Genre: Real-time Strategy
Developer: Introversion Software
Publisher: Introversion Software

Even among indie titles, Darwinia's playful design is genius-- the characters and stages are meant to look like a 3d land of mass pixelization, but all rendered in colorful, crisp, special effect-heavy glory. Each area has a distinct color and structural theme, yet the game's art direction is consistent and polished from beginning to end.

There is little in the way of music, outside of a few techno tracks that sound like they were taken from the mod scene-- appropriate given the hackerish character of the game's narrative and setting. Sound effects are simple yet produce a sound that is Darwinia's alone.

Darwinia borrows most of its conventions from titles such as Warcraft and Cannon Fodder; methodically working through cleverly constructed, objective-driven maps by spawning equally creative death-dealing units and gathering resources from destroyed baddies is reasonably satisfying.

The occasionally tedious pace is only a small detraction from what is an unforgettably unique title on pretty much every level. The challenging yet forgiving gameplay illustrates the great care that went in to making the game's core mechanics live up to the expectations set by the game's one of a kind style.