Game Review: Power Stone

Game: Power Stone
Console: Sega Dreamcast
Developer: Capcom
Release Date: 14th October 1999

Power Stone is a fighting game, set in 3D environments featuring weapons, physical attacks and gems which trigger a magical girl-esque transformation and powerful final attacks. With 8 fighters (3 more unlockable through completing arcade mode), all bringing their stories of why they're chasing the legendary power stone to the game, all with their own home fighting stage, there's a lot of variation and charm between them. Also released as an anime series, Power Stone gained a sequel in 2000 featuring new characters as well as some returning ones.

The players start with 5 bars of health, and are allowed to move but not attack during the opening countdown. There are lots of furniture items in each stage scattered about, such as boxes, chairs and tables which can be thrown at opponents, in addition to item boxes containing weapons such as hammers, flamethrowers and guns. Each player starts with one gem which is lost when the player sustains enough damage from one attack, and becomes available for either player to collect, in the battlefield. A third gem spawns after a while, and collecting all 3 results in a transformation to a more powerful state.

Once in this transformed state the player is able to do special attacks and a finishing move, to do more damage to the opponent. There are 7 normal stages in which the player competes with the final battle divided into two parts, as the boss uses the power stone to transform into an even more powerful creature. The fighting style is fast paced and fun, with plenty of weapons and attacks to choose from. The added strategy of the gems also makes for a different feel than many other fighting games.

The levels themselves are nicely detailed a varied with plenty of items to throw at opponents and vantage points to find. Knowing a level well can sometimes be the difference between winning and losing a battle. The default difficulty can get a little easy once you've mastered the basics of the game, but it's available to change in the options and so isn't much of an issue. The AI is generally good with few exploitable moments.

Graphically the game looks nice (unfortunately the screenshots here don't do it justice, so you'll have to believe me), with detailed character sprites, locations, backgrounds and transformations. The characters themselves are well designed, and have decent backstories which don't feel too contrived compared to other fighting games. Musically the game has simple battle themed music behind most fights and its not particularly memorable.

In terms of gameplay battles are fast paced races to collect the 3 gems, interspersed with dodging weapon and melee attacks. Although its not a conventional formula for a fighting game, the fresh approach works well and gives rise to strategic play, rather than just trying to beat the hell out of eachother from the get-go. Fighter game purists may miss combos and 2D combat when playing Power Stone, but I'd say there's enough games like that out there already.

Overall Power Stone is a fun and unconventional fighting game which works well both against the computer opponents and in two player mode, featuring a fair amount of unlockable content, detailed graphics and good character design and endings. There's not too many other games like it, in the fighter genre and it remains one of my favourites to this day.

Rating: 88/100
Grade: A