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PARTICLE MACE

87%Game Brain Score
story, gameplay
stability, optimization
87% User Score Based on 1,300 reviews

Platforms

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About

PARTICLE MACE is an arcade-style game with a physics-based mechanic, where you defend yourself in a hostile universe by swinging particles into enemies. It features 3 endless modes, 150 missions, local multiplayer deathmatch and co-op, ship unlocks, and leaderboards. The game has intense flashing lights and rapid movement, which may affect players with photosensitivity.

Genres & Tags
Play Modes
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
PARTICLE MACE screenshot
Skip User Reviews

87%
Audience ScoreBased on 1,300 reviews
story54 positive mentions
stability10 negative mentions
  • Unique and addictive gameplay that combines physics with arcade mechanics.
  • Variety of missions and unlockable ships keeps the game engaging.
  • Great for local multiplayer, providing fun experiences with friends.
  • Screen shake effect when killing enemies can be disorienting and frustrating.
  • Controller support is inconsistent, making it difficult for some players to use their preferred devices.
  • Some mission combinations can be overly difficult or nearly impossible to complete.
  • story
    336 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's story is minimal, with many players noting a lack of a traditional narrative, but it features a complex mission structure that adds depth and variety to gameplay. With 150 unique missions that challenge players in different ways, the focus is on completing objectives rather than following a storyline. While some players appreciate the clever twists and engaging mechanics, others express a desire for a more developed narrative and cohesive levels.

    • “It is a surprisingly complex story for this kind of action game.”
    • “The story is very complex.”
    • “Like I said, your decisions really affect the story, and the better decisions you make, the more story you get.”
    • “The story was pretty boring in the beginning.”
    • “Wish there was a storyline of some sort and proper levels to go through.”
    • “Simple gameplay, simple graphics, no story.”
  • gameplay
    211 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The gameplay is characterized by its unique mechanics, particularly the swinging mace concept, which offers a fun and addictive experience reminiscent of classic arcade games like Asteroids. While the missions are engaging and varied, some players find the gameplay can become monotonous over time due to limited modes and similar mechanics across different ships. Overall, the game is praised for its simple yet challenging controls, fluid mechanics, and satisfying progression, making it appealing for fans of physics-based gameplay.

    • “The missions are short and engaging with lots of clever twists on the basic mechanics.”
    • “The concepts are straightforward and the gameplay is fun as hell, and very easy to learn/hard to master.”
    • “The mechanics are fun, they are unique and it just feels satisfying to swing the mace around and kill several enemies at once.”
    • “I'm usually pretty patient, but 30 minutes of my time with no gameplay to show for it is my limit.”
    • “Gameplay not very enjoyable and quickly boring.”
    • “Needs more gameplay/strategic elements to make it more interesting, for example power-ups, more varied enemies etc. not bad value when reduced to 13p in a sale, but doesn't last long unfortunately.”
  • music
    125 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The music in the game is widely praised for its quality and ability to enhance the gaming experience, with many players describing it as calming, engaging, and reminiscent of classic arcade soundtracks. The soundtrack evolves with gameplay, building intensity as players progress, and is often noted for its unique, ambient qualities that can create a meditative atmosphere. While some users found certain tracks repetitive or less impactful, the overall consensus is that the music significantly contributes to the game's appeal and replay value.

    • “Finally, I would like to mention that the soundtrack is amazing, the type you will want to listen to while playing other games, very tron-like if you are into that.”
    • “Soothing, unique soundtrack that gets more driven & intense along with the difficulty of the game.”
    • “A feeling that is intensified thanks to a hypnotic soundtrack that rises in a perfect crescendo to highlight the most action-packed moments.”
    • “This game is actually pretty good, the 8-bit music might get annoying, since it's a one loud loop.”
    • “The soundtrack isn't included with the game.”
    • “You are able to mute the sound and music.”
  • graphics
    98 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The graphics of the game are generally described as simple, minimalistic, and reminiscent of retro vector styles, often drawing comparisons to classic arcade games like Asteroids. While some reviewers appreciate the aesthetic appeal and smooth execution, others note that the visuals may not be cutting-edge but effectively complement the unique gameplay mechanics. Overall, the graphics are seen as fitting for the game's style, with a blend of nostalgia and modern polish that enhances the overall experience.

    • “The controls are great, graphics are gorgeous while keeping the classic Atari look.”
    • “Superb controls, tight gameplay and simple but splendid visuals combined is what you get when you buy Particle Mace.”
    • “The graphics are stylized; it all looks very smooth and is reminiscent of vector graphics, once again showing off its connection to Asteroids.”
    • “At first glance, the vector-style and DOS text graphics suggest lameness, and I'd be lying if I said the game doesn't have a low-tech feel to it.”
    • “The graphics aren't much to look at but it draws from one of the greatest arcade games of all time: Asteroids.”
    • “I'm a brutal critic who has never written a positive review before, but the only thing I can suggest to improve this game is some better graphics so more people will give it a shot.”
  • replayability
    22 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Particle Mace offers significant replayability through its various game modes, difficulties, and balanced ship mechanics, making it an addictive arcade experience. While some players note that the novelty may fade over time, the overall consensus is that the game remains engaging and well worth the price due to its replay value. The multiplayer aspect further enhances its longevity, contributing to a highly replayable casual gaming experience.

    • “The different game modes give a lot of replayability.”
    • “It has a high replay value as there are several game modes, difficulties, and challenges.”
    • “If you're just splurging on money, sure, but the novelty of the game somewhat wears off after a while and it is pretty short despite the replayability.”
    • “The strengths and weaknesses of the different ships (and how they interact with other ships) really seemed to be well balanced somehow and added a lot to replayability.”
    • “Due to the arcade feel to it, the replayability value is endless, and you get addicted to it very quickly.”
  • humor
    16 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The humor in the game is consistently praised for its simplicity and effectiveness, with many users highlighting its funny concepts and witty achievements. Reviewers appreciate the casual, tongue-in-cheek language and find the game to be a standout in the arcade genre due to its amusing gameplay. Overall, it is described as a delightful and entertaining experience that successfully incorporates humor.

    • “Such a simple funny idea, but done so well and easily the single best arcade-style game I've ever played.”
    • “What a funny little game.”
    • “Funny arcade game with interesting gameplay.”
  • stability
    12 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game suffers from significant stability issues, including frequent freezes during startup and gameplay, particularly when accessing the arcade mode. Users report that the controller setup is buggy, leading to compatibility problems, especially with certain controller types. While some players find the game enjoyable, the overall experience is marred by these technical shortcomings.

    • “There is nothing that irks me, nothing standing out, no glitches (as far as I can tell). It's just a great game.”
    • “As soon as I click 'arcade' to play, the game freezes completely.”
    • “Sometimes the game freezes when I first load it up.”
    • “The controller setup menu is buggy.”
  • optimization
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Overall, the optimization of the game has received mixed reviews; while some players appreciate its nostalgic design and refined mechanics, others have reported significant optimization issues, particularly on less powerful hardware. Despite its engaging gameplay elements, the game's performance may not meet the expectations set by modern titles.

    • “However, the complexity of games in today’s age has advanced considerably, and while Particle Mace is a great throwback to the days of old that has been perfected and optimized to near perfection, it is hardly a groundbreaking title.”
    • “It's a fairly simple concept, but the game keeps it from getting stale too quickly by gradually introducing variant ships with slightly different performance characteristics, and missions (challenges, really) that provide twists on the core gameplay.”
    • “This was on my laptop; however, which is nothing close to a powerhouse, but still suggests some optimization issues.”
    • “My only conclusion is that it's poorly optimized.”
  • atmosphere
    8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The game's atmosphere is described as quirky and immersive, featuring simple yet effective graphics and music that enhances the experience. Players appreciate its versatility, as it can be both challenging and relaxing, catering to a wide range of preferences while providing a rewarding sense of progression. Overall, the atmosphere contributes significantly to the game's fun and engaging nature.

    • “It's atmospheric, challenging if you want it to be, relaxing if you want it to be, and pretty much has something for everyone.”
    • “Honestly, this is a really fun game with great, simple graphics and an amazing atmosphere.”
    • “-music is atmospheric and fits nicely.”
  • monetization
    6 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    The monetization strategy of the game has been criticized for forcing ads on players, which disrupts gameplay and progress saving. Despite being an enjoyable experience, the intrusive ads and issues with saving progress have led to negative recommendations from users.

    • “Outstandingly fun game but forces ads on you when you load it up, so cannot recommend it to anybody.”
    • “Well, unless you don't like saving your progress or have any reasonable expectation to not be purchasing ads.”
    • “The Steam publisher added ads and broke saves.”
  • grinding
    2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative

    Players find the grinding aspect of the game to be somewhat tedious, yet they still consider it an enjoyable experience overall.

    • “A little bit tedious, but still a good game!”
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4h Median play time
4h Average play time
2-9h Spent by most gamers
*Based on 8 analyzed playthroughs
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