Power Stone 2

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Power Stone 2
Developer(s) Capcom
Publisher(s) United States of America Capcom
European Union Eidos
Platform(s) Dreamcast
Release date Japan April 27, 2000
United States of America August 24, 2000
United States of America October 3, 2006 (in Power Stone Collection)
Genre(s) Arcade, Fighting
Mode(s) Single player, multiplayer, online multiplayer
Rating(s) ESRB: Teen (T)
ELSPA: 11 +

Power Stone 2 is a multiplayer fighting game that built on the innovative gameplay introduced by its predecessor, Power Stone. Power Stone 2 allows up to four players to choose from multiple characters and use the environment around them for advantage.

Power Stone 2 originated as an arcade game, like many others on the Dreamcast. The Dreamcast served as a testing ground for successful arcade games. Despite relative popularity, Power Stone and this sequel would remain the only games in the series. Power Stone 2 included some differences from the original, including new character voices, the removal of the existing combo system and a new, horizontal status bar.

Contents

[edit] Game Info

[edit] Playable Characters

See also: List of Power Stone characters

[edit] Gameplay

  • 1-on-1 - Much like the original Power Stone, a two-character storyline game.
  • Arcade - A four-character storyline game, with two-characters advancing each round.
  • Original - Multiplayer mode, with free choice of characters and stages.
  • Adventure - An unpredictable storyline game, where players can collect items, cards and money.

Power Stone 2 offers 5 interactive 3-D stages to begin with, plus the 2 boss stages that can be accessed in Original mode as well. All but the Original mode is played out like a storyline, where 2 battles are fought on the regular stages, followed by the Pharaoh Walker boss, then another battle, and ending with the Dr. Erode boss stage. 3 extra stages may be unlocked for Original mode by meeting certain requirements in Arcade mode, as well as a desert area stage, which is essentially the Pharaoh Walker boss stage, but without the boss. Though each player has their own set of default ground and air attacks, the character can execute more powerful fusion attacks after collecting 3 Power Stones and transforming. Power Stone 2 does not offer an opportunity to block, although tapping on the control pad just before an enemy attacks will cause you to dodge.

Most of the stages are dynamic and will change as the battle progresses. For example, the airplane stage starts out on a warplane. After a set amount of time, the plane will fall apart, forcing all the players to battle while skydiving toward the ground. Shortly after, the players will fall onto a floating platform, where the remainder of the battle will be held. This, in essence creates 3 sub-stages within a single one.

Each stage is also littered with item boxes, which hold a random item that a player has acquired and unlocked in Adventure mode or created in the Item Shop. They may also contain Power Stones. Items are extremely diverse. Damaging items range from guns, flamethrowers, gigantic hammers, a wide assortment of swords, to bear traps, roller blades, and even a magazine that can be thrown. Non-damaging items include food that will replenish health, shields for defense, elixirs for invisibility, adhesive sprays to slow your opponents, and wings for extra jumps. Cards that can be used to mix items can also be found in Adventure mode. Furthermore, most stages also have their own collection of unique items and fixtures that the player can use. For example, the submarine level comes with turrets, small planes to drop bombs, and icebergs to throw at opponents. Each level is also highly interactive, as players can use many of the stage elements themselves. All players can also gain extra height by jumping off a wall.

[edit] Boss Characters

  • Pharaoh Walker - A giant sphinx-like robot, controlled by numerous small men. The men can send homing electric spheres to damage the player, while the sphinx itself can attack by lashing out its tongue at the player, crouching down and spinning its legs at the player or jumping up and paralyzing the player upon landing. On top of that, the sphinx sports a powerful laser on top which will be fired as well. Players can hack away at the creature's legs until it falls, at which point the more vulnerable head comes into striking range periodically. Alternately, players can attempt to take control of the powerful laser weapon and use it to shoot the head, dealing very heavy damage. Assuming that a time limit has been set on the stage, if the Paraoh Walker is not defeated within the time restraint, it will jump onto a hill in the background and shoot its laser onto the playing field, instantly killing all the players.
  • Dr. Erode - The villain of the game; a monstrous green giant sitting at a table. Items can be retrieved from his meal and hurled at his vulnerable head; with sufficient damage, his even more vulnerable heart will be exposed momentarily, allowing for further damage. His attacks include stabbing the table with his knife, lunging his arm at the player to grab and eat him/her, drinking from his cup and hurling it out, shooting lightning from his hands, and calling forth bee-like creatures to attack the player. If not defeated within the time limit, Dr. Erode will shoot a final blast of lightning from both hands, instantly killing the players.

[edit] Item Shop

An innovative addition to Power Stone 2 is the "Adventure" mode. This mode is functionally identical to the "1-on-1" and "Arcade" modes; however, there is an additional inventory filled with items and money that the player has collected.

These may then be taken to the game's "Item Shop", run by secret character Mel. The overall goal of the Item Shop is to allow players to gain access to new items; either by purchasing them, or by combining existing items in a 'mixing' process. This gives the game considerable additional longevity, as many of the best or most entertaining items are available only from the Item Shop.

[edit] VMU

Like some other Dreamcast games, Power Stone 2 allows players to create a "Mini-Book" application on their [VMU]. This can be used to inspect the player's item inventory, or trade items with another player. Additionally, a player may 'register' up to five items in their inventory as "Handy Items"; these may then appear to the player in "Original" mode, offering a tactical advantage.

[edit] Easter Egg

When Sega Dreamcast game discs are played in a CD player, they generally play a warning message that says: "Warning. This disc is for use only on Sega Dreamcast." However, if the Powerstone 2 CD is put in a CD player or computer for that matter, it plays a piano solo song along with a slightly modified message. The piano solo also ends on a final jazzy chord and leaves the song unresolved.

[edit] External links

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