Multiwinia is a game set in the universe of Darwinia a game that was created a few years ago by Introversion Software, and is actually the game that Darwinia was meant and supposed to be, but unfortunately never came to be.  Sometimes evolution works backwards.  Confused?  Don't be, it's simpler than it sounds.

Multiwinia: Survival of the Flattest, developed by the folks at Introversion Software is a curious creature to say the least.  On one hand you have the simplest most mundane and rudimentary Real-Time Strategy or RTS game ever made, and on the other hand Multiwinia could quite possibly be the most brilliant RTS ever conceived.  The idea that a video game is based on warring factions that are comprised entirely of different colored "stick-men" in this digital day and age is almost ludicrous.  Yet, somehow, in some insanely satisfying way, it all works and plays extremely well.  Never before has blowing up massive armies of tiny stick figures been so much fun... even if that army is your own.

There are numerous single player and multiplayer campaigns to enjoy in Multiwinia but the multiplayer option is the reason this game is a "must buy".  Thankfully, both LAN and Online options are present and accounted for making it extremely easy to play with other real life human beings (as opposed to those fake ones).

Currently there are six different game scenarios or modes to choose from: Domination, Assault, Capture the Statue, King of the Hill, Rocket Riot, and Blitzkrieg.   Each mode has a set of straight forward and simple objectives.  How difficult these objectives become all depend on how well your opponents play and/or teammates cooperate.  Each mode offers plenty of variety and provides something for everyone, from casual gamer to hardcore RTS fan.  Matches range in length from 5 to 30 minutes.  Short enough to pass a lunch break but addictive enough to get you fired for playing well past your lunch break.

Unlike other RTS games, Multiwinia finds strength in its simplicity and in the ability that it gives any gamer to just pick-up and play.  This is not a strategy game that will take you hours to conquer your opponent or have you fumbling around with hundreds of hot-keys or memorizing dozens of tech trees.  Instead you'll find everything you need at the touch of the mouse, a few basic keystrokes, and a constant observation of the play field.  Watching the battlefield is an important part of any RTS and this is only made easier because the developers made a wise design choice by keeping the game streamlined and accessible, making it enjoyable for all, even newcomers to the RTS genre.

Playing the game is simple.  Each player starts off with a spawn point and a handful of Darwinians (see "stick-men").  Once the game begins each player needs to act quickly and do such things as capture extra spawn points, secure other objectives or waypoints, or even set out on a full scale assaults against opposing Darwinians.  Throughout the course of a match players can capture randomly dropped crates which provide some useful power-ups, abilities, and features.  Some crates will give a player the ability to call in an air strike or create a meteor shower over an enemy battalion, other crates might contain gun turrets which can be placed on the battlefield and used to protect a certain area.    There is a nice variety of useful and sometimes humorous powers and special abilities that can be obtained through capturing these random crates that can turn the tide of any   battle in your favor when used carefully.  Based on your decisions early in a match the game will quickly unfold either to your benefit or detriment.  The pace is always remains steady and players seem to constantly be occupied throughout any given round which makes thinking on your toes a necessity.  However, this sense of urgency makes for a fun and frantic game, instead of frustrating, which is mostly due to its simple nature and design elements that end up enhancing the way the game is played and making for a more enjoyable experience than many other recent RTS games.  The experience never grows old quickly and the random crates with the variation newly discovered abilities keep the game from becoming boring or stagnant offering almost unlimited replay value.

Graphically Multiwinia is a de-evolved powerhouse of both style and substance.  Each polygon and texture looks like it was carved and put together with great care creating a beautifully abstract digitally rendered landscape.  The maps all have a purposefully low grade look to them that suits the atmosphere perfectly.  The Darwinians are charming, almost cute, and they blow up Real Good!  Seeing little bits of stick-men scattered across the battlefield is always entertaining.  In the end, everything looks as simple as it plays and that's a blessing in disguise.  The graphic detail is very obtuse yet it somehow captures ones attention making for a fresh first impression while keeping ongoing action at the center of your attention.  Certainly easy on the eyes, Multiwinia retains a unique visual style that seems perfectly suited for this game and the overall atmosphere.  Graphically and artistically this game deserves extra high marks for originality.

As for the music and sound effects, they are all very subtle.  The sounds are effective.  Unfortunately, once I got into a game I didn't notice them very much.  Any music in the game was atmospheric but the sounds didn't really stand out and that could possibly be because my head was so involved in the game whilst playing that it didn't really grab my attention.  I'd become so engrossed in the gameplay that I'd barely notice the sound at all.  The music was a little more memorable though nothing stellar.  The audio just seemed to fit nicely without much interference, and by that I also mean its presence.  This game is all about subtlety though, so I'm sure that sparse sound fx and low key music were partially what the developers were striving for.  To that end, they achieved it.  Though I can't help but feel that the sound and music could have been given more focus throughout the game.

In the end I enjoyed the time I spent playing Multiwinia immensely.  It's a fast, fun game that is great for both newbie RTS fans and hardcore RTS enthusiasts.  If there was one thing I would like to see in Multiwinia it would be the option to have a stat tracking feature and online leaderboards.  I love the ability to play various friendly player matches but an option to play ranked online matches would be a nice addition allowing players to keep track of their scores and other players stats, including info such as Wins / Losses, Disconnects, Games Played, etc.   Aside from that, Multiwinia feels like a well polished and fully functional title that offers its own unique game mechanics to the large game type that is the RTS genre.  None of its features seem like they've been tacked on at the last minute and the game feels balanced the entire time you're playing.  Last but not least, Multiwinia is one of those rare gems that can be enjoyed even when you end up losing.  Quite a feat for any RTS!  If you are into Strategy games or have ever wanted to get into Strategy games, Multiwinia is the perfect place to start and satisfying enough to keep you from playing your other games.