Platypus

Old-school shooter from 2002 with unique claymation look. Very simple models but always interesting to observe. Limited variety of small enemies. Gamepad support is iffy depending on your controller, but weirdly, this was originally made to be controlled with a mouse, and it controls much better that way. I was stuck on level 3 with gamepad but ploughed through with the mouse. I could also pick up the fruits (why fruits?) sometimes popping up from enemy ships more easily and even found it fun instead of frustrating. Great energetic electronic music that sometimes reminded me of the old indie demoscene (think Future Crew). The game is challenging, even at easy, but not bullet hell which was refreshing. One hit by a projectile or vehicle kills you, but you have lives and credits (continues), and can proceed from where you are until game over. Limited continues but thankfully once you beat a level, you can always start from the next one. Be aware that a more expensive remake exists called Platypus Reclayed and that it even includes the original, this game.

Platypus, developed by Anthony Flack and published on Steam by Claymatic Games, is a rare example of a shoot ’em up whose identity is inseparable from its art direction. Everything in the game—player ships, enemies, backgrounds, and even explosions—was painstakingly sculpted from real clay and animated through stop-motion techniques, resulting in a visual style that feels handcrafted, charming, and unmistakably personal. Instead of polished digital assets, Platypus embraces fingerprints, uneven textures, and organic shapes, giving the world a playful physicality that few other shooters can replicate. This aesthetic does more than catch the eye—it reshapes the emotional tone of the genre, replacing the usual grim or hyper-metallic sci-fi setting with something wonderfully whimsical, as though a childhood model kit somehow sprang to life and took to the skies. Beneath that distinctive exterior lies a traditional horizontal arcade shooter built around reflex-driven gameplay, screen awareness, and constantly shifting enemy patterns. Players guide a small fighter craft through scrolling levels filled with formations of hostile ships, meteor clusters, and environmental hazards, all whil…

Used to love these games in the day couldnt get mine to work lol

should have had added a save option between levels :(

Beautiful but boring euroshmup. It's not dramatically bad, but there are so many better shoot'em ups out there that I would not waste my time on it.

one of the first and greatest games i have ever played. after nearly 20 years i finally beat it