PAPILIO is a classic arcade style 2D shoot 'em up that takes you into a magical world being threatened by a mysterious entity with godlike powers. Take to the skies as a Naajira, a mystic warden with the power of magic-augmented flight and impressively devastating spells at your disposal, and engage in combat with fearsome creatures and mighty bosses as you pursue an opponent who seeks to unearth long-forgotten ancient magics and weapons for her own dark purposes.

IMPORTANT NOTE! This is an early alpha release of the game, and will feature additional levels and game modes in future updates. So if you want to help support and test this game, feel free to purchase and download now so you can have access to later versions for free! Alternatively, if you want to try the game out for a spin before deciding on a purchase, please download the free demo below.

UPDATES (02-02-2015):

New level, new challenges! After pursuing the mysterious relic thief through a stormy canyon and braving a monster-filled forest, you are led to an underground crystal mine filled with untold riches and immense danger. Why would the thief take the sacred relic to such a foreboding place? What dark secrets lie within the bowels of the mines, waiting to be unearthed...?
New game modes! Experience new ways to enjoy the game with three new modes: Rank Off Mode, which disables the dynamic difficulty and lets you play at a more relaxed pace; Training Mode which allows you to practice individual levels, hone your skills and uncover secrets; and finally Asuratva Mode, which jacks up the dynamic difficulty to the ceiling from start to finish and pits you against the toughest challenges!
Improved screen resolution! The playing field has been substantially enlarged, allowing you a better view of the action!

FEATURES:

Gamepad and joystick support for fans of classic arcade and console games! Simply plug one in, run the game and begin the mayhem! (NOTE: you must plug in the peripheral before running the game)
Single player and 2 player coop modes! Fly the unfriendly skies alone, or bring a friend with you to help do battle against the forces of chaos
Choose your arsenal from three different weapon satellites, each with its own set of unique magical attacks and powerful screen clearing bombs, and find out for yourself which combination fits your playstyle!
Fly through vibrant levels filled with dangerous enemies, and challenge powerful and crafty bosses as you uncover a dark plot to unleash forbidden ancient weapons against your land!
Multiple game modes! Hone your skills in Survival Mode and see how long you can last against endless hordes of increasingly tougher enemies, turn off the dynamic difficulty and enjoy a more relaxed game with Rank Off Mode, practice individual stages and sharpen your techniques in Training Mode, or take the game to the extreme and challenge yourself with the relentlessness of Asuratva Mode...the choice is yours! (not available in the free demo!)
Hidden bonuses are scattered about the levels! Try and discover them for massive rewards--if you dare. Because you might end up taking on a bigger challenge that you ever dreamed of... (some hidden content not available in the free demo!)

DEFAULT CONTROLS (can be changed by going to the Settings menu):

Keyboard Player 1

Z: Shoot Left (also Left Mouse Button in 1P Mode)

X: Shoot Right (also Right Mouse Button in 1P Mode)

C: Use Astra/Bomb (also Middle Mouse Button in 1P Mode)

Enter: Pause

Up Arrow: Move Up

Down Arrow: Move Down

Left Arrow: Move Left

Right Arrow: Move Right

Keyboard Player 2

Q: Shoot Left

W: Shoot Right

E: Use Astra/Bomb

Enter: Pause

I: Move Up

K: Move Down

J: Move Left

L: Move Right

Mouse (either player)

Left Button: Shoot Left

Right Button: Shoot Right

C: Use Astra/Bomb

Enter: Pause

Mouse Movement: Move Character (character follows cursor)

Joystick (either player)

Button 7: Shoot Left

Button 8: Shoot Right

Button 1: Use Astra (Bomb)

Button 10: Pause

Stick: Move character

IMPORTANT: Gamepads and joysticks must be connected before starting the game. Otherwise, the game will refuse to detect them while it is running.

ESC will exit the game automatically and close the application.

NOTE: Under normal circumstances, Players 1 and 2 cannot both use Keyboard control at the same time. If one player is on Keyboard, the other will automatically be assigned to Mouse (default: P1 is Keyboard, P2 is Mouse). Also, both Keyboard and Gamepad controls may be reconfigured through the Settings menu.

Please feel free to send feedback via PM or email at coololdguygames <at> gmail <dot> com, or you can follow my personal IndieDB site where I regularly post blog entries and project updates. If you have any comments, criticisms and/or suggestions, I'd love to hear from you!

Papilio screenshots