Windows

Evolution: The Game of Intelligent Life

Evolution is a very intriguing game. It's educational and fun to play. You'll learn to care about your species as you nurture them on their path. The game is laid out well, but the interface issues can be really annoying, especially when a tweak you wanted to perform gets forgotten because the window closed without your permission or something "more immediate" occurred. Affecting your species evolutionary path is simple, and could have used more options. Nonetheless, Evolution is simple to learn and fun to play. But it could have been so much more. Bottom Line: Solid strategy game, fun to play, educational, and interesting. Controlling your species is a bit overly simplistic, the game could have provided more options available for you to choose from. Interface could have been more refined.

In the end these complaints don't seem that compelling, especially after several days of playing "just a little longer" resulting in that 4 a.m. "My God! That clock's got to be wrong!" Needless to say, this game is quite addictive. For an educational game that really gives you a sense of how this world could have evolved, Evolution is definitely worth a look. If you don't agree, complain to my velociraptor.

Evolution is not a game that everyone is going to enjoy. I think that it is a really solid title for what it tries to accomplish, despite some shortcomings. As a real-time strategy game it provides average entertainment value when compared to the rest of the market. However, the style of play it offers is rather unique and once you get into it, it's fun to play. To me, it seems like one of those titles that people will either enjoy or find really boring. It's a strategy title that requires patience, an interest in the subject, and an ability to grasp the concepts that allow one to be successful in planning instead of simply playing and reacting. Some of the issues I raised above keep this title from appealing to a broader segment of the market.

Zu viele überflüssige Menüs, deren relevante Informationen besser präsentiert werden könnten, verärgern den Spieler. Aufzupassen, daß alle Tiere im ergiebigsten Futtergebiet herumstreunen, während man auf die Entwicklung neuer Arten wartet, ist auf die Dauer zu wenig spektakulär. Es gibt spannendere Beschäftigungen, etwa die Geranienzucht.