Arcade Mode, Adventure Mode, and 1-on-1 all offer a similar Power Stone experience. The main difference? Mayhem, or the lack thereof. The Arcade mode is the real meat of the experience here – you pick a charact
er and a starting stage, then duke it out with three other members of the cast to advance to the next area in your attempt to escape from the castle. If you make it far enough, there are even a couple boss fights to reward you! 1-on-1, as its name suggests, features only two players as opposed to Arcade mode's 4. The stage progression is the same, however; and your friends can jump into both at any time, arcade style (lucky for them it doesn't cost a quarter). There's even the option to work together. Or you can introduce a little anarchy into the world and turn it into a knock-down, drag-out fight. Adventure Mode, on the other hand, is a solo-only affair, in which you can collect loads of coinage and items for use in the game's Item shop: more on that later.Finally, there's Original Mode. Is the whole stage progression mechanic too complicated for you? Are you weary of trying to escape from the castle? Or maybe you and your friends are just bloodthirsty. Regardless, Original Mode offers straight-up versus play on the game's five main stages. The simple interface allows for teams, AI or human control of each character, and stage selection. Not much to it, but it gets you straight into the action.
The combat of Power Stone 2 is largely based upon kicks, punches, or the bizarre equivalents of each that the rather unique cast of characters employs. The stages are littered with items that constantly shift the flow of the battle. And man, are there items. The variety is simply enormous. Axes, swords, rocket launchers, flame throwers, bubble guns, health pickups, umbrellas -- it's effectively Smash Bros. on a hearty dose of crack-cocaine. In addition to the items, the stages are full of hazards and objects that the player can intera
ct with to attack opponents. There are poles to be swung on, catapults to be launched, bombs to be detonated, and tanks and turrets to be hopped into. And then, of course, there are the Power Stones. Anyone who grabs three of the glowing gems activates their super mode, allowing them to unleash a couple devastating attacks that, when used right, can put a serious hurt on someone -- or everyone.The variety of items almost seems to be trying to make up for the lack of stages to choose from -- unfortunately, it's slim' pickings on that front. Each stage features a multifaceted design that changes up the combat area, and there's usually something threatening as the game shifts from one region to the next. You'll find yourself falling off an airship, smashing into an iceberg, escaping a wall of fire, and trying to outrun a boulder Indy style, which is made significantly easier if you're quick enough to grab hold of a skateboard. The stages themselves are entertaining, but not enough so to make the lack of options totally forgivable.
