Last week we took a look at Bubble Bobble as a likely candidate for Xbox Live Arcade. This week: Power Stone. One of the first games released for SEGA's ill fated Dreamcast, Power Stone was a gorgeous and innovative fighter in it's day. Part Smash Brothers and part Jackie Chan, Power Stone allowed players to use anything and everything to win a fight. Of course, the eponymous power stones were a big help as well. Read on to see why this overlooked Capcom classic would make a great addition to Live Arcade.Filled with bright and colorful characters with names like WangTang, Power Stone was anything but typical. The beauty of Power Stone was the amount of freedom it offered its players. Weapons of all kinds littered the playing field. Items like swords, flame throwers, rocket launchers, squeaky hammers, ray guns, and what I affectionately referred to as the "pokey stick" -- a magical red staff that extended across the entire arena. Another feature that set Power Stone apart was its complete 3D movement. Players were allowed to run in any direction, hang from the ceiling, climb pillars, run up stairs, and set off myriad traps and events. Environmental items even served as weapons. Players could grab chairs, pots, benches, almost everything -- stronger characters could even rip out pillars and clear out a whole room with one swing. And that's before we get to the power stones themselves. Once a player obtained all three stones, which appear at certain intervals, they were instantly transformed into a super powerful version of themselves, capable of dealing "massive damage." As one would expect, once someone got all the power stones, the match was usually over.
Power Stone 2, which unfortunately got even less attention than its prequel, brought four player matches and dynamic stages to the mix. Keeping track of three other players and the ever changing levels was no easy task, but it was always a blast. It's this frenetic fun that makes Power Stone a great candidate for XBLA. The only thing keeping it back could be the 50 Meg size limit (how much space does a UMD have anyway?). Still, if Gastronaut can give us four player action with beautiful backdrops in Small Arms, we're convinced Capcom could at least make a special version of Power Stone just for XBLA. If nothing else, they could get some guaranteed sales out of jaded Dreamcast fans like me. Give us leaderboards, team play, and local multiplayer. Come on Capcom. Step up to the plate.
Do you think this is a good candidate? Think Power Stone is craptacular? Let us know in the comments. And don't forget to include your submission for next week's "That should be on XBLA."
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
9-05-2006 @ 11:42AM
beardsly43 said...
Speaking of Dreamcast games, there should be an XBLA Chu Chu Rocket!
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9-05-2006 @ 11:43AM
Player1 said...
Isn't Small Arms (which is coming out soon) supposed to be pretty similar? I know I'm glad I have my PSP since this is coming out as a collection for it very soon.
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9-05-2006 @ 11:49AM
SuiXide said...
Didn't Capcom rerelease Power Stone 1 and 2 for the PSP? In either case, I fully agree that PS would make a great Live Arcade title. I was addicted to the game back when it was on the Dreamcast and there's no dout I'd be the same way now. I loved the game.
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9-05-2006 @ 12:23PM
Franky Digital said...
I submitted a tip, but apparently this won out over it. Sadly, my choice is far superior to this. XBLA has enough fighting games now; especially considering that Fatal Fury, Ultimate Mortal Kombat and Small Arms are on the way.
What the XBLA *really* needs is four-player online NBA JAM TE.
/xboxfanboythread
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9-05-2006 @ 12:32PM
Dracula Jones said...
RBI Baseball! We'll never see it on Wii VC because it was one of those unlicensed Tengen games. I'd also accept RBI 2.
Nothing in this world is as satisfying as hitting 8 HRs in a row with the AL All Stars.
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9-05-2006 @ 12:47PM
puh_fifer said...
Who owns the rights to goldeneye007 right now? Is it Rare, Nintendo or Activision? Because if it's Rare I want it on arcade. I miss slappers only and proximity mines.
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9-05-2006 @ 1:11PM
Footlong! said...
I only had the demo disk for this game. It let you play as two different characters on two different levels. I loved it. I spent hours and hours playing it even though it was the same experience almost every time. I'd kill to see this on the live arcade.
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9-05-2006 @ 1:16PM
teknomusik said...
XBLA really needs Baku Baku!!!
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9-05-2006 @ 4:11PM
Astronaut Bread said...
Saying POWER STONE should be on the Live Arcade is like saying Barry Bonds is on steroids, gas is expensive, and the Lions should fire Matt Millen. This is the kind of story that would make the cover of "DUH!" magazine.
Still, I'm glad you're saying it and I hope somebody's listening.
DREAMCAST FOREVER!!!
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9-05-2006 @ 4:49PM
georgel said...
i never saw what the hype behind this game was. i played it and was bored quickly. its just button masher in my opinion. i am tired of these old games like time pilot though and i do think these games need to come out
DOUBLE DRAGON
NBA JAM
SEGA RALLY
OUTRUN
VIRTUA FIGHTER(ANY OF THEM)
GOLDEN AXE
i could go on and on
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9-05-2006 @ 4:51PM
Brian said...
The 360 needs a bigger HD.
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9-05-2006 @ 5:05PM
ozymandias said...
make it power stone 2
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9-05-2006 @ 6:33PM
AoE said...
I agree with ozymandias, #2 was far better. I loved the first Powerstone, don't get me wrong; but 4 player vs made powerstone 2 one of the very best games on dreamcast. It would be a shame to not have 4 player vs if capcom ever does decide to put the game on live...
Then again; Capcom, nevermind, give us next-gen powerstone 3!!!
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9-05-2006 @ 7:09PM
Jeramy said...
completely agree. most likely anyone who played the game will too. i never had the full game because i was poor and my mom hardly ever bought me any dreamcast games. but i did have the demo disk and played the demo religiously. in fact, i was going to buy the game before i heard of the sequel. and then after that i realized again that i was poor.
man i really need to go splurge on broadening my dreamcast collection now that i actually have some money...
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9-05-2006 @ 7:09PM
Xfan said...
GoldenEye007 requires a license from MGM and the production company as well. It would probably be an expensive proposition to re-release that game.
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9-05-2006 @ 7:10PM
Xfan said...
Oh, I forget the best part... Sony now owns MGM. Good luck in getting clearance from both Sony and Nintendo to have a game on a Microsoft console.
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9-05-2006 @ 7:26PM
puh_fifer said...
Well at least we got perfect dark. :-(
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9-05-2006 @ 7:35PM
Hodge said...
oh dear god if they brought powerstone 1 or 2 (preferably 2) to xbla i wouldnt need any other games. me and my friends spent waaaay to many hours on both of these games back in the dreamcast's hayday(sp?) and oh how i wish to relive those days
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9-05-2006 @ 7:42PM
amba said...
Yes, yes, McYessity Yes.
Can I add another request for an ex- Dreamcast game to be converted to XBLA- Toy Commander? An online, HD version of that would frankly kick arse.
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9-05-2006 @ 8:11PM
aragorn said...
pffft. poking stick nothing, it was all about THE FROZEN TUNA!!!!
*AHEM*
As long as Capcom scraps the 'make a weapon" feature in the game, this could totally rock.
Also, I wonder what the big deal is with the 50 mg limit for xbla games. I mean, I know 20 gb ain't a lot (would be nice if microsoft removed the partitions. not everybody is gonna upload music onto their xbox... though I did... and a lot), but still... bloody demos easily surpass a gig... I think I'd be okay with 100 mg xbla games... as long as they're good.
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