PARTICLE MACE

PARTICLE MACE
N/A
Metacritic
87
Steam
81.209
xDR
Our rating is calculated based on the reviews and popularity of the game.
Price
$4.99
Release date
22 January 2015
Developers
Publishers
Steam reviews score
Total
87 (1 090 votes)

A space game about swinging trash into things and dying.

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PARTICLE MACE system requirements

Minimum:

  • OS: Windows XP
  • Memory: 2 GB RAM
  • Storage: 100 MB available space
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bilibili_繁花倾城只为你
bilibili_繁花倾城只为你

This game is like playing asteroids with rocks attached to the back of the ship instead of using lasers. Great arcade game with both in-game and Steam achievements!

RiskOfPaiN
RiskOfPaiN

Buggy underdeveloped, controllers dont work properly with it. controller set up menu is buggy. Fix it pls

King Of The Beach
King Of The Beach

Particle Mace is a fun arcade game with a fair amount of replay value and multiplayer, which I have not tried.

It is very similar to the almost ancient Asteroids, except your lasers are broken and you must break incoming ships and asteroids using the momentum of trash trailed from the back of your ship. The visuals are also pretty good and minimalistic.

Well worth the low price! Particle Mace has plenty of physics based destruction, multiple ships to unlock, and leaderboards to climb.

Cheesus F Christ
Cheesus F Christ

This game like Asteroids if you had a mace that you swing around, instead of bullets. This mechanic is fun, addictive, and a unique experience. The different game modes give a lot of replayability. There are specific goals to achieve in arcade mode, if high score isn't enough for you. Or challenge your friends to a death match.

In Arcade mode, the difficulty scales up really well, so it seems easy at first, but slowly things start closing in around you and it gets harder and harder. A really good value if you can get this on sale!

adam05jazz
adam05jazz

Be aware: this game does not currently work with an Xbox controller, despite what it says on the store page.

PapaBrain
PapaBrain

This is a fun and somewhat challenging arcade game with a novel weapon that requires you to alter the way your ship moves on the map. There are asteroids and different enemy types to destroy (or not). It's a simple arcade game that I'm not sure is worth $10, but one that I did enjoy.

In my 3+ hours of playtime, I acquired all but one ship, and I beat the 150 missions. There is a deathmatch and coop, but I didn't try those out.

The missions are variations on five themes, and often with time limits: level challenge, pacifist modes, score multipliers, kills, and survival. You have three missions at once, and sometimes the combinations are such that the difficulty becomes much harder or much easier. For example, I was stuck on a combination where you cannot destroy anything for 30 seconds and another wherein you have to stay in a small circle and can't kill enemies for 40 seconds. I ended up completing the one other mission and failing these two over and over until I had a mission that took away my weapons... and of course I finished all three at once.

There's a maybe-bug I discovered, too. The sheild on the "Hardy" ship kills the "invulnerable" Death Knight enemy, making those missions pretty much freebies.

All in all, I had a good three-ish hours with this game, and I would recommend it to people who enjoy arcade games BUT grab it on sale.

Pineapple Pizza
Pineapple Pizza

I got this game for a buck. It was certainly worth that. It's a fun little arcade game with enough unlocks and game modes to keep it interesting. Even just trying to high-score in Arcade mode is fun.
I don't know if it's worth ten bucks, honestly, but I've gotten a few hours of enjoyment out of it. If you just want a "I don't really feel like getting involved in a game right now" game, give this a shot and kill a few minutes.

Nemesyss
Nemesyss

Amusing, but barely more than a browser game.
Certainly not worth full price, so get it on sale,

[SC]Kaneeiiiiqri|wiWi
[SC]Kaneeiiiiq…

Awesome game. Lots of fun, tight controls, easy to learn hard to master. The co-op is good fun with experienced players and n00bs alike. My favourite aspect might be how the soundtrack builds up as you get further into the game.

Meersus
Meersus

This game is quite simple but very challenging! First game I bought and still play it from time to time!

Mr Baaata
Mr Baaata

Cheap.
Fun.
Achievements.
ON SALE.
So, what are you waiting for?
With no high hopes I bought this game, to find myself inmersed in what ended up being an adictive game whith a fair level of challenge. Mission mode was absotelly the most fun I had in a long time, specially when impossible missions stack up into a trip to the netherworld. Also, the ships may seem really similar, but change gameplay drastically. Beat your friends in versus, arcade or justs smash meteor; but most importantly, have fun.

Mole Zwicker
Mole Zwicker

This game is simple, Yey very fun both on your own, and with friends.

Soma
Soma

General:

Rating: E
Price: $9.99
Genre: Physics, Arcade
Time played: 6.7 Hours

Asteroids with a a big twist. You have tethers with “boulders” attached. You have to use your ships weight, interia and thrust to swing them around and destroy the asteroids and enemies.

Gameplay - 10

This game is magnificent. It seems simple, until you realize you can’t shoot or destroy anything without using the boulders on your tethers. You need to swing them around and get them in between yourself and all the various things that are trying to crush you. There’s several different ships which each have different length tethers and sizes of boulders. Some ships are fast some are slow. It all depends on what you can make work.

The asteroids aren’t especially difficult after you figure them out, but then you add in flying ships you also have to destroy with your boulders, while still dodging everything harmful.

Story - N/A

Graphics - 7

Not the best graphics, but they suit the game very well. You can watch the asteroids being destroyed by your tethered boulders and there’s a certain satisfaction to that, as well as destroying the various ships that come at you.

Controls - 9(controller)

Never tried the game with mouse/keyboard. Controller seemed the way to go and with it was able to nimbly dodge around/in between everything pretty well. Of course I died a lot but that’s just part of the game.

Repeatability - 7

There are missions that can be completed and those can range vastly in difficulty. You can unlock the various ships and try their different styles, which is an interesting.

Eventually I got bored with the game and moved on to something else to play, but I still had a lot of fun playing and can see going back to the game in the future.

Music - ?

I don’t remember it. :(

Multiplayer - ??

Never had a chance to try out the multiplayer. But I think it would be a lot of fun because playing against other people sounds very challenging.

Initial Thoughts:

I wonder what this game is about? Well I died, i can’t shoot? What the hell is going on here.

Soma Says:

Definitely recommend you try out this game. It’s not too expensive and is a great time killer. Who would have thought flying around throwing your tethered ‘balls/boulders’ could be so much fun?

There were times when it was super frustrating but that’s normal.

If you enjoyed the review check out my curator page : https://store.steampowered.com/curator/28849369/

trimBibs
trimBibs

Fun little game with a neat twist on an old concept. Fun with friends.

Xaeque
Xaeque

I had a lot of fun in this game. Once you learn how to swing it becomes much more enjoyable.

Kalsaraan
Kalsaraan

A interesting little arcade game with an interesting mission structure that adds an interesting challenge. Makes me think of a mix of Astroids and Super Hexegon.

Mvek
Mvek

A quickie... But what I don't like is the fact that when you hit an enemy (not asteroid), the screen shakes a bit, which makes it harder to fly still and not crush to any other enemy or asteroid. It is annoying especially in the missions where you have to be precise in a crowded area.

Atomix
Atomix

meehh decent but fails to catch my attention, but its fun for a bit

1MantisPhoenix
1MantisPhoenix

Great 'Asteroid' Game, [GAG]
There are really cool missions, and it's very much awesome.
150 missions waiting for you to do -

You unlock multiple spaceships, destroy asteroids, and enemy red ships. They have this psycho behaviour of always needing to kill you.

Once you have all the ships - go get them achievements ;D
3000 in easy mode ;)D Good luck

Well worth it at full price or discount.

If you want a modern asteroid game this is it :)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mGmSD-i2oY&t=1065s

Destroyer of Couches
Destroyer of Couches

Very relaxing and fun to play. I get mad when I lose at most games, but not this one.

Mol-o-toV
Mol-o-toV

Great and simple physics based game

LeonRez
LeonRez

There's an interesting idea here, but it's not that incredible. It feels really dated now, like a slapped-together exe. Most modern controllers will not register correctly, which means the local co-op and deathmatch modes are unlikely to work unless you have old 360 controllers.

The gameplay is just swinging around a mace to hit space objects. Grind to progress missions and unlock ships with weirder physics. There are no powerups or specials to make it interesting. There are better scoreboard games out there, and the leaderboards have been trashed for years now. I can't recommend it.

Advorsor
Advorsor

PRETTY SLICK game. Unique concept, simple control. Very well done.

DSapsan
DSapsan

It's ship with a BALLS!

I bought this game for $0.01 and am very happy. It was the best investment in my life, giving me many hours of fun.

AlecsD
AlecsD

In 1979 humanity played Asteroids for the first time. 36 years later that ship run out of bullets but luckily a particle mace was improvised. Now git gud and survive!

Particle Mace it's a perfect simple game. Progressive missions, ships, game mods, local co-op, achievements. It's hard and addictive!

JacobJames
JacobJames

Very good game with incredibly hard achievements!!

Stupandia
Stupandia

As of June 2019 this game is broken for me. I can't get any controller to work for it and I can't even get it to play with the keyboard. I've tried it with a steam controller, PS4, 360 and XBOne controller.

Kimmy B
Kimmy B

There is a very short list of fun party games that I would actively seek out to play on PC. Particle mace is one of them. I love the game after playing it at MAG fest. It feels just as good on PC.

Thermohaline
Thermohaline

Simple, magnificent love-letter to the classic "Asteroids ".

I liked it so much, I got a copy for my retro-afficionado bro.

premeditated
premeditated

Obligatory this game is $.50 so I hate to do this, but this game only works with certain controllers. For instance if you use a steam controller or a PS4 with big picture native support, it does not work. :(

Hulio
Hulio

The game is prety boring and definitely overpriced

thepowerlies
thepowerlies

The gameplay is just swinging around a mace to hit space objects. Grind to progress missions and unlock ships with weirder physics. There are no powerups or specials to make it interesting. There are better scoreboard games out there, and the leaderboards have been trashed for years now. I can't recommend it.

plexus
plexus

I am not sure what it is, but this game is really fun. It's something about the simplicity, which makes us come back to playing this co-op all the time. There is no explanation needed, you just pick up a gamepad and join in. This is a nice game to disable the game's music and play your own music instead. Depending on the music you sometimes go into some kind of meditative state. :D

We call this game "Schwängeln" which is german for kind of "tail wagging". :D

Manfred
Manfred

Pretty fun, but I can't play it for long sessions

🎧🎶-Kamyarm007-🎶🎧
🎧🎶-Kamyarm007-🎶🎧

It's like asteroids, but instead of a laser gun, you got a garbage based flail, and the only thing that's standing your way between victory and defeat is literal gravitational physics.

bob loblaw
bob loblaw

Never was a fan of asteroids, but the achievements for this game made me understand how practice is improving your skills. Good stuff.

Dread
Dread

I love this game. That's brilliant. Great music, chill game, everything is fine. But can you improve the joystick support. it really has some issues with PlayStation joysticks.

Gamerpro24hour1
Gamerpro24hour1

when playing this game the concept is original, new type of game-play with a mace and no bullets, its fun but local multi player is hard to do as controllers work "mildly" works great for one player though. (Xbox 360 controllers work)

overall worth a buy, when on sale.

dudgag
dudgag

Damn fun for what I paid for it, arcadey game where you smash the asteroids and kill the other shit, big fun for such small game, didn't get that far in the unlocks cuz I'm bad tho. It's 90 cents now go get it, even at 5 bucks it's still worth it.

johnreeson
johnreeson

Inertia control, easy and fun.

DireDchess
DireDchess

                                                                                                                    

Tallcastle
Tallcastle

The game is fine for what it is. Simple, easy to learn, and relatively straightforward. A decent dispenser for the kind of fun you would expect to get from a few dollars into a device at a carnival or a few coins into an arcade machine.

There are 2 game features that ruin long term play
1.Poor challenge combinations that make success almost impossible (and)
2. The 'killed enemy' screen shaking effect that frustrates attempts to keep track of a hyper clustered environment.

Otherwise its a simple but imaginative time waster. Worth a few dollars for a day of fun.

Epsiilon
Epsiilon

Particle Mace rocks my socks. Simple concept well executed, fun gameplay and it's interesting how each ship plays so differently with minor changes.

Anonymous
Anonymous

This is really awesome game. So simple yet so playable! Amazing how good idea can make everything better. Have fun!

Your Friend Maz
Your Friend Maz

I love this game! its a excellent and simple time waster that you can just hope in and hop out off. Its fun to play even when you aren't fantastic at it!

<<SUPER9>>
<<SUPER9…

Controllers detected but don't work. Uninstalled

Spaceman
Spaceman

Makes a lot of fun in between! For example if you're having an online seminar.

Petrichor
Petrichor

Bought this game for maybe 50 cents. got bored of mindless meteor destruction after 5 minutes, and accidentally left it on for a few weeks.

YouDontKnowMe
YouDontKnowMe

horrible game that isn't worth 5$.

Stay away from it.

Vantier
Vantier

Would never play or recommend this over Geometry Wars 3. Way more variety in modes and visuals. And has actual unique purposefully designed individual missions and challenges.

There is no mode that is EXACTLY like this in GW3. But there are many modes that are pretty similiar in terms of actual gameplay. It is just all around a better game and offers essentially the same thing but better and more.

Not a bad game in a vacuum, but inferior to Geometry Wars 3 in pretty much every way without offering any really unique positives. Just buy that game instead.

Pinebapple
Pinebapple

normal price is high (tbh this should be free) but otherwise its a pretty relaxing game with a cool concept. not a lot of content.

Brucenstein
Brucenstein

Super fun little asteroids-type shooter with a twist. Surprisingly engaging and lots to learn/unlock.

Basically no steam controller support, FYI.

Ichorlicker
Ichorlicker

This is a great casual game that can get the blood pumping for the next hit. Whether you want to play for a little bit or have hours to burn, this game is easy to learn and hard to master.

Root
Root

I haven't played this game in a while but back when I often had gaming parties with my friends, this was one of the more unique and thrilling game. It's very simple and intuitive to play. You have a couple different ships with different playstyles and you often have to play daredevil and put yourself in danger to get a good chance to hit someone. Overall, very fun little game.

There is also a single player mode that's pretty good but the game value really is in multiplayer for me.

iubirel
iubirel

short story : this game has 10 categories

microbiome.magic
microbiome.magic

Addictive arcade-style game. Need a controller to play. I wish they would add an online co-op; currently it is local co-op only.

Just1ceFury
Just1ceFury

Cool single player, albeit short it had a lot of content that experimented with the gameplay.

dangershoes
dangershoes

fun intense simple classic arcade goodness kicked up to a modern pace.

CascadeHush
CascadeHush

I got this to work with my controller once. I had fun for an hour. I would like to play it again but I've never been able to get a controller to work again. I've tried several over the years, because I keep coming back to try, but it never works.

Aphekss
Aphekss

The physics sensation of your weapons following your ship is really well made and addictive.

SpiritKitty
SpiritKitty

Very fun, sadly keyboard mouse controlls don't work last I checked, so you have to use a controller

bankimon
bankimon

Well worth it if you need a game to zone out for a while.

I keep coming back for a session of Asteroid Field.

polytopal
polytopal

Strangely addictive, I find the missions to be extremely stimulating, such a simple problem - stay alive - armed only with such woefully awful tools to solve it - a fragile ship with only trailing particles to destroy foes/asteroids - oh, the excitement! To all the obsessive-compulsive game-specific 'skill-builders,' try or buy this game ASAP!

TomokoZerra
TomokoZerra

Fun little arcade game. Controls are well-suited to an analog controller stick. Multiplayer with friends is a blast--all on one screen, trying to fling little pixel death at each other...

fusegrac (he/him)
fusegrac (he/him)

me hit thing with rock, thing go boom.
me hit thing with me, me go boom.

Prince Vegeta
Prince Vegeta

A fun and simple arcade spin off that's great for killing time and an awesome score for cheap. The appearance and graphics of the game are simple but the unique mechanics keeps each stage interesting. There are tons of stages and they get more and more challenging as you go.

The Snacrifice
The Snacrifice

A neat game with a neat concept. If you like asteroids AND physics based gameplay, you'll love this. It stands out as an interesting idea and mechanic making a good game.

Spleenventor
Spleenventor

If you played Asteroids, then you might, at first glance, think this is a clone. It isn't. It's harder. The difficulty is in both controlling your ship within a dynamic field and manipulating the space garbage you have tethered to your ship by gravity to destroy or defend against the enemy ships and asteroids. The playing field changes shape and shifts position relative to your ship. You can't sit still for long and doing so would limit your ability to wipe out the enemy. Your score improves through chaining attacks within a short time limit and is interrupted by damaging asteroids between strikes on the enemy ships. asteroids provide minimal points, so you want to concentrate on the enemy and its to your advantages to let them accumulate before eliminating them.

This is an excellent tool to demonstrate Newtonian physics concepts and I would recommend it for science teachers and students for that reason alone.

The old Asteroids game simulated inertia and momentum without accounting for gravitational interaction with the other objects. Particle Mace incorporates that and you rely upon that effect to defend yourself. Your momentum pulls the space garbage behind you and your change in velocity (speed and/or direction) realistically effects the velocity of the garbage in 2 dimensions.

DrewTheBear
DrewTheBear

The game says it accepts a controller... it doesn't work with mine even though every other game in my library does.

The game is unplayable until they fix the bugs.

Morcleon
Morcleon

A fun little puzzle game. A fairly steep difficulty curve at the start, but once you get used to the physics of the particles, it's really dynamic and enjoyable. Has a bit of lore that's rather interesting at the beginning and end, but ultimately inconclusive.

twitchyTyrant
twitchyTyrant

very addicting - really scratches the asteroids itch in a novel way. the missions are short and engaging with lots of clever twists on the basic mechanics. i always feel like i've made real progress after spending about an hour or so in a session throwing myself at them - i'm now most of the way through my second playthrough (using the Show-Off this time) after only 4 and a half hours ingame.

if i had to offer one complaint - a lot of the unlockable ships are pretty extraneous, only good for a few rounds of endless mode if you wanna try something different. in most circumstances the Jelly is your best option, the Normal/Fast (depending on your preference) are the runners-up, and the Show-off is (pretty intentionally, it would seem) effectively a "hard mode". i could also see an argument for the Cascade in the right hands, but it didn't quite click with me (YMMV). in any case, they're at least fairly creative variations (for the most part) and you aren't forced to use any of them so it's a very mild complaint.

edit: there's one ugly flaw in the game that hadn't really reared its head in force until i got towards the end of the Show-Off run. the screen shake when you kill an enemy is incredibly problematic when you need to perform tight maneuvering. it stutters time, zooms in, messes with your aim, doesn't acknowledge mouse inputs for its duration (if you're playing this game right, you're thinking about half a second ahead of time with your movements), and decreases gamespace visibility. it can be a genuine detriment to skillful play, and there's no option to turn it off. i don't consider it a game-ruining mistake, but it's very aggravating, and other people were complaining about it years ago when the game first launched - the fact that a toggle was never implemented is enough to bring the game down a letter grade

ミPlaza
ミPlaza

impossible achievements, not worth the effort

󠀡󠀡⁧⁧ChaoX
󠀡󠀡⁧⁧ChaoX

Very addictive game. Would play again for half an hour

Anonymous
Anonymous

I love this game. It is simple but difficult. I first played it at this video game bar in Brooklyn and became addicted.

perculiar ape
perculiar ape

My review: Graphics : 10/10
Gameplay 10/010
story 10/10

xt [/i]Italic text
[strike] Story 10/10!
this is so fun to play with friends and gaming friends
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Tharg
Tharg

Plays great on steam deck, I played it all the way through (got all ships). Just a note that achievements are "end game plus" level - I only have the all ships one, the others will need more work.

According to steam / in game stats I have :
* 8 hours
* 464 deaths
* 3083 kills
* 139 pauses
* 40 seconds average life
* 146 X10 multi kills
* 6 seconds between kills