Now that really, really has to hurt. Weapon-based combat is always cruel

Sega's latest fighting frenzy can be played on their posh new console or down your local arcade. FG puts Power Stone through a rigorous testing procedure, from the comfort of our office sofa...
James Price

A fighting game by Capcom, eh? How well does the Dreamcast handle sprites?
Sprites? Oh, how foolish your churlish assumption is. Power Stone is a glorious, polygon-based, fully 3D beat ‘em up. It looks bloody gorgeous.

Really? Describe its 3D loveliness...
Like Ehrgeiz, Power Stone discards the traditional ‘fight on a fixed horizontal axis’ standard in favour of explorable arenas. You can hide behind screen furniture, leg it if you’re taking a beating… the choice, as they say, is yours.

A touch of the old Streets of Rage or Double Dragon, per chance?
Or Fighting Force, or Ninja. The difference, though – and this is a major point – is that here you have a full repertoire of fighting moves. You’re not confined to simple punch/kick combos and the odd special. In a very real sense, Power Stone’s move lists are just as complex as those of Tekken or Virtua Fighter.

Will I be able to pick objects up and use them as weapons?
Absolutely. Capcom have included interactive scenery in each stage. Look out for the level with the lamppost…