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A crazy fighter that's fun and unpredictable

Fighting games are great, but do you know what's even better? A fighting game that is unique from all your typical fighters. This is the case with Power Stone, which feels more like a brawler than a fighting game. Developed and published by Capcom, Power Stone was released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast. It's an arcade port (as were most fighting games from the 90s), and is crazy, fun, and completely unpredictable. Capcom made a lot of fighting game series, but none quite like this one.

PS offers five main attractions: Arcade Mode, Vs Mode, Game Options, Save & Load, and Power Stone Collections (in which you can look at items you've unlocked). There are nine fighters, plus two which you can unlock. Each character is unique in his/her personality, fighting style, and transformation. Unlike your typical fighter, you fight in a 3D environment in PS; you can move around, grabbing and using weapons out of chests (such as guns and swords) in your quest for victory. Chairs and tables can become weapons as you pick them up to hurl or simply shove them in the direction of your adversary. It's a go-anywhere, grab-anything type of fighting game.

The thing that really sets PS apart is the transformations. There are three jewels you must collect in order to transform into your over-powered form. If your opponent grabs a jewel or two, don't worry: you can knock them out of him and claim them for yourself. Jewels will randomly appear anywhere in the stage; luckily, there's a map at the bottom of the screen that shows you where a jewel is once it's appeared. When you transform, you'll have a short amount of time to blast your enemy, then the jewels will return and it's back to hunting them down. When a transformation takes place, it becomes a game of keep away for the other fighter.

The characters in PS are simply great. Each one is unique and comes from a different part of the world. The story is that each character wants to find the Power Stone, which will grant them whatever they want. Falcon is the game's most balanced fighter; he's from England and flies around in a byplane. He transforms into an awesome red robot that can shoot missiles. Ayame is a young girl fighter from Japan; she is frail but fast, and transforms into a radical ninja bunny that throws giant shurikens. The sexy Rouge is from Arabia, and moves slightly faster than Falcon; she transforms into a mighty fire djinn with flaming powers. Galuda is an Indian fighter, Gunrock is a mountain man, and Jack is a mummy with a thing for long blades. Overall, the characters are just wonderful, and the transformations even better.

The fighting part is simple: the four face buttons on the Dreamcast controller are used for basic punches and kicks, while the shoulder buttons are for grabs and throws. When transformed, the face buttons are used for projectile attacks and fast-moving attacks, and the shoulder buttons will perform a super-powerful attack (which you'll want to use). Because of the fast-paced nature of the game and the constant collecting of the jewels, matches can be very unpredictable. You might start out doing well, but if the enemy gets the jewels time after time, you're toast. And believe me, some of the battles in Arcade Mode can be very hard. Luckily, you have unlimited continues (this is an arcade port after all).

Unfortunately, there's not much depth to the gameplay. Grab the jewels, keep your opponent from getting them, and beat the crap out of him. There are no combos to learn or difficult techniques to master, only simple brawler-like attacks to dish out. Plus, Arcade Mode is the only one player mode the game has to offer. No Time Attack or even a practice mode. Luckily, playing against a friend in Vs Mode can be very fun, thanks again to the unpredictability of each match. But if you don't have a friend to play with, Arcade Mode is your only option, and unlocking new items is not much of an incentive to keep playing. Still, PS is a very creative and fun fighting game that is a must-buy for any Dreamcast owner.

Final Verdict--4 Stars: Recommended

With a great cast of characters, over-the-top moves, awesome transformations, and unpredictable matches, Power Stone is a stand-out game on Sega's overlooked Dreamcast. It's certainly Capcom's most unique fighting series, which is saying something. And the second game is even better, adding four-player mayhem to the mix. If you ever get the chance to play this classic brawler, don't miss out. Along with DC it was also ported to the PSP in 2006. Street Fighter seems to get all the love, so try to give some to this overlooked but nonetheless awesome fighting game. 

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