Mace The Dark Age was basically Atari and Midway's answer to Soul Edge and their attempt to break into the weapons-based 3D fighting game market. I'll be reviewing the N64 port since I don't have access to the cabinet, and don't feel like trying to emulate it through MAME.
You have four buttons similar to Soul Edge, except the block button was replaced with an evade button and blocking is done via holding back. This game also has full 3D environments with hazards around for you to randomly fall into, but I can't help but feel like it just makes the fighting more awkward. It's commendable though and I would've totally been impressed back in the day. It plays okay for the most part, or it would if the frame rate didn't dip terribly during certain stages, it actually made fighting CPU Ragnar more annoying since it once dipped to single-digits territory on his stage which is already cancerous with the whole awkward "fighting on a hill" deal.
As far as single player is concerned it's about as limited as you might think, just the general arcade mode and a very limited training mode with you beating on a dummy. It's unfortunate, because the CPU in this game is absolutely horrendous even on the "easy" setting and of course they decided to give you limited credits to play this thing. You can bypass the credit limit by just having the 2P controller chime in after you lost at least, that's how I ended up eventually beating this. Not a great full price purchase unless your household is full of FG heads willing to play anything, which if it is then gimme a call please.
When it comes to comparing the port to the Arcade version, the only thing I can say for sure is that the music sounds like crap. I already find the ost itself a tad repetitive sometimes, but the N64 port's tracks are really lacking oomph compared to its original versions. I'm sure the graphics and the performance were better too but it's sometimes hard to tell through youtube recordings.
Playing as Asmodeus through GS codes was fun for a bit, but he's limited and crashes the game too much to be of any long term fun. At least he looks cool, which I think sums up the game entirely. "It's lacking in the gameplay department, but at least it looks cool."
If I ever do start that metal band I'm calling it "Mordos Kull".
You have four buttons similar to Soul Edge, except the block button was replaced with an evade button and blocking is done via holding back. This game also has full 3D environments with hazards around for you to randomly fall into, but I can't help but feel like it just makes the fighting more awkward. It's commendable though and I would've totally been impressed back in the day. It plays okay for the most part, or it would if the frame rate didn't dip terribly during certain stages, it actually made fighting CPU Ragnar more annoying since it once dipped to single-digits territory on his stage which is already cancerous with the whole awkward "fighting on a hill" deal.
As far as single player is concerned it's about as limited as you might think, just the general arcade mode and a very limited training mode with you beating on a dummy. It's unfortunate, because the CPU in this game is absolutely horrendous even on the "easy" setting and of course they decided to give you limited credits to play this thing. You can bypass the credit limit by just having the 2P controller chime in after you lost at least, that's how I ended up eventually beating this. Not a great full price purchase unless your household is full of FG heads willing to play anything, which if it is then gimme a call please.
When it comes to comparing the port to the Arcade version, the only thing I can say for sure is that the music sounds like crap. I already find the ost itself a tad repetitive sometimes, but the N64 port's tracks are really lacking oomph compared to its original versions. I'm sure the graphics and the performance were better too but it's sometimes hard to tell through youtube recordings.
Playing as Asmodeus through GS codes was fun for a bit, but he's limited and crashes the game too much to be of any long term fun. At least he looks cool, which I think sums up the game entirely. "It's lacking in the gameplay department, but at least it looks cool."
If I ever do start that metal band I'm calling it "Mordos Kull".