Platypus II

Platypus II is a wonderful side-scrolling arcade shooter that stands out a lot due to its great claymation graphics. The game features a unique look that should appeal to grownups as it does to kids. Or, they can all play because it offers multiplayer co-op for three people.

In Platypus II you have to defend the people of Mungola from the invading Collosatropolians. Your mission is to fly the awesome Platypus fighter and defeat the incoming enemy army.

It’s a horizontal scrolling shooter in which you fly from the left to the right and shoot down as many enemies as you can without taking damage. One hit will cause your ship to explore but there are several lives available, and you do get the Continue feature as well.

Enemies come at you in waves, and as you advance into the clay world, new types of them appear. In terms of difficulty, the game is well-balanced as it offers a relaxing blend between casual and challenging.

The fact that Platypus II is a claymation game should be impressive enough, but there is more to it in the details. For example, you can see a little pilot parachuting out of an enemy ship just as it is about to be destroyed, debris make splash sounds when they fall into the water, and the ship designs themselves are great.

A lot of creativity went into crafting Platypus II, and it’s wonderful to see. You even get balloon delivered powerups for your ship, and bonus points come from collecting clay grapes and bananas.

Too bad it’s such an old title. The best way to play Platypus II is on a low-resolution monitor or in window mode. It’s an old game and on a modern monitor, it looks kind of bad, but the gameplay is solid and definitely entertaining.