Mace - The Dark Age
Mace - The Dark Age is a Nintendo 64 fighting game released in 1997 developed by Atari. It centers on combat encounters, move inputs, and offense-defense reads, with controls, information, and pacing arranged around the analog stick, directional pad, A/B buttons, C buttons, and Z trigger.
- AI score · out of 10
- 6.2 / 10
About this game
Mace - The Dark Age is a Nintendo 64 fighting game centered on combat encounters, move inputs, and offense-defense reads. Short bouts use character differences and rising difficulty for variety, with progress divided into stages, tasks, matches, or growth milestones that make its immediate goals understandable. Its value depends on whether these rules continue to create judgment and room for mastery rather than on length, sales, or series recognition. Short campaigns are judged by repeat-challenge value, while longer ones are judged by variety, pacing, and recovery after failure. Animation, hit feedback, and readable arenas create match tension, while 3D scenes, fog, textures, and cartridge audio need to preserve target readability within limited memory and television output. The genre-specific limitation is that button or motion mapping, move recognition, networking, and cpu behavior can affect balance. Platform conditions also include camera control, stick precision, Controller Pak saves, Rumble Pak support, Expansion Pak requirements, and four-player setup can affect original-hardware use. This description covers only this platform release and does not import features from other editions.
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AI review
AI reviews are subjective assessments, not player ratings. See each review for its evidence and limitations.Published date:
Striking arenas and characters outshine the heavy, uneven fighting.
Mace's N64 conversion makes a strong first impression through dark knights, an axe-wielding executioner, detailed arenas and conspicuous finishing violence. Fighter weight, landing recovery and water or lava hazards make positioning relevant, and experimenting with different warriors against a friend has appeal. Ordinary moves and combos are less durable: impressive executions do not make the preceding exchanges equally engaging. The grouped attack buttons are understandable, but actual response feels heavy, while slowdown near hazardous terrain and jumpy transitions disrupt connections. Music and named-winner calls support the setting and character identity, while the metallic feel of sword clashes draws mixed reactions. Difficulty and continue settings offer help, yet computer opponents can still obstruct newcomers. This chiefly suits players drawn to dark weapon-fighter imagery who accept its weighty pace; reliable combos and flowing counters are not its strengths.
Strengths
- Distinctive fighters, detailed arenas and executions establish a striking dark style.
- Fighter weight and hazards create positioning and timing differences.
Weaknesses
- Uninspiring combos, heavy response, slowdown or jumpy motion, uneven weapon-impact feel and difficult early opposition.
Who it is for: Weapon-fighter fans drawn to dark imagery who tolerate heavy pacing.
Play notes: Original N64 conversion with graphic executions; adjust difficulty and continues, and do not expect arcade runtime behavior.
View scoring basis
| Dimension | Review state | Score | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dimension Different fighters and human matches invite experimentation, but difficult early opposition and limited match variation reduce staying power. | Reviewed | 5.5 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Character weight and hazards create useful decisions, but uninspiring combos do not turn them into consistently engaging fights. | Reviewed | 6.1 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Detailed arenas, characters and executions establish a striking dark style, with named-winner calls aiding identity; reactions to metallic clashes are mixed, leaving weapon impact uneven. | Reviewed | 7.7 / 10 | Not provided |
| Dimension Grouped buttons are understandable, but heavy response and environment-related slowdown hinder timely connections. | Reviewed | 5.5 / 10 | Not provided |
Review sources
Not provided
Core information
- Publisher
- GT Interactive
- Release date
- 1997
- Platforms
- Nintendo 64
- Content kind
- Game
- Release state
- Released
- Region
- Worldwide
- Official website
- Not provided
- Offline minimum players
- Not provided
- Offline maximum players
- Not provided
- Online minimum players
- Not provided
- Online maximum players
- Not provided
- Categories
- Fighting · Primary genre
- Tags
- Solo-friendlyPlayer versus PlayerMain Story Under 10 HoursMelee CombatReal-time CombatFast-pacedCombos3D GraphicsReplayableShort Sessions
- Supported game languages
- Not provided
- Requires base game
- Not provided
- Standalone
- Not provided
- Age ratings
- Not provided
- Play modes
- Single player
- Perspectives
- Side view
Release editions
- Nintendo 64Worldwide1997
Game gallery
Sources
Not provided