Power Stone Collection Review

By Luke Albiges Published 27 November, 2006

A portable gem.

Version tested: PSP

While some may fondly remember the Dreamcast because it seems like the 'cool' thing to do, most of us do so for the right reasons - the wealth of lesser known titles that were disgracefully overlooked by many punters. Among these, the Power Stone games rate extremely highly for us and while we've been crying for a sequel for years, this portable collection of the first two games will do just as well for now.

What you have here is a pair of extremely simple arena combat games, the first far more so than its superior sequel. Power Stone is a basic one-on-one affair while the second game allows for up to four simultaneous combatants but the real draw of the games is their excellent use of environments and items. Players can scurry up and attack from most parts of the scenery in each stage and especially in the second game, each arena has plenty of unique and entertaining ways of causing pain to your cartoony rivals. Hopping into the mounted guns on a battleship, getting opponents crushed by boulders and even driving tanks are just a few such examples and with a little experimentation, there are loads more to find and abuse.

Items are a different story and chests continually pop up as you do battle. Some of these contain the gems that can transform your character in to his or her 'super' form when three are held while the rest hold weapons and items that can be used or thrown accordingly. Throwing items like bombs is a risky business, though - a skilled player can catch any incoming item with a swift tap of the throw button before returning it to sender. You'll often see items change hands six or seven times before one player finally screws up a catch, and your best bet is always to catch rivals off guard. Similarly, the weapons themselves are both devastating and varied, but you're more susceptible to having items lobbed at you for no reply if you're lugging, say, a minigun about the arena. The second game adds the strangely compelling Item Shop, where duplicate items that you buy or collect in adventure mode can be fused to create all-new weapons and equipment which will then spawn at random according to the item's rarity. Hundreds of rare and interesting items can be crafted in this way and you'll find yourself drawn to the shop whenever you come across new items as you try and create the most powerful and useful weapons the game has to offer.

'Power Stone Collection' Screenshot 1

Both games stand up extremely well today, and while other titles like Marvel Nemesis and Kung Fu Chaos have attempted similar things, none have come close to the daddy of them all. Control is tight and while weapon balancing might be a little off, a good player will always beat a lesser one - the sign of a great fighting game. On the PSP's small screen, the Dreamcast-level visuals look even nicer than you might expect, and while it is certainly outclassed by more recent titles in this department, Power Stone's speed and fluidity make this a non-issue. Even the range of characters (as well as their powered-up alter egos) is still interesting and relevant, and whether you prefer the big bruisers or the freaky characters that scurry around like Voldo looking for a contact lens, you're well catered for here.

The package is rounded off by the inclusion of the old VMU mini-games that could be played on the Dreamcast's unique memory unit and, of course, wireless play for up to four local players that works like a dream. Even though Capcom has gone back to the first game and put in the new characters that were added for the sequel, Power Stone 2 still outclasses its predecessor with its greater array features and it'll be here that you'll spend most of your time. The original is still a great game (but then so are the likes of Soul Blade and Tekken 3, now far outclassed by their latest sequels) and while it's nice for a change of scenery and it's certainly great to have, it will get less play. Do your bit for this hugely underrated fighting series and pick up this reminder of why the franchise deserves a sequel. If enough people do just that, Capcom might even think about that third game after all these years. That thought alone is pretty much enough to make us go out and buy this.

8 / 10

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About Luke Albiges

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Comments (30) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • caligari #1 5 years ago

    Excellent!

    I still play and love the Dreamcast versions. \o/

  • SlackMaster #2 5 years ago

    These versions are pretty spot on and the ability to play multiplayer wireless is ace, although non of my mates won't to play it anymore.

  • kissthestick #3 5 years ago

    claaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssssss ssssssssssssicccccccccccccccccccc games


    Capcom pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeease make a 3rd for PS3/360

  • steoc4 #4 5 years ago

    *sigh* yet another game that would be absolutely brilliant wirelessly, if only I could convince other people to buy PSPs.

  • ProtoformX #5 5 years ago

    This is one of the few games that's making me think of buying a PSP. It's slowly getting a better selection of games than the usual selection of PS2 ports/spin-offs. I've got Power Stone 2 for my Dreamcast and it's truly fantastic. I actually prefer the first one though, just because it's more simplistic and, personally, I think the levels are better.

  • Kon #6 5 years ago

    I still play these on the old DC every now and then. Might just pick it up for the PSP none the less.

    I do have to say that the first game is actually the superior one. PS2 is more like a violent party game (too many weapons), and its a better fighter than PS1 just as much as Capcom's VS series are better than the Street fighter 2 games. Great fun all round though.
    Edited by 1 at 27/11/06 @ 08:03

  • MadMirko #7 5 years ago

    Go spread the word. :)

    If only those who like the DC Power Stones buy the collection, that won't look super attractive for a potential sequel developer,... because the 7 of us have posted here.

  • ZuluHero #8 5 years ago

    actually 8 now as i am going to get this too :)

    I recently had a clear out of my dreamcast stuff, and getting rid of PS was one of my biggest regrets and mistake. BUT the light at the end of the tunnel is that there's this lovely new PSP version, and i haven't bought a PSP game in over a year!



  • MrFlintBlackman #9 5 years ago

    Hows about not buying a PSP and getting a Dreamcast with Power Stone 1 + 2 instead? sure it's not portable, but it's sure as hell is better!

    Power Stone 3 will return! new characters include, an emo self-hurting manic, silent guy whos forgotten his past, an evil version of Fokker with BLACK clothes, a female character with very little clothes on.

    Platform:ps3
    Publisher: EA
    Release Date: 2007
    Cost:£49.99
    People Screwed: You

    You know you want it!

  • Psi #10 5 years ago

    loved this on the dc

  • nickthegun #11 5 years ago

    I picked this up despite having the DC version.

    It actually adds a whole new dimension for me as I had the Japanese import of powerstone 2, so I just pressed buttons at random in the shop.

    Since its been shrunk, it can be difficult to see whats going on when the full chaos kicks in (like identifying weapons) but, all in all, it looks great and still plays very well.

  • kangarootoo #12 5 years ago

    Does it support gameshare? I.e. you can play multiplayer games with only one UMD by transmitting a limited version to your co-players via wifi.

  • Nithron #13 5 years ago

    I read that as "porn star collection"

    ..I think I need to get laid.

  • dadrester #14 5 years ago

    this... killzone... gta... and metal gear solid on the 5th. \o/

  • PhakeDC #15 5 years ago

    Both Powerstones were top fun, and I still am waiting for a decent Dreamcast emulator (nullDC looks promising enough). If Capcom wants this to sell they can make a DS version as well, though I doubt it could make use of the second screen.

  • Genji #16 5 years ago

    I spent sooooo much money on the original Powerstone at the arcade. Eventually, I got so good at it, nobody could even provide a challenge. Least of all the AI.

    :(

    Wangtang FTW!

  • myiagros #17 5 years ago

    personaly i prefer powerstone 1 to powerstone 2, but maybe thats more about the nostalgia from when playing it first time round on the dreamcast, rather than it being a better game.
    Either way both games are excellent.
    Come on capcom, WE WANT POWERSTONE 3!!

  • Amajiro #18 5 years ago

    scurry around like Voldo looking for a contact lens

    I liked that - great gaming simile!

  • absolutezero #19 5 years ago

    The loading times have borked this for me.

    Having to load the loading screen is just too much, I still have my Dreamcast set up so I can compare them.

  • GrayFox #20 5 years ago

    Wake up EG. Powerstone 2 was shit sequel. Original is briliant in every way, well thought, polished gem. The sequel was made in a numbnut way that say: "More, bigger = better, right?", wrong.

  • PhakeDC #21 5 years ago

    About the loading, didn't the Naomi original coin-op store the ROM on optical disc?

  • Zero Beat #22 5 years ago

    Power Stone > Power Stone 2

    PS2 was too hectic and random with four players filling the screen with AA gun fire and who knows what else. The fighting arenas didn't look as nice either, probably because of all the extra crap flying around.

  • Zero Beat #23 5 years ago

    Fokker FTW.

  • Hughes. #24 5 years ago

    I picked this up a few weeks back, along with Tekken, and I play this more.

    With only one analogue stick as standard a whole host of DC games could run perfectly on PSP, they have about the same processing power (until they unlock the 333mHz, anyway). I'd love it just for the reaction of uk:resistance

  • kangarootoo #25 5 years ago

    So, gameshare support? EG staff? Anyone?

  • mingster #26 5 years ago

    the loading times off UMD are slow.
    obviously much quicker from Memory Card.

    powerstone1 is a much better 2 player game.

  • smelly #27 5 years ago

    DAMN!

    (wishes he hadnt sold psp now)

  • john_m #28 5 years ago

    I would play this on my Dreamcast if only it would work. so I must pick it up at some point (might cost more than the fiver my Dreamcast version cost me though).

    Now we need Shenmue ported to the PSP or better still a Dreamcast emu.

  • Hughes. #29 5 years ago

    @kangarootoo

    It supports up to 4 player ad-hoc and supports game sharing from one copy of the game.

  • pikemon #30 5 years ago

    how does the camera work in the multiplayer? is it the same for all 4 players or does everybody have their own view angle of the proceedings?