I'm back playing Mutant Mudds again and have unlocked Grannie on all three versions(2000 Diamonds/40 Water Spirits):
There are some subtle differences between the games:
The PC version has blurry back- and foregrounds, like New Super Mario Bros 2(when you're playing with 3D on), maybe to make it easier to focus on the plane you're at without the 3D effect. It kinda works, but it's also distracting and detracts from the clean pixel art and as such is not good 3D replacement. It's also easier than the 3DS game due to the time limit being removed. Depending on how difficult you like your games, this can be seen as both a good and a bad thing. Personally, I like it since the original release was stressful enough without additional pressure and the only place it actually affects level design adversely are in places where the limit was the only obstacle:
Without any way to take damage in a place like this after you clean up the enemies, it's just a matter of time and patience before you get through. Like with Fez that doesn't mean the section is pointless. It's actually still rather enjoyable.
PC version also has leaderboards but no achivements for those that care about that.
On iOS the difficulty is reduced even further due to four things mainly:
1) You can see more of the stage than on 3DS/PC and that makes most sections easier, though some can be slightly more confusing owing to the three stage canvas the game operates with. A few places even seem more fair with this change. Here on the PC version you can just about make out the spike below you, so you know not to jump directly down in that spot:
What you can't see is that there is another spike next to that one:
Compare that to what you see in the same place on the iPad version:
Much easier to see what you're heading towards.
2) Checkpoints: There's a checkpoint sign on every stage where you can continue from, as long as you don't exit the stage and go to level select. This gives you full health regardless of how much you had, when you touched it. They aren't spaced out evenly on every stage, maybe because the original design didn't accomodate them and they had to be shoehorned in.
3) Slightly fewer enemies: Now and again enemies have been removed from their original position. In the 3DS/PC version there's two enemies to the right of Grannie here:
On iPad there's only one, even if the wider view makes it seem like there's more:
4) No time limit.
Like on PC I miss the 3D effect - which isn't replaced with blurriness here - but other than that, the changes make for a more approachable and in my opinion better balanced game. Frustratingly, in some ways this is the best of the three, frustratingly, because you are still relegated to playing with the touchscreen. You can move the buttons around to fit your needs, but as far as I can see, there's no iCade option. How something like this can still be released without it is just sad for iOS gaming. It would take so little to make everything work as it should, if only we could have some unified standard.
As it is the touchscreen controls are a hard sell and I'd recommend avoiding the game if it isn't patched with an iCade option. I'd take the 3DS game over the PC one if only to replace the blurry backgrounds with the 3D effect and to have no controller hassle. On a personal subjective level I love all three versions and I'd put Mutant Mudds up there with games like Mega Man.
Wishes for a sequel: It would be nice if the level design could somehow accomodate the player keeping upgrades, so you don't have to replace one with another all the time. Grannie style is just too much fun and the level breaking potential makes it even better. Also having the ability to activate the rocket after you let go of hover, giving you the ability to glide, go down and glide a little again, would open everything up in terms of level design.
Aside from that some more touchy-feely stuff(for lack of better words) would be appreciated: A better sense of place - larger scheme of things - and more character and not necessarily with cutscenes. Perhaps recurring enemies with new layers, a map world instead of just doors, small animations on creatures recognizing the player. Those kind of things.
Looking forward to playing the Grannie levels side by side when the Wii U version comes out