Platypus Review

If you look up Platypus on the Internet it comes up with this term: A semiaquatic egg-laying mammal of Australia and Tasmania, having a broad flat tail, webbed feet, and a snout resembling a duck's bill. Also called duckbill, duck-billed platypus. But in this whole game, there isn't a single platypus! There's spaceships, playdoh, shiny stars and near as makes no difference a hundred levels. But no Platypus.

When I read about this game I wasn't sure whether to think it was good or terrible. The screens looked great but otherwise it seemed like a shallow shoot-em-up. Thank goodness I was wrong.

Platypus excels in nearly every category. Starting of with the visuals, I must say that Retro64 have gone for a very wierd but innovative styling that could rank up at the top of types of graphics like Cel-shading. The playdoh look is very effective and in a strange way also helps personify the locals in-game.

The music, although good, isn't quite as brilliant as the visuals. Platypus basically survives by sticking to the rules of Sci-fi games. The game had a synthesis, pop styled soundtrack that is bearable but unimpressive.

The gameplay of Platypus is typical side-scrolling shooting along with all the goodies. Thsi may sound like a bad point but thanks to the visuals, it does give the normally typical shoot-em-up a new lease of life. The controls are easy to use but I did have a few problems with avoiding enemies due to an over sensitive mouse setup.