LudumData

Echo Ops #LD59 by nicardo

[raw]
made by nicardo for Ludum Dare 59 (JAM)

EchoOps — Stealth Signal Hunt

Pilot a stealth drone through hostile zones, tracking hidden signals and dodging relentless threats.
Each run is a replayable hunt where smart scans and quick decisions keep missions fresh.

🎯 Objective

Pilot the drone, scan the map, and identify all mission objectives before time runs out.

📡 Target Types

| Type | Behavior | |-----------------|----------| | Enemy | Emit scans, detect you, and actively hunt or sabotage your drone if exposed | | Ally | Emit friendly signals and guide you toward nearby points of interest | | Intel | Emit trackable signals; often required for mission completion | | Hazards | Emit signals but do not chase | | Neutral | Silent; must be discovered via direct scanning | | Broken Drones | Emit salvage signals and hint at nearby targets |

✅ Win Condition

Identify all required objective targets within the mission time.

❌ Lose Condition

  • Timer reaches zero
  • Enemy sabotages your drone
  • Collision with a hostile target

⚠️ Disclaimer

Rewards are placeholder progression. Future updates will include upgrades, deeper progression systems, and expanded gameplay.

🔗 Play the Game

https://nicardo.itch.io/echoops

📸 Screenshots

EchoOps Screenshot EchoOps Screenshot EchoOps Screenshot EchoOps Screenshot

Link https://nicardo.itch.io/echoops
Original URL https://ldjam.com/events/ludum-dare/59/echo-ops-ld59

Ratings

Overall 631th 3.267⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Fun 679th 2.933⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 456th 3.333⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Theme 194th 4.117⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Graphics 623th 3.267⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Audio 381th 3.383⭐ 32🧑‍⚖️
Humor 508th 2.54⭐ 27🧑‍⚖️
Mood 721th 3.017⭐ 31🧑‍⚖️
Given 40🗳️ 33🗨️

Feedback

Carrerino
Apr 20th · 18:50 UTC
Very cool! I loved the drone sound. The mechanics and minimap are very interesting. Thanks!
Mekuire
Apr 20th · 18:52 UTC
The game is well-made, but I didn't understand how to scan the area and collect items. There aren't enough instructions on how to play.
Ionax
Apr 20th · 18:54 UTC
Interesting idea. I would like to have more time because i never got close to finding all the targets
rezonanc
Apr 20th · 18:58 UTC
game need tutorial. and its actually very hard to find all items for this time. graphics not the best. here is no humor. 3/5
🎤 nicardo
Apr 20th · 19:30 UTC
Thanks all for trying the game. Ya this game needs Tutorial and couldn't wrap it in time
About the game:
The game objective is a single Target, it might be Enemy (who will chase you ) , Intel , Hazard.
And on map there will be other friendly Targets - Ally , BrokenDrone , Neutral . Except Neutral all Target will send signal of different radius in an interval.

1) When you move you will receive weak singal from the Target , so you get an idea a type of Target is in that direction, you can avoid one and focus on objective based on remaining time etc.
2) Once you move in the direction of the Target , scan , so you will detect the stronger singal.
3) If strong signal is detected, then the target is nearby at the center of the emission and target will reveal on scan.

Ally and BrokenDrone - will help in showing nearby Target direction. and Ally give extra time.
Neutra dont emit , some time wont spawn too, finding it is like an easter egg or mostly by luck and give 1 reward point.
@mekuire I hope this will help you understand.
@rezonanc Appreciate your feedback
Soul Grinder
Apr 21st · 19:52 UTC
Nice signal tracking game, the black & white to colour when scanning was really cool and the map was a decent size too. Good work!
WeirdBitGames
Apr 21st · 21:20 UTC
Gotta say I really dig the drone flying sound effects, you really nailed it. It sounds and feels great to fly around! I really like the signal directional system too and the music really suits the gameplay style too!
ChelDav
Apr 22nd · 05:37 UTC
Really my only dislike was that it wasn't intuitive. I liked the mellowness of the music- it allowed me to pay attention to what I was doing as I moved around the board, but it helped with immersion. I also really like the fact that sending out the signal changed that portion of the screen to different colors, as well as the seamless way the color just faded back out once the signal had ended. Definitely well made and I enjoyed myself even if I didn't fully understand what was going on, and I say that as a compliment because there are games I fully understand that I've had far less fun playing. Well done.
VerttiXPertti
Apr 22nd · 13:36 UTC
Oh no I died to an enemy. Game was chill.
PokeyDem
Apr 22nd · 14:16 UTC
Nice game! Took me some time to figure out how everything works, so a little tutorial level at the start might be useful, but besides that, I enjoyed playing it. Wanna highlight the drone controls - actually feels pretty immersive. Good work!
Revetoon
Apr 23rd · 11:39 UTC
Cool concept, with a little bit more iteration on it you've got a solid game !
I was difficult at first to understand what was going on but I managed to understand and win. I like that the allies give you signal information too
BjoernM
Apr 23rd · 11:45 UTC
Solid game, didn't realise you had to be at standstill to scan.
LDJam user 9418
Apr 23rd · 11:55 UTC
I was a bit confused at the start but after few tries I got it, good work
VenomousMouse
Apr 23rd · 15:48 UTC
Interesting game, good implementation of signals.
LDJam user 424326
Apr 24th · 07:37 UTC
The controls and visuals feel good.
But I was a bit confused by the scanning: I scan an area, get a signal that an object is nearby, then scan the same spot again and the object appears. So it seems like you have to scan the same point at least twice for the target to show up. Maybe I misunderstood something.
Z1116730
Apr 24th · 07:42 UTC
Super interesting mechanics perfectly tied to the theme. Loved the scanning loop!
🎤 nicardo
Apr 24th · 13:15 UTC
@pipetto ya need 2 scans to find the target. (i didnt get a time to convey in HUD )
you pin point signal in first scan and then find the target which is emitting the signal
Scottyartt
Apr 27th · 09:52 UTC
I played about 10 mins and didn't find anything. Am I wrong in smth? I tried to follow the signal and nothing happened, the signal just move another way
Jhonny111
Apr 29th · 09:27 UTC
Played a few rounds. Nice little game. Detection Radius could have been a little higher.
strong99
May 02nd · 11:25 UTC
Fun to play a bit. I think tutorial is nice, however not required, figured it out quickly enough, especially when I encountered an enemy that was sabotaging me. A bit surprised I met my objective with just scanning one target.
wles
May 05th · 02:53 UTC
Interesting idea, but feels a little too random. Sometimes the objective is the very first thing you get a ping for, others you fly around for the entire timer and never get a hint of it. I liked the level rendering with the grayscale and slight color fringing.
Alexandr Gerya
May 05th · 14:05 UTC
chill game until an enemy shows up then its panic mode objective spawns feel totally random sometimes i get it in 30 seconds sometimes i fly forever and find nothing
🎤 nicardo
May 05th · 15:53 UTC
@alexandr-gerya try flying diagonally in the map you will encounter at least 1 target , and mostly ally which show nearby target.
Wizard
May 08th · 23:38 UTC
A pretty cool concept here, Really like the audio/visuals feels very polished. I feel like the play area is a bit big for both how fast you move and your detection range, especially given how long you have to try and find everything, making it nearly if not outright impossible to find everything in time. But, overall a good game. Well done.