Working now on vacuumulator force fx, perhaps must try with vertex animation textures.
Made in Houdini it uses some simple vector math and vex, no sim or particles.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PWu7A6MMjUI
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kA9NOUQVL3w
Pixelated water and fire made using particles for motion, no volumes.