Platypus is a side-scrolling arcade shooter for the iPhone and iPod Touch. This game is a port of the classic Mac version at its core, but the graphics and game play have been completely redone to offer you a brand new experience.
The graphics in Platypus are probably the most alluring part of the entire game. All of the different models and backgrounds were made using modeling clay. Not only does that offer up a really unique look when you?re just flying around, but instead of your enemies exploding they actually splatter. The controls also have been adjusted to take advantage of the iPhone and iPod Touch. You can play one of two ways: using the accelerometer or using the touch screen. For the accelerometer you can set where you?d like your center tilt to be based around, so you won?t have to hold it a specific way to enjoy playing it that way. Surprisingly, the accelerometer controls are a lot easier to handle than the touch controls.
After you dig through the awesome graphics and the well designed control scheme, you?re unfortunately left with just another side scrolling arcade shooter. Platypus is no different at its core than the hundreds maybe even thousands of other shooters out there. The way the levels are set up on a giant map and the fact that you can collect neat power ups to help you destroy your enemies faster does make the game more enjoyable, but you?re still just blowing up ship after ship until you make it to the level boss.
If you like games of this genre, you?ll definitely enjoy Platypus. It?s a solid game with really amazing graphics, but it?s the same game we?ve been playing for years. If you enjoy side scrolling arcade shooters, buy Platypus, no questions asked. For those of you not hooked on this genre already, you can probably pass as this style of game gets boring very quickly.