Power Stone 2
| Power Stone 2 | |
|---|---|
 Japanese Dreamcast cover art | |
| Developer(s) | Capcom |
| Publisher(s) |
|
| Designer(s) | Hideaki Itsuno |
| Composer(s) | Tetsuya Shibata |
| Platform(s) | Arcade, Dreamcast, PSP (Power Stone Collection) |
| Release date(s) | Arcade
Playstation Portable |
| Genre(s) | Fighting |
| Mode(s) | Single-player, multiplayer, online multiplayer |
| Distribution | GD-ROM, UMD |
Power Stone 2 is a multiplayer fighting game that built on the innovative[1][2] gameplay introduced by its predecessor, Power Stone. Power Stone 2 allows up to four players to choose from multiple characters and utilize items such as tables, chairs, and rocks in battle.
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. 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.
Game information
Playable Characters
- Edward Falcon
- Wang-Tang
- Ryoma
- Ayame
- Rouge
- Jack
- Gunrock
- Galuda
- Pete
- Julia Whitepearl
- Gourmand
- Accel
- Pride Falcon (secret character)
- Mel (secret character)
- Kraken - Boss character: Only available on psp version of game.
- Valgas - Boss character: Only available on psp version of game.
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 five interactive 3-D stages to begin with, plus the two boss stages which players can also access in Original mode. All but the Original mode is played out like a storyline, where two battles are fought on the regular stages, followed by the Pharaoh Walker boss, then another battle, and ending with the Dr. Erode boss stage. Three 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 three 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 three 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.
Boss Characters
- Pharaoh Walker - A giant sphinx-like robot, controlled from the inside 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 its tail which fires 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. Alternatively, 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 Pharaoh Walker is not defeated within the time restraint, it will jump onto a hill in the background and fire a massive laser blast onto the playing field, instantly KOing all the remaining players.
- Dr. Erode - The villain of the game; a monstrous green giant sitting at a table. Though his motives are unclear, he states in his entrance quote that the power in his own Power Stone (its black color suggests an evil dark variety of the Power Stone) would become absolute if he destroyed the heroes. 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 bite him/her, drinking from his cup and regurgitating poison, 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.
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.
VMU
Power Stone 2 includes a VMU application called the Mini-Book. 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.
Rarity
The Dreamcast version of the game is one of the rarer games for the system, worth up to $200 according to the rarity guide.[3]
Reception
On release, Famitsu magazine scored the game a 31 out of 40.[4] IGN rated the game a 9/10 noting the stage detail, visual style, diverse soundtrack and various gameplay modes.[5]
References
- ↑ IGN Staff (1999-09-08). "Power Stone Review". IGN. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ↑ "Power Stone Collection". Gamepro. 2006-11-03. Archived from the original on 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2010-07-09.
- ↑ "Sega Dreamcast Rarity Guide".
- ↑ ドリームキャスト - パワーストーン2. Weekly Famitsu. No.915 Pt.2. Pg.51. 30 June 2006.
- ↑ IGN review
External links
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