I Was an Atomic Mutant! review (PC)

The in-game graphics are serviceable but not nearly as striking as the art direction in the menus, loading screens, and introductory cutscenes. The creatures themselves are detailed (the robotic Invader from Dimension-X looks especially good), but the environments are generally bland. There are a few neat details, however, such as the way your massive footfalls cause nearby pedestrians to bounce a few feet in the air.

I Was an Atomic Mutant has the structure of a classic arcade game. You pick one of four mutants and then smash your way through an endless series of increasingly difficult levels, shooting for a high score rather than a proper ending. Each level presents a city, small town, or military base that you must completely demolish in order to progress. It sounds good in theory, but in practice, there isn't enough skill involved in actually controlling your creature or enough variety in either the things you destroy or the types of enemies you face to keep the gameplay interesting for very long. It's the type of simple, repetitive game that's great for 10 minutes before it becomes a boring routine. The game doesn't give you the kind of destructive options available in other giant monster games, though for some bizarre reason, it does include an ability that turns tanks, planes, and fleeing pedestrians into purple bunnies and yellow ducks, so it can't be dismissed outright.

It's quirky little things like this that make it hard not to enjoy I Was an Atomic Mutant, at least a little. You really have to be strong to resist its charms. Unfortunately, if you are able to look past I Was an Atomic Mutant's great presentation, you'll realize that the game itself isn't that good. Even though I Was an Atomic Mutant isn't that great a game, in a perfect world, developer Canopy Games would at least be in charge of creating the menus, soundtracks, loading screens, and cutscenes for every game.