Line #26 VideoGame/PowerStone


1	[[quoteright:350:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/characters.jpg]]
2	[[caption-width-right:350:Welcome to the Power Stone world! [[labelnote:Characters]]From back to front -- [[IdiotHero Wang]][[ChefOfIron -Tang]], [[BladeEnthusiast Jack]], Rouge, [[MagicalNativeAmerican Galuda]], [[AcePilot Edward]] [[TheHero Falcon]], [[BoisterousBruiser Gunrock]], [[MasterSwordsman Ryoma]], and [[NinjaBrat Ayame]].[[/labelnote]]]]
3
4	->''In the 19th century, people are strong believers of superstition and legend. Adventurers who seek the world for fortune and glory, and a legendary treasure which has the power to make dreams come true. That treasure is known as the '''POWER STONE'''.''
5	-->-- Opening narration from the first game
6
7	''Power Stone'' is a duology of [=3D=] PlatformFighter games created by Creator/{{Capcom}}, with the first game releasing in 1999, and the sole sequel, ''Power Stone 2'', coming out the following year. The two games were released for the arcade and ported to the Platform/SegaDreamcast, and later to the Platform/PlayStationPortable. It also received a [[Anime/PowerStone 26-episode anime adaptation]].
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9	Gameplay in the ''Power Stone'' series is unconventional, at least compared to the [[Franchise/StreetFighter many]] [[VideoGame/CapcomVs other]] [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} fighting]] [[VideoGame/RivalSchools games]] by Creator/{{Capcom}} itself. For starters, fights take place in 3-D arenas. Items appear throughout the levels, such as weapons, obstacles and the titular power-ups-slash-[[MacGuffin MacGuffins]], the Power Stones. When a fighter collects three of these, he or she transforms into a super-powered form for a limited time.
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11	Not to be confused with [[VideoGame/MegaMan5 Stone Man's weapon]], [[Franchise/MarvelUniverse one of the Infinity Stones]] or the trope PowerCrystal.
12	----
13	!!This series contains examples of:
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15	* AlwaysAccurateAttack: Pharaoh Walker and Doctor Erode have OneHitKill variants of these in the second game to end the game once your time runs out in their boss stages; the former leaping into the background to fire an enormous laser from its tail, and the later charging up to fire a massive, screen-filling burst of lightning from his hands. You do get a ''very'' brief window of opportunity to stop them before they launch their attacks; but unless you've practically got their health down to the bottom already, [[YouAreAlreadyDead you've already failed]].
16	* AnachronismStew: The second game has nineteenth century-era fighters duking it out on submarines and in a space station with laser guns, [[LaserBlade beam swords]], and [[CoolBoard skateboards]].
17	* AnimeAccentAbsence: The characters are all from different nationalities, yet they only speak Japanese.
18	* TheAnimeOfTheGame: [[Anime/PowerStone A 26-episode series]] was aired in 1999.
19	* ArtificialLimbs: Kraken's mechanical claw-hand. His Power Change form upgrades it to let him fire it a short/medium distance with an electric tether to quickly cross large spaces, ala a GrapplingHookPistol.
20	* AttackOfThe50FootWhatever: Doctor Erode, master of the Floating Castle and main antagonist of the second game, is a giant; who can only be fought close to his level on a huge dinner table he sits at.
21	* AutoScrollingLevel: All of the main stages of ''Power Stone 2'' shift from a beginning to an end point, except that of Pharaoh Walker, which is a single stationary area.
22	* BubbleGun: The Soap Bubble Gun, which can trap an opponent in a bubble.
23	* CallToAdventure: Each character in the first game has a reason for searching for the Power Stone:
24	** Falcon discovered the legend of the Power Stone in an old family legend.
25	** Wang-Tang is tasked with searching for the Power Stone by his sensei as part of his training.
26	** Ayame is tasked with finding the Power Stone by a samurai lord. [[spoiler: Her ending reveals that she finds it too powerful to give him, so she tricks him by giving him a fake instead and secretly keeps it for her family.]]
27	** Ryoma is not actually searching for the Power Stone, but rather, the Power Stone has attracted powerful fighters for Ryoma to test his mettle against. [[spoiler:After discovering the Power Stone in his ending, [[NoMacguffinNoWinner Ryoma destroys it to prevent its power from falling into the wrong hands]].]]
28	** Rouge wants to use the Power Stone to make the wishes of others come true and bring happiness to the world.
29	** Jack likes shiny things. The Power Stone is shiny. That's all the reason he needs. [[spoiler:His ending reveals he wants to use it to create a doppelganger to go to prison for him, so he can continue his crime spree unopposed.]]
30	** Gunrock wants to use the Power Stone to get rich. [[spoiler:As his ending shows, he [[MundaneUtility uses its power of clairvoyance in particular to secretly cheat at card games]]; ensuring he stays rich by winning more-or-less every time, on top of never having to pay for drinks again.]]
31	** Galuda is searching for the Power Stone to cure a plague that has ravaged his village.
32	** As the last living member of his once-feared pirate crew, Kraken wants to use the Power Stone to revive his old fellow cutthroats and resume his reign of terror on the high seas.
33	** Valgas wants to TakeOverTheWorld, because of course he does. [[spoiler:[[EvilIsNotAToy It goes horribly wrong for him]] however, when Valgas becomes infused with so much energy through the Power Stone that [[ShapeshifterModeLock it permanently turns him into his Final Valgas form]] on top of [[AlmightyIdiot driving him to violent insanity]]; leading to the world's destruction at his hands]].
34	* CanonWelding: ''Power Stone 2'' implies that the events of the first game's [[Anime/PowerStone anime adaptation]] are considered at least partially canon; with evidence including cameos from Octo & Pus on the Adhesive Spray item, and the Lance Of Lava outright mentioning that it once belonged to [[BattleButler Apollus]].
35	* CaptainErsatz: Wang-Tang is a fairly blatant {{homage}} to a certain {{shonen}} [[Anime/DragonBallZ anime hero]].
36	** He also resembles [[VideoGame/{{Xenogears}} Fei Fong Wong]].
37	** Valgas' face resembles a RaceLift-ed [[VideoGame/{{Darkstalkers}} Demitri]].
38	** As the Completionist pointed out, the Power Stones look somewhat similar to [[Franchise/SonicTheHedgehog Chaos Emeralds.]] Considering [[Platform/SegaDreamcast what console]] these games were on, that's not the least bit surprising.
39	** Rouge's Middle Eastern origins, [[BedlahBabe looks]], and [[DanceBattler fighting style]] based on her belly-dancing makes her highly reminiscent of [[VideoGame/StreetFighterEX Pullum Purna]]. The two even share a few moves.
40	** A few of the fighters have bases in vintage manga. Galuda, for instance, is based on Geronimo Junior from ''Manga/Cyborg009'', while Ayame is based on the titular kunoichi from ''Manga/{{Azumi}}''. The addition of her brother [[WholesomeCrossdresser Kikunojo]] in the anime adaptation -- who is in turn based on a transgender friend of Azumi's named Kiku -- makes the connection more obvious.
41	* CartoonBomb: The Small, Medium and Large Bomb items in both games are these. The second one however, adds some variation with different types of explosives; including hand grenades, fireworks, and {{Sticky Bomb}}s.
42	* CartoonCheese: The Cheese item, which restores health.
43	* CartoonMeat: The health-restoring Meat item from both games, which is the classic big chunk of cooked beef on the bone. It's expanded upon with the Roast Pork (a whole suckling pig) and Roast Chicken, which restore even more health apiece.
44	* ChefOfIron: Wang-Tang and Gourmand, although given his look and choice of weapons with his cleaver and frying pan, it's far more obvious in the latter's case.
45	* ConfusionFu: Jack, who crawls around like an insect on the floor, can contort himself in various impossible ways, and even hover through the air by [[ExorcistHead spinning his upper torso like a helicopter rotor.]]
46	* DanceBattler: Rouge and Ayame both engage in this, albeit in different ways. Rouge's moves take influence from Middle Eastern belly-dancing, whilst Ayame's are more breakdance-inspired.
47	* DeathCryEcho: This is present in both games, whenever anyone gets knocked out.
48	* DenserAndWackier: Despite the darker opening sequence, ''Power Stone 2'' is this compared to the first game; with its broader array of wackier weapons, and all the slapstick-y ways they can be used. To name a few, [[ShamuFu pummelling opponents with a huge fish]], [[MusicalAssassin forcing them to march around in place with a trumpet]], and [[BlownAcrossTheRoom being sent flying off and bouncing against the walls]] with a tennis racket.
49	* DoubleJump: Both games let you do this if you're playing a lightweight character.
50	* DubNameChange: Edward's surname is "Fokker" -- like the Dutch airplane manufacturer -- in Japanese and "Falcon" in English. No guesses as [[CountryMatters to why]].
51	** It's averted in the anime, but they gave him an excuse: Fokker is his family name. His real name is Edward.
52	* ElegantGothicLolita: Julia from ''[=PS2=]'' is a brightly-colored variant.
53	* ExcusePlot[=/=]LeftHanging: The second game has a plot that's AllThereInTheManual about how each character is looking into their own personal quest/mystery to do with the Floating Castle. ''None'' of them are ever alluded to in the actual game, let alone resolved.
54	* FireBreathingDiner: One of Rouge's Power Drive attacks involves her breathing fire.
55	** And Gourmand is a Fire Breathing ''[[InvertedTrope chef]]''. Go figure.
56	* FreeFloorFighting: This features heavily in ''Power Stone 2'', with the main stages changing a lot depending on circumstances that force the fighters to adapt to it or risk taking damage. Examples include the submarines diving and surfacing in [[SlippySlideyIceWorld Iceberg Area]] -- changing which sub comes up each time and accordingly the weapons you can use on each deck -- before one eventually crashes into an iceberg, and the various ancient [[BoobyTrap booby traps]] in [[TempleOfDoom Tomb Area]], including a sequence with the floor collapsing and then [[IndyEscape escaping from a huge rolling boulder]].
57	* GangUpOnTheHuman: Power Stone 2's 3-on-1 Adventure mode. Interestingly, other modes involving multiple coms do NOT engage in this behavior, suggesting the devs put it in on purpose. The PSP rerelease even lampshades it by saying "The odds are stacked against you".
58	* GrowingWings: The Angel and Devil Wing. Also the extent of Mel's transformation.
59	* HighAltitudeBattle: The Blue Sky Area from the second game takes place aboard an airship initially, which eventually collapses. The second part of the battle is [[FreeFallFight fought whilst falling]] with players scrambling to obtain [[HyperactiveMetabolism healing food]] and Umbrellas to slow their fall, before landing in the last section of the stage.
60	* HomingProjectile: The Homing Missile.
61	* HumongousMecha: The Pharaoh Walker boss in the second game is an enormous, four-legged robot with a NephariousPharaoh motif and an enormous laser cannon tail.
62	* InterestingSituationDuel: The main stages of ''Power Stone 2'' take place with plenty of these, with them often changing massively -- like the airship collapsing and forcing the players to FreefallFight on the way down to a FloatingIsland in [[AirborneAircraftCarrier Blue Sky Area]], or the stage being set on fire in [[{{Wutai}} Dark Castle Area]] -- in sections.
63	* IstanbulNotConstantinople: Not only old place names, but ''misspelled'' names as well ("Londo", "Mahdad"). Either that or it's just a twisted case of BlandNameProduct.
64	* ItemCrafting: In Power Stone 2, combining weapons and items unlocks new ones. Some require in-game [[GuideDangIt guides]] and/or sheer luck.
65	* JokeCharacter: In Power Stone 2, it is possible to play as Mel the shopkeeper. Why you would want to, however...
66	** Because [[LethalJokeCharacter her super mode is AWESOME]].
67	* {{Knockback}}: The games have this to a varying degree based on the attack or item used. The tennis racquet in the second game takes it to the extreme by causing the victim to be sent flying across the whole stage and bouncing off the walls like a tennis ball.
68	%%* KameHameHadouken: Wangtang.
69	* LevelsTakeFlight: The Blue Sky stage of ''2'' starts out on an airship, but it doesn't hang in there for very long.
70	* LighterAndSofter: The tone of the game is humorous and comical, as opposed to Capcom's other fighting games.
71	* LimitBreak: The Power Fusions are this, being very powerful attacks that can only be used by characters when in their [[SuperMode Power Change]] form. The general rule being, that [[BroughtDownToNormal before running out of juice]], one can be done in the first game, and two in the second; although [[LethalJokeCharacter Mel]] is capable of doing up to ''four''.
72	* MagicalNativeAmerican: Galuda, who transforms into a golem-like totem-pole being who can form wings made of light to temporarily fly, and rain light arrows down on his opponents from an arm-mounted bow.
73	* MacrossMissileMassacre: The Power Explosion, one of Falcon's transformed-state attacks fits this to a tee; firing out a huge swarm of missiles that home in on the nearest opponent. Pride can do a variation of it as well in the sequel; while his missiles don't home, they spread out in a wide pattern and can do ''massive'' damage if a number of them hit at once.
74	* MonsterClown: Jack, [[AllThereInTheManual apparently]].
75	* MsFanservice: Rouge, in case you hadn't figured that out already. Julia's Power Change form in the second game is another example, with her [[OfCorsetsSexy corset]], and far more sultry, dominatrix-esque demeanour compared to her more modest and gentle usual self.
76	* NationalStereotypes: Almost every single character in this game is a walking, talking, fighting stereotype. Not even justified, it makes early 90's Franchise/StreetFighter games look culturally sensitive.
77	* {{Ninja}}: [[BadassAdorable Ayame]] is one of these. Usually she masquerades as a travelling entertainer, but is secretly a ''kunoichi'' descended from a long-standing clan of ninja.
78	* NinjaPirateZombieRobot:
79	** Kraken, the cyborg ghost pirate.
80	** Accel, the shapeshifting robot cowboy.
81	* NoCelebritiesWereHarmed: A knife-wielding maniac named 'Jack' who likes to rip things? [[UsefulNotes/JackTheRipper Nah, me neither]].
82	* OldTimeyCinemaCountdown: The first game features this countdown at the very beginning of the intro.
83	* PaperFanOfDoom: The Harisen.
84	* ParasolParachute: Used by Julia and Mel.
85	* PortableHole: The Pitfall Hoop. Drop it on the ground after picking it up, and it sets this kind of trap.
86	* PowerMakeover: The Power Change transformations, which turn their users into highly-stylized -- as well as more powerful -- versions of themselves.
87	* RedIsHeroic: Edward Falcon.
88	* {{Retraux}}: The intro to the first game, which is initially done in the style of a black-and-white movie; complete with the 5-4-3-2-1 count before playing. A lesser example are the backgrounds for the map/adventure mode results screen, which are done in the style of old treasure maps, [[EasterEgg with an exerpt from the game's intro text hidden in them]].
89	* RiseToTheChallenge: A variant of this occurs in the Dark Castle Area in ''Power Stone 2'', in which the bottom section of the stage is set ablaze by [[ArrowsOnFire fire arrows]] early on; requiring everyone to scale up to the top of the castle in a brief side-scrolling/platforming segment.
90	* RocksFallEveryoneDies: In ''Power Stone 2'', if the players take too long to kill each other, meteors rain down and reduces everyone's health to 1 and Sudden Death starts. Taking too long in Sudden Death will have even ''more meteors'' rain down and finish everyone off, ending in a draw.
91	-->'''Announcer''': FIGHT ON TO VICTORY! '''ACTION!'''
92	* {{Samurai}}: Ryoma. His Katana makes him the only character in the original game (And one of four in the whole series, along with Accel, Gourmand and Julia in ''Power Stone 2'') to constantly wield a weapon.
93	* ScaryStingingSwarm: The beehive item from ''Power Stone 2'', which predictably sends out swarms of deadly bees around it, but only when it directly hits an opponent.
94	* ScrewTheRulesIHavePlot: In the game, you need three Power Stones to turn into your Power Change form. Not so in the anime and manga -- where only one is generally needed to transform.
95	* ShamuFu: The Frozen Tuna weapon in ''2''.
96	* ShoutOut: Some of the transformations look awfully familiar, like [[Anime/DragonBallZ Wang-Tang's]], [[Anime/RoninWarriors Ryoma's]], [[VideoGame/StreetFighterII Galuda's]], and [[ComicBook/FantasticFour Gunrock's]].
97	** The [[VideoGame/MegaMan Mega Buster]] is a craftable and usable weapon in the second game -- as are [[Franchise/StarWars Darth Vader's lightsaber]], [[Manga/{{Berserk}} Guts' Dragonslayer Sword]], [[Manga/DragonBall Son Goku's Power Pole]], and even [[Anime/PowerStone Apollus's Lance]] from the first game's own AnimatedAdaptation. Likewise, Octo & Pus from the same anime cameo on the Adhesive Spray item.
98	** Capcom's first arcade title is called ''Vulgus''. The final boss of ''Power Stone'' is called Valgas, [[SpellMyNameWithAnS and the two names are identical in Japanese]]. Hmm...
99	* {{Slapstick}}: With all the comical ways you can eviscerate your opponent, especially in ''[=PS2=]'' with its variety of over-the-top weapons and stage hazards, the likes of Ayame, Rouge, Mel and Julia are just as susceptible to the hijinks as everyone else.
100	* SNKBoss:
101	** '''''Valgas.''''' Aside from the fact that beating him may require several tries with difficulty set to 1 (with a maximum of ''eight''), what makes him so cheap is that not only his grab can make you lose ''two'' Power Stones at once, but said stones also tend to ''bounce out of your reach '''and''' right next to him'', with him usually entering his SuperMode while you're still getting back up. The fact his OneWingedAngel is actually ''[[ClippedWingAngel weaker]]'' than him [[AnticlimaxBoss (with obvious results:]] "Final Valgas" can be easily beaten ''at the first try'') shouldn't surprise anyone.
102	** [[AttackOfThe50ftWhatever Doctor Erode]] in the sequel is also very tough, with his variety of unpredictable and bizarre attacks that come out of nowhere, have a large range, and do plenty of damage -- more often than not removing your Power Stones as well -- especially on higher difficulties. [[StalkedByTheBell You also can't take the easier way out]] by doing a little bit of damage and then running away to win by decision like you can against Valgas; you'll run out of time, at which point Erode performs an [[AlwaysAccurateAttack unavoidable attack]] that [[OneHitKill destroys you instantly regardless of your health]].
103	* SpreadShot: The 3-Way and 5-Way Shotguns.
104	* SquashedFlat: Players can get flattened by mallets or other certain objects.
105	* {{Stripperiffic}}: If you thought Rouge's default SultryBellyDancer outfit was cute, wait until you see her transformed.
106	* SultryBellyDancer: As if dressing like and being said to be a belly dancer weren't sexy enough, Rouge uses [[DanceBattler a fighting style that is]] ''[[DanceBattler based]]'' [[DanceBattler on her belly dancing]].
107	* SuperMode: Collecting three Power Stones temporarily activates your character's super form, letting them use [[LimitBreak more powerful attacks]] known as Power Drives/Power Fusions.
108	* SurprisinglyCreepyMoment: Most of the game is cute and light-hearted, but then Valgas mutates into his Final Valgas form; a slug-like blob of melted flesh and crystal that wouldn't look out of place in ''Franchise/ResidentEvil''.
109	* SwordBeam: Powered-up Ryoma has several variants of this, highly reminiscent of the advanced LaserBlade techniques that can be learned by [[VideoGame/MegaManX Zero]].
110	* TransformationSequence: A brief one occurs whenever someone attains three Power Stones to transform.
111	* TransformationTrinket: The Power Stones, of which three are required in the games to Power Change. The tie-in anime reduces the number to one.
112	* TwoFistedTales: Basically set in the anime version of this; with ace pilots, exotic belly dancers, a few light SteamPunk elements, a MacGuffin being sought by a crew of national stereotypes in a 1930's-esque age of adventure and exploration.
113	* VideoGameCaringPotential: ''Power Stone 2'' allows players in a 3-4 character battle to give up a portion of their health to revive a nearby fallen opponent or ally; which, on top of being kind, is very useful for saving a character you want to take with you in Arcade Mode, or for helping out a [=KOed=] teammate.
114	* WallJump: A useful mechanic that appears in both games, letting you set up for mid-air attacks or to get away from being corned. It especially helps when fighting off the hordes of wooden figures in the [[TheVeryDefinitelyFinalDungeon Chaos Area]].
115	* WeaponizedBall: Falcon's Soccer Ball.
116	* WindUpKey: A decorative item in ''Power Stone 2''.
117	* WingedHumanoid: Mel's powered-up form is one of these, growing huge angel wings from her back that let her perform [[DoubleJump extra jumps in mid-air]].
118	** And so does Galuda, during his Power Drive and his Power Fusions.
119	** And thanks to the giant shuriken she wears on her back and the long ear-like things on her head, Ayame's Power Change gives her a passing resemblance to a butterfly.

Context VideoGame / PowerStone