|
Power Stone 2: Let's face it. At least 90 percent of all fighters come down to who can mash the buttons faster. Power Stone 2 is the anit-button masher. There are five buttons you'll need to use, not counting the analog stick. The most you'll need to mash the buttons is a three hit combo. The game comes down to pure strategy and luck, no button mashing skills required. Did I forget to mention the 120 plus weapon selection?
The controls are set up perfectly. Jump, punch, kick, special one, special 2, move. That's it. Now I’m sure some of you are immediately wary at the lack of a block. But, that's half the point of the game. The point is that if you saw these huge powerful moves coming right for your face, you wouldn't just put your arms up, you'd run like hell. That much you have to; constantly. The full movement defiantly adds an art to aiming weapons. It may take a little adjusting for those of you who are stuck on button mashers, but you'll learn to love it.
Graphically, this game is fairly good. The characters are well shaped, if a bit under detailed. The movement is VERY fluid. If it weren’t, this game would be a terrible disaster. The backgrounds are where the graphics shine though. Everything from flowing rivers, to huge icebergs is completely execrable, and realistic. For example, if you hop on an iceberg, your going to slip and slide. Sound wise, the game is once again solid. But the fact is, in multi-player in particular, you'll hardly notice is it. Between trying to focus on dodging your opponents blows while navigating to a power stone, and the frustrated cries whenever your opponent gains an edge, you won't have time to notice the music. The voice acting is good, but limited. It's very easy to believe that if these where real people, they'd sound like their voice actors.
Oh my god, the game play is where the game just blows you away. Everything is focused on complete and total madness. With four players, over 120 available items (including things in the level, like turrets, poles, boxes, cacti), complete 3d action, moving stages, and the ability for any given player, at any given time, to completely waste their opposition, I think they succeeded. Let's start with the title, Power Stone. Power Stones are randomly appearing items. There can be anywhere from 3 to 7 of these at one time. Once you collect 3, you transform into your "power fusion" form. In this form, you are invincible. Literally. You take no damage, and your attacks can take out your opponents as if they where made of paper. It becomes VERY interesting if 2 people transform. Next are the items. Ranging from a simple handgun, to a sword that is twice as big as the fighters, these are what really put the game head and shoulders above anything else. Not only do you have over 120 goodies at your disposal, you don't need to wait to start the action. Every level has various items waiting for you when you get there, like boxes, bombers, tanks, cacti. The fighters greatly vary, but they all fit into fighter stereotypes on some way. The ninja, the samurai, the freedom fighter, the babe, the psycho, even the mysterious father. Quite possible the most fun four player mode ever
This is where Capcom made this game different from the first. The first installment had next to no replay value. This game is damn near (if not totally) impossible to beat. At level 8, it's 3 on 1 against perfect computers. They simply don't make mistakes. If you somehow manage to get past four of these fights, then you’re left with the incredibly hard boss. I have had the game for a little over 3 months; I've beaten it on level 6 once. As if that weren’t enough, they added in the ability to mix items. You just have to use logic here. Like if you combine a gun and a bazooka, you’re not going to get anything. But if you combine an iron rod and flame element, you get a flame rod.
In a word, WOW. If you own a dream cast, invest 30 bucks into this fine game. You won't be disappointed.
-- Anonym. Contributor, PGNx Media
---- Oct 24, 2002
|
