Version 2.2 offered robust wind, gravity, and turbulence. The "Physics Time Factor" allowed for global slow-motion or speed-ramping of the entire particle universe. The (Perlin noise based) created organic, wispy smoke or swarming fireflies that felt alive, not robotic.
Prior to version 2.2, users managed particle systems through dense, nested drop-down menus. The 2.2 update introduced the – a visual, node-based preset browser and parameter editor. This feature reduced the learning curve dramatically, allowing artists to preview particle behaviors (e.g., "explosion" vs. "gentle snowfall") before applying them to a composition. trapcode trapcode PARTICULAR 2.2 Plugin for After Effects