Frozen Braid by rfgpfeiffer

[raw]
made by rfgpfeiffer for LD27 (COMPO)
In this intense tactics platformer, the entire battle lasts 10 seconds, but the careful planning may take much longer.

This is as game for Two players with local hot-seat multiplayer. You will need a keyboard and a mouse (touchpad not recommended).

You can control your units to try out tactics and rewind the time to revise your approach. You can also give commands to enemy units during the planing phase in order to find out how well your tactics work against different enemy tactics. When you and your opponent have submitted a battle plan, the plans executed against each other!

You can re-watch replays of previous battles.

To run the game, you need Python 2.7 and PyGame. Extract the .zip and run python main.py.

Instructions for the play-by-mail mode can be found at http://www.ludumdare.com/compo/2013/08/30/play-frozen-braid-by-e-mail-or-chat-or-dropbox/

As usual, Windows and Mac versions will be uploaded early next week. Update: Windows version is up.

Ratings

Coolness 92% 2
Overall 3.20 409
Audio 2.54 563
Fun 3.10 404
Graphics 2.55 769
Humor 2.41 458
Innovation 3.32 310
Mood 2.63 630
Theme 3.32 406

Feedback

keyboardmonkey
25. Aug 2013 路 20:40 UTC
It took all of 3 minutes to learn how to play, and golly is this fun! I enjoy the auto replay saving.
Zephyr89
26. Aug 2013 路 07:51 UTC
Still no mac port. :(
馃帳 rfgpfeiffer
26. Aug 2013 路 08:07 UTC
Zephyr89: I only have GNU/Linux devices available right now. I will borrow a macbook from a friend and build an .app bundle in the next 2 days
馃帳 rfgpfeiffer
26. Aug 2013 路 08:44 UTC
There was a bug that occurred on windows when saving replays. If the game crashes after the victory screen, disable replays or download a new version.
Sheep
26. Aug 2013 路 13:55 UTC
Really like the concept. I did something similair but I like your strategy style and how you can rewind. Really cool.
Frozen Fractal
26. Aug 2013 路 13:58 UTC
Can't try this today for lack of other humans in the vicinity, but it sure looks cute!
Loerden
26. Aug 2013 路 14:19 UTC
Works and plays fine! :)
TheJackiMonster
26. Aug 2013 路 14:50 UTC
Very complex game.. impressive! :)
keyboardmonkey
26. Aug 2013 路 16:55 UTC
This is the kind of game I would have spent hours playing with friends as a kid!

It is pretty solid all around, my only niggle is the controls are a bit cumbersome: moving while shooting is a little tricky, keypad or arrows would be nice natural choice.

Conclusion: Well done! :D
馃帳 rfgpfeiffer
26. Aug 2013 路 17:23 UTC
keyboardmonkey: Do you shoot with the mouse?
Tork
26. Aug 2013 路 23:24 UTC
Wish I had someone else to play besides myself
wally2069
27. Aug 2013 路 15:20 UTC
I like how the title screen says to blame the loss on the randomly generated map =)
Alexander Ponomariov
27. Aug 2013 路 16:15 UTC
It is not mach multiplayer game here! You are cool!!
yetatore
27. Aug 2013 路 21:24 UTC
My mind is flying to the Worms Armageddon game... I dont know why.
Interesting implementation of theme! 10 seconds can be much time (learning of Ludum Dare)!
The jump audio is too "punchy" and can be annoying. The graphics are **thumbs up**, this minimalist art is really nice!

Good job! And happy Ludum Dare.
Tork
27. Aug 2013 路 22:16 UTC
Updated my entry, now accepting linux, tell me if it works properly :)
BlackBulletIV
28. Aug 2013 路 05:18 UTC
Your concept is excellent and the abundance of control of your soldier's actions is great (something my game didn't have). In practice however it feels somewhat bulky and convoluted (I guess the floaty controls don't help with that). Having two teams both subject to the dynamic system is really cool, but ends up being a bit messy I feel.

But nevertheless, well done on getting such a system complete within 48 hours.
Tainted_Code
28. Aug 2013 路 12:48 UTC
I enjoyed it, it was really fun! Good job man!
pereubu
28. Aug 2013 路 13:47 UTC
hehehe, nice idea :3
I still think it should be a bit more nervous to be more enjoyable but still, I like it
keyboardmonkey
28. Aug 2013 路 19:03 UTC
rfgpfeiffer, specifically I meant shooting with the x key while trying to move - I am a keyboard monkey after all ;P This game has nice potential to play against others via an online host. Can you imagine submitting a game and having multiple challengers retaliate? :D
doonay21
28. Aug 2013 路 19:15 UTC
Nice concept! I like your entry, good job :)
bytegrove
28. Aug 2013 路 23:47 UTC
I like the idea of a more realtimey frozen synapse-like game. And the time travel feature is really well done! Maybe consider having the timer automatically rewind to start when selecting another unused unit? Really cool idea and implementation!
Solifuge
29. Aug 2013 路 02:29 UTC
A fun, well-executed Frozen Synapse demake. This could be really fun to play with other people, especially if it went multiple rounds. Thanks for putting this together!
Tanser
29. Aug 2013 路 12:46 UTC
Nice game.
skywing
29. Aug 2013 路 21:58 UTC
Very slick, nice game overall really. Frozen synapse is great and this is cool too.
BadgerPriest
30. Aug 2013 路 02:54 UTC
Brilliantly done and a ton of fun.
ratalaika
30. Aug 2013 路 18:38 UTC
good job
Arcana
31. Aug 2013 路 18:28 UTC
This game had a lot of promise, but I felt like the controls were constantly in my way and it frustrated me. I think having a timeline on the bottom (or even "go back to start") buttons so you could click to rewind/forward and then using "click to select" your man would have both helped significantly for control. In the end it took me way too much time to assign commands for me to fully appreciate it.

I think the basic idea here is brilliant though, a side-scrolling Frozen Synapse, and I think a lot got done here in a short amount of time, especially the different weapons and the whole traveling backwards and forwards in time mechanic.
zlowrance
03. Sep 2013 路 17:05 UTC
Cool style, good job!
manuq
03. Sep 2013 路 20:06 UTC
This game mechanic has potential!