Darwinia

This is the first game I played that completely eradicated the 4th wall; from the moment you launch the game you are inside and a part of the narrative. EDIT: I am aware it says I only played for 5 min on this profile. It is entirely possible to have played a game elsewhere. I liked the game so much I bought it for this profile as well to support the developers and to have it in my Steam library.

This game wasn't for me. I floated around looking at all the models. nothing really else to it.

This game is timeless. I first bought it over 20 years ago from Ambrosia Software, and the busier levels would bring my G3 iMac to its knees and prevent the gesture-based commands from registering properly. The gesture commands were soon replaced by something more sensible, but the amazing thing is that - decades later - they're still updating this. I've bought it again on Xbox 360 around 2010, and again on Steam, by which point it will run on a handheld console. It's one of my favourite games, and it never looks or feels dated. It's just perfect.

The style of graphics is unique. Both pixel style, and yet of higher quality. A point and click game to build Darwinians, protect them, train them, and eradicate the red virus. Inventive story line. It can be a bit fiddly to figure out at first as the guidance is a bit lacking - but you get the hang of it. Hit <H> when something is selected for specific guidance, <SPACE> to deselect and ask for help again for something more generic. Once you have met the objectives, hit <ESC> and leave the location.

Interesting idea and a curiosity, but t he gameplay is subpar and gets boring quickly, especially with the game's horrible AI.

I love how this game is regularly updated. I have played it roughly every 10 years since release and each time the game's controls are improved. Still a great game after 20 years.

[h1]Timeless Gem[/h1] [hr][/hr][i]Game remains an unique gem to this day. There are very few games which tries to portray a feeling of being in a virtual world. It retains an unique aesthetic and feeling. One which was very impressive back then and still holds up to this day. It is a timeless game, but these days and in the future we are cby a mediocre slop.[/i][hr][/hr] [h1]☠️It should be the sin to be poor☠️[/h1] I remember seeing this game in a gaming magazine. It struck me as such an unique and good looking game. Back then, games were trying to push 3D graphics into realism, but they were still looking quite unrealistic. Especially real time strategy games. This would put them in an uncanny valley or just make them look bad. Very few games looked graphically great in that period and AAA games were ones pushing the limits. This game stood out, because it was trying to do its own thing. It is an unique, little gem which is still great today. I only regret that I couldn't play it back then when I was a child. It would had blown me away as it would immerse me in a simulated, virtual world. I do regret of not being able to play it back then when games were a lot worse, far fewer and anything remotely good was an instant cult classic. This is one game which plays just as well today as it would had back then and it would had left much greater impression on me in those simpler times. Sadly, affordability was the main issue and childish lack of attention was another reason holding me back. [h1]💖What makes it special💖[/h1] Game tries to sell you an idea that you are in virtual world which is alive. Over time, this idea grows on you as game is immersive. It knows what it needs to do in order to try and sell you an idea of a world. It is not trying to be convenient or responsive. It doesn't reduce people in a game into HP and units. This inherent resistance helps you to feel that this is its own world rather than just a level which you have to conquer. Units which you control are explicitly stated to be just programs. They are directly controlled by you and are perfectly obedient. While Darwinians (local sentient inhabitants) on the other hand cannot be directly controlled. This separation goes a long way of making you believe that these two things are different and it helps with immersion. Another aspect of an immersion is simulation. World is simulated from Darwinians to terrain or projectiles. Even entire game map tries to portray that it is something in which Darwinians live and work in and everything is connected. Over time, it grows on you through little experiences. It plays badly, but that serves to reinforce that it is not a video game. Simulation also goes a long way. Each particle has to connect with the enemy. Grenades bounce through terrain. You start thinking in terms of line of sight and high ground. You become more engaged with the map terrain and as result, you get emotionally invested with maps themselves. Sound of difficult battle going on in the distance and your Dawrinians lollygagging at the helps to sell you this world. Likewise, you can draft them and send them to die in the war. Seeing them trying to hold on positions which they are slowly losing is a missing ingredient which so many RTS fail to give to you. In those games, map and NPCs feel lifeless where here they have their own charm as they are simulated and reacting to threats which are themselves unscripted. This naturally leads into stories and far more natural situations. [h1]📋Stories from the front📋[/h1] I tried to establish Darwinian colony on an island, but couldn't because other 3 colonies would constantly launch raids upon me. I couldn't control my AI units fast enough to respond to two flank assault. Their main strength - perfect obedience was turned into their weakness. So, I started capturing another, starter island so to speak. I managed to establish my colony there. It was far easier cleaning spawn point after spawn point since they were separated by greater distances and were more linear to each other. So, I had time to capture souls and convert it to my population. After conquering, I then could push into that island through transfer point. With ability to rally Darwinians to my side, I managed to make them entrenched on that spawn point. Through greater initial numbers and by carrying turrets to fortify area, I could focus just clearing one spawn point after another. Game often turns into a siege warfare where you cannot just use your own directly controlled units. You have to rely on Darwinians who are semi-independent. This is what gives game so much of its charm. It is one thing to see your units fighting, it is another to see local inhabitants trying their best to fight. There was a spider infestation which I couldn't clear myself as they were spawning way too quickly and it would be massive chore to do it solo. So, I had called up Darwinians and established turrets at the entrance. They started to thin the never ending swarm. Each side dragging fallen entities as souls back to the base for revival unto their side. It is trench warfare to the extreme. Then I made several more formations and ordered them to engage spiders from another angle. They went through their mountain chain and occupied at that time, relatively free high ground with my soldiers. My soldiers were shock troops which cleared landing territory and kept enemies at bay until my allies arrived with their transport tanks. They established upon high ground and they started to seriously thin down the enemy horde from two sides. This was the thing which I was looking for since now I could easily use my troops/programs to go in and take their nests out. Once I had broken their numbers, rest was just the cleaning operation. [h1]🔧Where it falls short🔧[/h1] This game had a surprisingly long support history. It is clearly loved and is taken proper care of. However, not all is roses and rainbows. I had issues with making Steam screenshots for the game. Steam integration could be better. More substantial issue is that this game is simply dated. It is a game made in few years by few dudes more or less. Production values as such are low. Its unique artstyle can hide lack of graphical budget to make graphics, maps or music. However, it still has very little content. Enemies are very few and you will see most of them quite soon in the campaign. You have like one troop and one Darwinian troop. Rest are support units or gear. Enemies likewise are just 3 types. Regular lines on a ground, flying worm or a spider. Then there are recoloured Darwinians who are now evil and are fighting you. Then you start playing game, it can get tedious very fast. As you don't have unlocks and are not invested into the world, seeing a new map with multiple islands which are teeming with enemies, get old really fast. You need to manually kill each of those enemies and gather their souls for your Darwinias. Gameplay is slow and lacks in any variety. You sure have to get immersed and like what you are playing, otherwise you will be bored to tears. [h1]An Unique Experiment[/h1] [hr][/hr][i]I do wish that I could had played this game when I saw it in gaming magazine. Back then it would had struck like a truck. Its aesthetics would offer relief from mud, grey graphics at that time, awkwardly pushing for photo realism. It would be its own indie game when indie games didn't existed. Its mechanics would be seen as cutting edge and lack of content and its tedious nature would had been no obstacles to me. It is one of those rare games which could come at any period in history and still be good or feasible to make. It came out in 2005, but it's one of those rare cases where a brilliant game like this could had came out in 2000 too and be just the same.[/i][hr][/hr] [url=https://steamcommunity.com/groups/Calicifer/discussions/0/599648251203922700/][i]Calicifer's Reviews[/i][/url]

I bought this in 2005 (23rd December). I did not expect to still be getting updates in 2026; and also for the game to still be so much fun. I don't play often, but when I do I enjoy it.

This game is fascinating and special in a way I have never seen before or since

A simple, fun and very basic game. Not for everyone. Super old school feel but I liked it.