Awesome Arcade-style Fun In This Pair Of Games
Welcome to Indie Spotlight!
Today we’re getting some back-to-back arcade action with not one but TWO sweet titles — Trace Vector and Particle Mace!
Trace Vector
Trace Vector brings retro speedy fun to the comfort of your home. You take on the role of Aurora, a pilot thousands of light years away from home, just looking for a way back. Her only contact is Jason, who guides her via radio transmission.
Gameplay is very simple – your ship auto-travels along a visible path that will often fork. You press up and down to choose which way to travel. Along the way, you pick up fuel for your ship and pass through warp drives for increased speed. Some paths lead to dead-ends, so it’s up to you to avoid those and make it to the end of the trail. You also get a slow-time mechanic that gives you an extra moment to make decisions.
The first few stages are quick in teaching you how it works and feels. Then the game lets itself go crazy. By round two I already found myself wanting to slow time at least once per level to get as many powerups as I could.
This is a visually and audibly pleasing arcade game that puts your planning and reaction timing to the test.
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Particle Mace
If I had to describe Particle Mace in three words, I’d say “Asteroids with physics.” But three words isn’t good enough for what this game has going for it.
You control a ship and fly it around space. Tethered to your ship is an assortment of particles that will flail about (this is where the physics comes in), smashing into enemy ships and debris. In pure arcade fashion, your goal is to rack up the best score you can before something destroys you.
Accomplishing different goals (like high scores on a certain difficulty or getting a badass multiplier) will unlock more ships with different traits (changes in movement speed, size of particles, etc). There is also a Mission mode that hurls dozens of mini challenges, like staying within a limited area or destroying so many enemies within a time limit. Best of all, up to four people can jump into the arena at once! Mace each other until one stands above the rest.
(P.S. Particle Mace credits are quite flavorful – check them out!)
Both of these games are a must-have for anyone who remembers or appreciates the games of old that started it all. Your roll of quarters will go a lot further now, at least!
[Trace Vector on Steam]
[Particle Mace on Steam]
