Mace: The Dark Age was one of those N64 fighters that flew under the radar but had some seriously gnarly combat. You’ve got these medieval warriors—knights, barbarians, even a creepy executioner—hacking each other apart in 3D arenas with spiked floors and bottomless pits. The first time I played, I picked the samurai guy thinking he’d be quick, but turns out his moves have this weird delay that throws you off at first.

What makes it stand out is how brutal the hits feel. There’s no polite karate chops here—swords cleave through armor, maces send opponents flying, and the fatalities (well, "mortal blows") are gloriously over-the-top. The arenas are small enough that fights stay chaotic, but some have hazards that actually matter, like rolling boulders or collapsing bridges. It’s janky in that late-90s way, but if you’re into gritty, weapon-based brawlers, this one’s got a weird charm.

Just don’t expect it to play like Soulcalibur—this is pure N64-era clunk with extra blood splatter.