Multiwinia - Survival of the flattest
Posted: Fri Sep 19, 2008 5:49 pm
Introversion are back, with a multiplayer follow up to the incredible Darwinia. Available on PC/MAC/Linux, from Steam, Retail, or directly from the Dev. Demo here
Here's what they say about the game:
Introversion wrote:Long ago a computer scientist called Dr Sepulveda created a beautiful digital world existing entirely within a computer network of his own invention. This world was called Darwinia and it was inhabited by a peaceful, law-abiding digital life-form called the Darwinians.
As the years wore on however the Darwinians became ever more aggressive and autonomous. They divided into factions, squabbling over Darwinia’s limited natural resources. Tribes began to roam the fractal voids hell bent on each other’s destruction, drunk on power and unswerving in the pursuit of world supremacy.
Far and wide, they became known as the Multiwinians….
Welcome to Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest – the ultimate retro-arcade multiplayer experience! Choose from a selection of six hilariously fun, action-packed game modes, set in one of the most beautiful game environs you will ever set eyes on.
Challenge your opponent to a game of stick-man slaughter, and watch digital-war unfold, as your Multiwinian army struggles to complete a chosen task faster and better than your rival’s. It’s fast, it’s furious, and only the flattest will survive!
Screens:
A bunch of really high quality videos here
Eurogamer wrote:The change in tone is necessitated by the demands of hot multiplayer action, but I can't help missing the earnest underdog charm that these stiff little creatures displayed in 2005. Seeing them as hordes of bloodthirsty warriors feels... Odd. Of course, the fact that I've formed an emotional attachment to a virtual species that looks like the Blair Witch logo drawn on the ZX81 says a lot for just how good Introversion are at this sort of thing.
I'd rather play a strategy game like this, where depth comes from a focussed and fluid challenge within tightly controlled parameters, than plough through a deluge of sprawling drop-down menus and constant resource grinding. Multiwinia, thankfully, continues to bang the drum for microcosmic strategy, and in fine style.
It's incredibly fun. Very stylistic, and exactly as unique and different as you'd expect an introversion game to be. I'm so up for playing some multiplayer of this, although with my stand alone build I'm not exactly sure how to organise it...
Note: the game is out in like 10 minutes!