Darwinia

 PC
User Score
7.8

Generally favorable reviews- based on 140 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 102 out of 140
  2. Mixed: 16 out of 140
  3. Negative: 22 out of 140
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  1. iseeall
    Dec 16, 2015
    4
    I first saw this game in 2005, after someone told me there is an RTS with decent looks which only weights 1.5MB. Indeed it was so small, due to absence of textures and usage of "procedurally generated" graphics or something instead, which look stylish and very original. Unfortunately my experience at that time ended right in the first mission because I didn't know how to complete it andI first saw this game in 2005, after someone told me there is an RTS with decent looks which only weights 1.5MB. Indeed it was so small, due to absence of textures and usage of "procedurally generated" graphics or something instead, which look stylish and very original. Unfortunately my experience at that time ended right in the first mission because I didn't know how to complete it and the "help" system gave no clues.

    10 years later, in 2015 I got this game inside a bundle together with Prison Architect from the same dev (Prison Architect is a very good game btw). So, now, again, I almost got stuck in the 1st mission. Luckily I then guessed that you need to capture some satellite dishes (or something, the graphics are pretty low-polygonal) by placing an engineer next to it. And to go to a different island - since you can't send squads there because they don't walk over water - you need to delete a squad, then create a new one near a satellite dish on a different island. And - engineers walk over water and get to that dish... ok. This time I completed the first mission and got stuck in the second one because I don't know how to transport a flock of darwinians over water. And I ran out of patience because it took me half an hour to guess why red snakes keeps respawning (you need to kill a big red egg-laying spider with grenades or something - normal shots don't seem to hit it? the presentation was very unclear). That basically sums up my experience with the game.

    Pros:
    - great unique graphical style
    - pleasing music
    - nice intro scenes at the beginning of the game (one of them is a "game of life" simulation well-known to programmers and mathematicians; another says the game was cracked by a hacker which it's not since I got it on Steam..)
    - intriguing story

    Cons:
    - terrible tutorial, nothing is explained -> which alone makes the game unplayable for the vast majority of players and would actually make this game worth 0/10. Yet, judging from other reviews, also ones I read on professional websites, I still think that's it's me who is dumb and there is tons of gameplay which I wasn't patient/clever enough to get to. I'm pretty damn sure I represent the majority though
    - non-existent pathfinding (basically, units can only walk in straight lines, and if there is something in the way which they can't walk thru - they will keep pushing into that obstacle forever)
    - awkward camera system, with mouse wheel zooming in/out working in reverse (!), with no way to reconfigure that
    - unique but awkward unit selection/creation/ordering/combat system
    - units walk too slow over huge landscapes, no way to speed up the game
    - no save/reload

    Overall, this game is more of "look how much we can stuff into 1.5MB" rather than a product for real people. I doubt they even tested this game on anyone outside their office. If you get it in a bundle for $1 or less - fine, it's worth a look for its originality. But most likely you won't be able to play it due to the described issues.    … Expand
  2. GolovA
    Nov 4, 2015
    5
    Heard a lot of buzz about the game. Not sure what's it all about.
    So what this game is about is this - you shoot up viruses. Yep. That's pretty much it. Pathfinding (as others have remarked) is terrible - in second level i sent my engineer to go capture some dish, and while he was slowly (sloooooowly) making his way over the mountaintops, i concentrated on another part of the map.    Heard a lot of buzz about the game. Not sure what's it all about.
    So what this game is about is this - you shoot up viruses. Yep. That's pretty much it. Pathfinding (as others have remarked) is terrible - in second level i sent my engineer to go capture some dish, and while he was slowly (sloooooowly) making his way over the mountaintops, i concentrated on another part of the map. Suddenly, he died. What happened? Who knows (it is the second level of the game, and i am still new - right). So, i send another engineer, scroll to another part of the map, and concentrate on wiping off the viruses. Engineer dies again. WHAT!? I send yet another one, and now carefully am watching his slow (i mean slooooow) progress over the terrain - and to my surprise, sooner or later, the little guy walks right through the defensive fence which is supposed to protect my guys from the enemies, but does not fail to zap the dummy Engineer to bits (bits, get it - i made funny!) :)

    Now about the tedium of the game - it makes you wait, and wait, and wait. And that is one thing that i most certainly will not tolerate in my games - when a GAME WASTES MY TIME on pointless clicking or idling.

    5/10 it is, Time-Wasting monster that tries to pass for ingenuity!    … Expand
  3. carlosgtardon
    Jun 10, 2014
    7
    Otro de los juegos indies míticos y con un apartado visual muy agradecido que ha envejecido bien, tal vez porque ya era viejo cuando salió. Algunas mecánicas siguen teniendo interés, pero como experiencia es recomendable. A la gente que le interese lo retroindie es buena compra de oferta.
  4. keefbaker
    Oct 27, 2013
    10
    Cannon Fodder mixed with Tron. Fantastic atmosphere and brilliantly stylized visuals. Recommended for everyone who likes a good blast and an interest in the cyber.
  5. los_majklos
    Apr 15, 2012
    7
    Sweet Indie game, very original and inspiring. On the other hand, you will not want to play it for the second time and don't expect it will take you very long to finish it. For me it ended at 12 hours.
  6. JimCorbett
    Apr 1, 2012
    3
    There is almost no instruction on how to play the game, you have to do that from google. The pathfinding is just about the worst i have ever seen in a game. The graphics are boring, the enemies are seemingly endless and infuriating on the later levels...the levels, which all seem to blend together in repetition, are boring and offer nothing new. The combat is bland and boring. ANotherThere is almost no instruction on how to play the game, you have to do that from google. The pathfinding is just about the worst i have ever seen in a game. The graphics are boring, the enemies are seemingly endless and infuriating on the later levels...the levels, which all seem to blend together in repetition, are boring and offer nothing new. The combat is bland and boring. ANother problem i had with it is that they made the same button to select a unit as the button to move a unit... Strategy 101 mistake. Never buying an Introversion game again. Terrible, just terrible game.… Expand
  7. FFStudios
    Mar 10, 2012
    8
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. Living in a dull decade of "realistic" shooters and generic game design, Darwinia is a refreshing little game that stands out and truly displays video games as an art. The plot involves you helping a computer programmer wipe out a virus which has infected the digital world of Darwinia. Fighting the virus is done by using your 'squads' of heavily armed soldiers and, later on, the natives of the world itself, the Darwinians. Perhaps the most striking aspect of the game is the visuals, which are intentionally made to look almost 1980's era graphics; it sounds dodgy but ultimately it works, and works brilliantly. I wouldn't say it's a sublime game; some of the pathfinding and in-game missions are dull and difficult. I don't mean the puzzle kind of difficult, I mean giving you a task early in the game which seems to assume you've already mastered the controls. I can't complain too much though: the environments are lush (if blocky), the effects are satisfying and the story is interesting. If, like me, you see games as an art, not as a cash cow money-maker, then you should immediately get this game.… Expand
  8. tech-noir
    Jan 28, 2012
    4
    In the first five minutes, you will realize that this game offers close to zero instruction on how to play, and its in-story help mode/tutorial are deplorable examples thereof. Then, about 30 minutes into the game you will realize that the path finding is probably the absolute worst in any game you have ever played. The controls and operational methods are so inadequate and poor that youIn the first five minutes, you will realize that this game offers close to zero instruction on how to play, and its in-story help mode/tutorial are deplorable examples thereof. Then, about 30 minutes into the game you will realize that the path finding is probably the absolute worst in any game you have ever played. The controls and operational methods are so inadequate and poor that you will wonder if this is the result of a bug (or many bugs), or even if the game has been installed correctly. Proceeding past the second mission without help is impossible. Because Darwinia does not explain itself to the player, you will be forced to search on Google for help and explanations, as this is the only way to make sense out of this presentational disaster. Further, because many aspects of the game are obscured by terrible presentation choices, you will feel as if the game does not allow you to play it. You will not know how to do several things that are required to achieve many of the mission objectives, thanks to the developer's choice in being vague and uninformative. The goals in Darwinia are explained so badly, that once again, I imagine that this portion of the game is also among the worst in any game I have played. The developers clearly did not have any care in designing a game that is intuitive, user friendly, and enjoyable. The feeling is that Darwinia is simply not complete, nor is it fully operable by the user. It is as if there are numerous amounts of game play that were not done to completeness, leaving the player at a loss and in frustration. In addition to the aforementioned problems, you can not save during a mission. The game does all the saving for you, after you complete each mission objective and at other seemingly random moments. This means, that you sometimes have to restart a mission from the very beginning, if something does not go according to plan. This is totally unacceptable. If the rest of the game was better suited, this saving problem would not bother me as much. The responsiveness of your units is atrocious. Ordering the units and Darwinians around is quite problematic, as they simply do not respond as they should, nor are they very useful to your commands. The processes required to order them around are tedious, slow, and unresponsive. They have such a difficult time maneuvering around the map, it's disgruntling. These shortcomings are so major, that enjoying the game as a whole is an arduous chore as you progress through the missions. Slowly, as you learn to endure Darwinia's league of problems, there are minor and sparse hints of quality gaming behind it all. Achieving the mission objectives as you hurdle past the developmental shortcomings and obstacles can give the player feelings of accomplishment and relief, since Darwinia is so inefficient and unfriendly. After all, this takes more work than it is fun. The creativity from the developers is undeniably present. The plot and storyline are original, going along well with the artwork and aesthetic style. Each map is basic, but they do have their stylistic charms. The missions can be repetitive, but at least they make sense in relation to the story. Unfortunately for the developers, creativity does not equal a quality product. There is a serious and widely known bug that will not allow you to deploy new units to the map, and the only way around it is to quit and restart the game. There are also some placement glitches that mysteriously do not allow you to deploy units. Darwinia is all about being an annoyance, a bother, a bore; a game with severe flaws that barely works or provides the player with anything remotely enjoyable. It is an incredibly tedious and inconvenient game. You will be spending your time and money better elsewhere.… Expand
  9. LevelsAndGear
    Sep 1, 2011
    7
    Going back into the time machine for this one, Darwinia is one of those games I purchased during a Steam sale, and finally got around to playing it. Itâ
  10. Kvusha
    Mar 20, 2011
    10
    Very difficult, painstaking, atmospheric and charming game. Excellent as a visual composes(tron) and musical. Want to continue the development of content and theme of this series.
  11. VentXekart
    Dec 24, 2010
    10
    An awesome game, not only is the setting beautiful and the story wonderful, but it also proves that you don't need high quality graphics to make a good game.
  12. JeffreyS.
    Aug 16, 2008
    2
    Unique but not worth buying.
  13. JimH.
    Apr 30, 2008
    10
    This game rules.Period.
  14. JimboA.
    Apr 3, 2008
    10
    Excellent throwback to simple graphics with challenging and mesmerizing game play. Highly recommended for hours of dreamy escape into cyberspace.
  15. ColbyA.
    Dec 21, 2007
    9
    Introversion is becoming one of my favorite studios. This game was wonderful - great gameplay, incredibly creative. The things other people are complaining about, such as the pathfinding and the menus, I believe were intentionally unpolished to some extent, to go along with the setting of the game. I'd explain more, but I don't want to spoil it. I definitely recommend this.
  16. GN
    Jun 28, 2007
    9
    Darwinia is a phenomonal game! The visual presentation is apealing, and most unique. The gameplay is fun and easy to learn, but can at times be rather cumbersome. Unit control is not always accurate, and A.I. is at times a bit lacking. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game itself is a hoot, and a blast to play. Its difficult not to chuckle when amassing a single, rippling body of Darwinia is a phenomonal game! The visual presentation is apealing, and most unique. The gameplay is fun and easy to learn, but can at times be rather cumbersome. Unit control is not always accurate, and A.I. is at times a bit lacking. Despite these minor drawbacks, the game itself is a hoot, and a blast to play. Its difficult not to chuckle when amassing a single, rippling body of Darwinians, and unleashing them on the enemy. The action is fast and furious, which is an ironic contrast to the the game's visual and technical style. While being very simplistic and oriented toward a wider arrray of age groups, the gameplay is extremely challenging. While the graphics present no impressive sophistication, combat and unit-to-unit interaction are very dynamic. Another factor is the magnitude and "beauty" of the worlds. It draws much from classic science fiction films, namely Tron. In short, Darwinia is a truely unique, attractive strategy game that will appeal to a wide audience. It's fun and very challenging, but still has its minor technical flaws.… Expand
  17. JoshW.
    Apr 30, 2007
    10
    Both the storyline and music make this one of the best games I've ever played. This game is proof that you don't need super graphics to make a super game.
  18. HuubL.
    Apr 10, 2007
    9
    Great game, great atmosphere. I'd like to see more content, that would make this game an absolute ten in my book.
  19. SteveH.
    Feb 17, 2007
    9
    Short but sweet. Sometimes frustrating, sometimes tedious but what games escape that?
  20. JmattD.
    Feb 14, 2007
    10
    Simply astounding. Definitely not lacking in creativity. Pleasing to the eyes, as you're not over-stimulated by the environment. This game requires you to think, and it's a TON of fun!
  21. JanS.
    Jan 7, 2007
    3
    While I really like some of the design touches, the gameplay is - quite frankly - broken. It's a tedious task to eliminate those virus infestations in endless dataspaces and the pathfinding is just frustrating. It's like Introversion didn't care if their game was actually fun to play. The premise and setting might be fantastic but gameplay has to work.
  22. LT.
    Oct 27, 2006
    9
    A clean and simple little game makes it great.
  23. SeanB.
    Oct 15, 2006
    9
    An awful lot of fun. The sound effects even remind me of classics from long ago and far away (we're talking over 20 years now) and it's an entertaining little virtual world it renders that works on any platform. You'll enjoy it.
  24. RyanV.
    Oct 3, 2006
    9
    Simple and wonderfully enjoyable. The slick retro graphics and nice soundtrack really took it above and beyond. I just wish that the game were longer or that they make an expansion/sequal.
  25. TrickF.
    Aug 14, 2006
    10
    Awesome game for the retro-oriented crowd. Also a great community has sprung up around the game, and some of the mods are very well done, even better than the original storyline itself.
  26. CameronP.
    Jul 23, 2006
    10
    Excellent game! Original, unique, beautiful, and easy to play.
  27. JoelB.
    Jul 4, 2006
    8
    Exccellent RTS with a real 'fun' challenge - but why no multiplayer?
  28. CodyS.
    Jun 18, 2006
    10
    Awsome game filled with adventure and strategy.
  29. GeoffH.
    Jun 2, 2006
    9
    It's always great to see developers doing something new. Darwinia plays like nothing I've ever tried before, and while the mechanics got somewhat repetitive by the end, I found myself glued to it from start to finish. Plus, it was dirt cheap on Steam. Mainstream developers, take note.
  30. CodyC.
    May 30, 2006
    10
    This game was not only fun to play, but the overall experience made me feel involved in the world of Darwinia! A hands-down must-own.
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Awards & Rankings

24
#24 Best PC Game of 2005
28
#28 Most Discussed PC Game of 2005
92
#92 Most Shared PC Game of 2005

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
84

Generally favorable reviews - based on 46 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 38 out of 46
  2. Mixed: 8 out of 46
  3. Negative: 0 out of 46
  1. Game Power Australia
    85
    The graphics in Darwinia while a throwback to times past, are superb.
    Read full review
  2. BonusStage
    95
    In plain English, don’t ask, "What’s it like?"- Just buy it, play it, and spread the word to anyone you know who’s a gamer about it by any legal means necessary.
    Read full review
  3. PALGN
    75
    It has a completely unique style, both in the audio, sound and gameplay departments that cannot be easily compared to anything else.
    Read full review
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