The Planetologist

Overview
The Planetologist is a pixel art, local multiplayer co-op, top-down shooter. Play as a scientist exploring the galaxy aboard your ship, battling a mysterious and deadly infection that threatens to wipe out all life in the universe.

Synopsis
As a planetologist or planetary ecologist, your mission involves traveling to various planets, studying their diverse ecosystems and documenting your discoveries. Upon reaching your current destination, you encounter what seems to be some kind of pathogen that can infect all forms of life and somehow spread to other planets light-years away.
You realize that, by scanning this planet with one of your devices, you can trace the planet that infected this one. After some calculations, you estimate that the main source of the infection should be ten planets away. The universe's only hope now is to locate and eradicate this infection at its source.
Main Features
3 different game modes (Story, Survival and Extraction)... but maybe more!

10 unlockable worlds with stunning backgrounds and immersive environments.

Level design based on each world's unique size, gravity, biome and atmosphere.

Procedurally generated world layouts, ensuring a fresh experience on each visit.

12 unlockable characters, each with unique playstyles and abilities.

Character leveling system with 17 different skills.

12 unlockable robot companions to add utility, support or raw firepower to your party.

3 unlockable ships for you to buy, upgrade and equip with special power-ups and weapons.

Local coop multiplayer up to 12 players... if you find a way to hook up that many controllers!

Steam achievements.

Based on pixel art by Penusbmic and other awesome artists.

Game Modes

Story Mode

Find the origin of the infection that's consuming civilizations and worlds. Scan infected planets to locate hives, abandoned equipment, bosses and other survivors to join your party. Buy ships and equipment to trace the infection to its very core and eradicate it from the universe.
Estimated play time: 14 hours to complete all 4 scan missions in all 10 worlds and a lot more to satisfy your greed for experience and equipment.

Survival Endless Mode

Your ship failed on you and your only alternative is to get beamed down to the closest planet and survive as long as possible while battling infected critters... just for fun. I mean, you know you're doomed anyway, right?
Estimated play time: Depends a lot on your thirst for experience and brutal carnage.

Survival Extraction Mode

Same as Survival Endless, except someone might actually bother to rescue you. The only caveat is you need to be at the right place at the right time or else your galactic-uber might rather "take another trip".

Estimated play time: 5 hours to complete all worlds with a single character. 60 hours to complete all worlds with all characters.

Art Samples
Characters

Companions
Ships
Worlds
Enemies

Credits


Game by
James Chapp Fillmore

Guillermo Ares

Engineering by
Guillermo Ares

Art by
Penusbmic

Ansimuz

Deep-Fold

CraftPixnet

James Chapp Fillmore

Music by
Fernando Núñez Izu

Made with GameMaker