving liquid to quell the flames below. The spurting and shower of water is shown in a short cinematic sequence. Once done, a ruined building may be found below which consists of orange embers, blackened beams, and a black sooty foundation where a house once stood. If you poke around the fringes of the foundation, you will find a bear trap that someone has left. Walk over it and watch as its steel jaws clamp on the active hero and cause massive pain.

» Kakashi and Sakura are okay fighters but they're nothing compared to the energetic and fast attacking Naruto.

» Enemies drop colorful baubles that glitter and sparkle when defeated.

» Naruto's attack sequence is as follows if pressing the SQUARE button in quick succession: Punch, Punch, Knee Kick, Full Kick, and a Jumping Wallop attack where he leaps up with both arms arcing backwards before bringing them down like a hammer on his target.

» Check out the waterfall area in the map location at 2 'o clock. The water thunders down from overhead and comes out nice and foamy as mist sprays in a radiating column away from the falls. The reflection of the trees and the blue sky and clouds on the water's surface is also a mesmerizing visual.

» Actionable locations on a level are indicated by a spinning Sharingan symbol on the ground next to the area.

This document is ©NCSX 2006. All rights reserved. No reproduction in whole or in part of this document may be made without express written consent of National Console Support, Inc.