Creatures 1 and 2 try to simulate A-life in a 2D digital terrarium - a disc world inhabited only on the edges. C2 is a larger world including rudimentary seasons and weather systems and feral species called ettins and a "genetic splicer" to cross-breed species and some slightly puzzle-like aspects. The world is called ALBIA. The Creatures are depicted as small cutish fury animals called NORNS. There are gadgets, flora and fauna they interact with. A creature called a Grendal roams around Albia spreading disease and hitting Norns. To start Albia is devoid of Norns. The player selects Norn "eggs" from a "hatchery". The egg is placed in an incubator, hatches and a Norn is born. The player can teach them to survive in their environment thru a series of processes including a "computer" that provides a small vocabulary. They can then be communicated with by typing simple instructions. They go thru a life cycle of infant, child, adolescent, adult to elderly. They communicate with one another, interact in their environment, eat and sleep, procreate, and die of either disease or old age. The Norn lifespan is about 15 hours altho this varies. Ensuring offspring survive and breeding particular strains of Norns may be challenging. Albia is complex. The Norn "brain" consists of about 1000 neurons. They experience "emotions" and "feelings." They can evolve slowly over generations. This is more pronounced in C2. It can be enhanced thru apps designed to both monitor health and alter them thru "chemical" and "genetic" manipulation. Visually both games appeal - C1 having a warmer more traditional appearance and C2 being more cartoon like. A drawback is the limited environment and all objects have a sort of predetermined use. A pretty background is just that and adds nothing to the environment. When these games were released some saw them as edutainment for children. Years later they continue to provide hours of enjoyment to players of all ages. Averaged Creatures 1 and 2 Rating 66%
