Naruto Shippūden: Kizuna Drive
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(ナルト- 疾風伝 キズナドライブ, Naruto - Shippūden Kizuna Doraibu)
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| Video game info | |||
| Playable on | PlayStation Portable | ||
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| Japanese | July 15, 2010 | ||
| English | March 22, 2011 | ||
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Naruto Shippūden: Kizuna Drive the fourth instalment of the Uzumaki Chronicles series. Like its prequel, it was released for the PlayStation Portable. The theme song for the game is Life Goes On by Junko Takeuchi.
Gameplay
The gameplay retains many of the elements from the previous game. One of the new features is the ability to fight alongside three other allies during levels. Players can assign various scrolls to characters for increase of health, chakra and attack power. In addition, they can equip various ninja tools and techniques for the characters to use. The techniques include long-lasting effects, such as Lee's Eight Gates and Karin's Mind's Eye of the Kagura. The feature to have three allies with you allows the performance of "team attacks", which include the four standing in a square formation and knocking the enemy around and finishing with each performing one of their techniques, resulting in an explosion.
The player can call any of the three allied characters to perform a technique on their enemy, resulting in the gaining of Kizuna Points. The higher the amount of Kizuna Points when the mission is finished, the higher the rank you receive on it. Kizuna Points can also be used to revive fallen allies and, if the player falls, an ally will immediately go to revive them if there is enough Kizuna Points. Kizuna Points can also be gained by performing team attacks.
The game features many challenges. The main challenges are battles with false tailed beasts. The three that appear are the One-Tail, the Two-Tails and the Nine-Tails. Though they are considerably smaller than the real thing, they posses the same abilities and some unnamed, game-only attacks. Perhaps the greatest challenge is fighting the Three-Headed Guardian Beast, a huge, lion-like monster with power equivalent to that of a real tailed beast.
The graphics of the game have been greatly improved since the previous games.
Story
The game goes by its own unique story that takes place immediately after the Hidan and Kakuzu Arc, and it begins the Itachi Pursuit Arc. It tells the story of Yumegakure, originally nothing more than the hidden village of a tiny country. It became known for its control of a massive guardian beast, called the Three-Heads. That power made it superior even to the five great nations. It formed a pact of peace withKonohagakure, and the two became allies. That alliance has kept balance among the nations, keeping each in check.
However, one night someone who appears to be Naruto Uzumaki is seen moving along the rooftops of the village with a sinister smile on his face. As he places a tag on his face, the power of the Nine-Tails is released and he completely transforms. The Nine-Tails then fires a huge blast of chakra directly at the village, resulting in an enormous explosion that destroys most of the village and sets it ablaze. Itachi Uchiha is then seen observing the burning village as the villagers run in panic. Higher up, two shinobi,Yomito and Taisa are seen with their sorrow for their village, but a kunoichi, named Ryuka, encourages the three of them to go fight it. They are, however, stopped by the village chief, Enzo, who states they could not possibly defeat it. As he expresses anger that Konoha has betrayed them, a man, namedGensui, looms over the burning village and confronts the beast. As it fires another immense chakra blast, Gensui sends out a storm of sealing tags to counter the blast. He then rushes at the beast with a massive explosive tag as it prepares to fire another blast and the scene fades white with Gensui having supposedly perished.
Danzō Shimura is later seen discussing a plan with a shadowed figure, stating that the rest is up to him.
After some time, a series of kidnappings of Konoha ninja begin occurring. Team Kakashi, withShikamaru replacing Sai, are sent on a special mission to look for clues at the Blue Fire Falls where a Konoha chūnin was abducted most recently. After fighting off some wild dogs, they find a backpack lying on the grass but they quickly get surrounded by a group of bandits who order them not to touch the pack. After defeat, the bandits retreat down to the river and Team Kakashi follows. After clearing out all the bandits, the leader appears before Team Kakashi. After they defeat them, Shikamaru suggests that they could not be the kidnappers and points out the clue they found — uniquely shaped footprints with jagged edges and some moss on them which he states doesn't grow in this area.
He then suggest to give it to the analysis unit, but Kakashi says he has already sent Pakkun back to Konoha with the moss. As they head back to the village after completing their mission, Ryuka is secretly watching them, mumbling to herself how he can still be alive, thinking Gensui finished him. She then states she will never forgive him for attacking her village and that she will strike him down with her own hands. She then reports back to her father, Enzo, back in the remains of Yumegakure, who is just as surprised to hear that Naruto is alive. Thinking that Konoha is planning another attack on them, he states that he has an idea, his daughter easily guessing it is the release of the Three-Heads. Not wanting the Three-Heads to be released and innocent people from other countries to be pulled in, Ryuka states that she will put down the jinchūriki herself so they won't have to release the Three-Heads.
As Naruto is having ramen with Iruka, Sakura turns up to call Naruto for an emergency meeting, but ends up beating him up for not wanting to come right away. As they arrive Sai, who is now free to go on the mission with them, bluntly asks Naruto about his beat-up face, angering him in a comedic fashion. Kakashi then gives the brief about the mission: another victim was attacked by something in the Ishikiri Desert so they are headed to the sight to look for clues again. As they walk through the desert they encounter bandits several times. After clearing out the bandits and arriving at their destination, Team Kakashi is confronted by shinobi of Yumegakure's Tenro clan. After defeating the weaker ones, a Tenro chūnin arrives to fight them. After defeating him, more ninja from the Tenro clan arrive. As they are about to clash with Team Kakashi, Ryuka calls for them to stop from the distance, stating that even if they take them on together they will never win. She introduces herself and tells Naruto of what "he" has done, but Naruto has no memory of doing it. She then states that they will be avenged and leaves, leaving Naruto confused. After that they search the desert once more.
While Team Kakashi was still searching the desert, Konohamaru is "training" in the forest near Konoha with Ebisu. As usual, Konohamaru uses the Sexy Technique on Ebisu, this time a "Hokage version". Ebisu then scolds that he has been using vulgar types of techniques the whole time, but Konohamaru replies that Naruto is developing the "ultimate" Sexy Technique and that he can't let him beat him. This interests Ebisu, who asks Konohamaru to give him more details. As they chatter, a group of Yumegakure shinobi confront them. Team Asuma with Yamato as their leader immediately arrives to fight of the enemies. Konohamaru insists on fighting too, but Ebisu manages to convince him that they'll only get in the way. After defeating the Amagiri shinobi and their poisonous insects, a chūnin from the Hirasaka clan arrives to fight them. After defeating him, a Yumegakure ninja attempts to attack from behind, but Shikamaru easily defeats him. Yamato then spots his Yumegakure forehead protector. Taking the opportunity, an Amagiri ninja takes Konohamaru and attempts to escape. Shikamaru and Yamato attempt to stop him but he throws a kunai with an exploding tag that explodes and causes a smokescreen, allowing him to escape. Chōji suggests to go after them, but Shikamaru suspects it to be a trap. Seeing it as the best thing to do, they go back and report to Tsunade.
Elsewhere, Team Kakashi is headed back to Konoha. Kakashi mentions that the footprints they found at Blue Fire Falls were the same as the ones in the desert, but the kunoichi who attacked them left different footprints. This confirms that the kidnappers and the kunoichi are two different groups. Suddenly, Naruto strays an explosive tag trap, knocking him on the ground. As they go the rest of the way on the ground, they encounter shinobi form the Tenro clan, as well as ninken from Yumegakure. After clearing them out, Ryuka appears once again before Team Kakashi, stating she will defeat Naruto and avenge Gensui. She fights alongside several ninken, but proves no match, so she activates theTenro-Style Ninjutsu: Beast-Human Transformation Technique, transforming into a wolf-like creature. Even in this form she is unable to win. After her transformation wears off she still attempts to fight, but Yomito arrives and leaves with her after she once again states she will be the one to take him down.
When Team Kakashi arrives back in Konoha, Naruto learns of Konohamaru's kidnapping which greatly angers him. Team Asuma express their sorrow that they were unable to protect him, but Naruto simply yells at Tsunade as to why they haven't been sent to save him yet. Kakashi then reports about the footprints and the moss, and Yamato mentions that similar moss was found at the scene of their fight. Tsunade than reveals the results of the analysis unit, identifying it as "Mythic Beast Moss" which only grows in the Forest of Mythic Beasts that surrounds Yumegakure. Tsunade then reveals terrifying information about the Three-Headed Guardian Beast and how the whole world might be destroyed if it were released. Shizune then enters and interrupts them, stating that there has been a report that a giant monster has appeared at the main gate. Naruto, assuming it's the Three-Heads, immediately heads off to the site.
In the forest near Konoha, Hinata and Lee are sparring with Neji. As Neji and Lee are about the exchange blows, Hinata senses something and activates her Byakugan and sees a strong, eerie chakra about 30 kilometres from where they are. They then rush over to check it out, only to find the One-Tailed Shukaku breaking its way through the forest. Before they can begin battling it, Naruto arrives and immediately recognises Gaara's tailed beast, but doesn't believe it could be him as Shukaku was already extracted by the Akatsuki. Neji then confirms this with his Byakugan and the four engage in combat with the beast. As they harm it, the beast seems to get stronger and stronger, but in the end they manage to defeat it. After being defeated the beast reverts to an unconscious Konoha shinobi. Sakura then arrives to treat him, and states that a lot of chakra was sucked out of him but confirms that his life isn't in danger. Neji and Lee recognise that he is from Konoha and Kakashi arrives, saying that the kidnappers seem to be able to transform the ones they kidnap into false tailed beasts.
Team Kakashi and Team Asuma then discuss the happening with Tsunade and Shizune. Shizune reveals that the One-Tail's likeness seems to be some form of Transformation Technique that uses the person's life energy to produce power. Naruto, even more angry about Konohamaru's kidnapping, wants for Tsunade to send them to rescue him. Tsunade then gives Kakashi and Yamato the mission to investigate Yumegakure and to apprehend the kidnappers, Team Kakashi to to be an advance unit and Shikamaru, Ino and Chōji with Yamato leading to go as support as Team Yamato. On their way, Team Kakashi fights off various Yumegakure shinobi, including ones from the Hirasaka clan.
After defeating them all and arriving at a waterfall near the Forest of Mythic Beasts, Yomito appears from the water and quickly engages in battle with them after stating he is surprised Naruto can show his face around here. He summons monsters called Nuiba to fight by his side, but Team Kakashi manages to defeat him and his monsters. Yomito then resorts to his Transformation Technique, putting his mask on his face and turning into an oni-like creature. However, this form doesn't seem to be enough as he is defeated again and reverts back. Naruto then tries to convince him he wasn't the one who attacked their village, but Yomito doesn't believe him and attempts to fight once again. A dark mist then surrounds the area and Taisa arrives and invites Naruto to fight him in the Forest of Mythic Beasts.
Not far away, Sasuke's group Hebi are on the move through a forest. As usual, Suigetsu is tired from walking and insists they take a break, only for Karin to scold him and ask for Jūgo's support on the matter who is admiring the peace of the forest. Sasuke then senses shinobi hiding in the woods who quickly surround them, revealing to be from Yumegakure. After defeating the weaker shinobi an Amagiri chūnin appears, though is also defeated. One of the defeated ninja notices that Sasuke's eyes are the same as the ones of the "guy in the black cloak" and asks if he is Sasuke's ally. This catches Sasuke's interest who asks where he is, but the ninja collapses before he can say anything. Jūgo asks what they should do and Sasuke mentions Yumegakure.
Back to Team Kakashi, they have now entered the Forest of Mythic Beasts but a fog is making it hard to find their way around. Team Yamato then comes out of the bushes, having been guarding Team Kakashi's rear in case of a surprise attack. Yamato, having been here before, suggest to go to a place called the "Hill of Illusions" where they can look out over the forest and there is enough wind to disperse the mist. Kakashi, however says he'll leave that to Team Yamato and that his team will go on ahead, as Naruto cannot wait that long. Yamato then mentions that they don't have exceptional tracking abilities. At that time, Hinata, along with Neji and Lee, come out of the bushes, having been sent as reinforcements by Tsunade. With Hinata and Lee on Team Kakashi and Neji on Team Yamato they split up and head further into the forest. Through the forest they fight various ninja from the Amagiri clan along with their poisonous insects until being confronted by Taisa, who welcomes them to his "garden". Taisa refuses to listen to Naruto and battles him to get revenge for his father. After being defeated and his mist being dispersed thanks to Team Yamato, Taisa activates his Transformation Technique, turning into a kabutomushi-like creature. Team Kakashi manage figure out his weak point —
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