Papillon, a solid-state space fantasy title from the Italian manufacturer Videodens, serves as a quintessential example of the late-era alphanumeric aesthetic. While many machines of this period leaned into aggressive, high-speed layouts, Papillon carves out its own niche in the outer space genre by prioritizing tactical target management over pure, chaotic flow. It is a machine that demands precision, tasking the player with clearing dense fields of targets to navigate the cosmos.
The playfield is defined by its substantial bank of drop targets—featuring two four-bank arrays and a central five-bank cluster—that act as the primary obstacles and score multipliers. These targets create a satisfying, rhythmic “clack” as you peel them away, eventually opening up the kicker lane to advance your mission. With two pop bumpers acting as the sole chaotic elements on the playfield, the game relies heavily on the player’s ability to control the ball through the dual inlane architecture, which provides a bit more stability for those looking to line up shots at the drop targets rather than relying on luck.
For the tournament-minded player, Papillon is a game of attrition. Because the scoring is heavily concentrated in the drop target banks, the most effective strategy is to resist the urge to hammer the center of the playfield blindly. Instead, focus on methodically clearing the side banks first to open up the lanes. Mastering the geometry of the return feeds from the dual inlanes is critical; once you find the rhythm of the bounce, you can chain shots across the banks, transforming this space-themed relic into a steady, high-scoring machine that rewards patience and disciplined aim.