RadioBattles by PanDuplan

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

📡 RADIO BATTLES

Become the operator of a frontline military communications post!
Send the right signals, call in support, and destroy the enemy antenna before they jam yours! 💥

now.gif


🎮 Controls

  • Q — Select reinforcement signal
  • E — Select air support signal
  • [SPACE] — SEND SIGNAL!

📜 Rules of Engagement

  • Two operators. One battlefield. You take turns sending radio signals to command. pick-gif.gif
  • Each turn, choose your transmission:
    • 📻 Request reinforcements
    • 📡 Call air support
  • Once BOTH operators finish transmitting, all units attack automatically.
  • No troops? No defenses? Your antenna takes direct damage.
  • Victory condition: Destroy the enemy antenna before they destroy yours.

📻 Signal System (Slots)

You transmit coded signals to HQ.

  • 🎯 2 matching signals → stronger effect
    • New unit → deployed at Level 2
    • Existing unit → promoted
  • 🚀 3 matching signalsMAX PRIORITY RESPONSE
    • Level 3 unit or devastating air support + EXTRA SIGNAL ROLL!

Higher level = more HP and more damage.


🪖 Units

  • 🛡️ Tank
    tank.jpg Many HP, low damage. Your frontline wall.

  • 🎯 Anti-Tank
    anti.png Medium HP and damage. Balanced and reliable.

  • 💥 Gunner
    gunner.jpg High damage, low HP. Hits hard, dies fast.


✈️ Abilities

  • 🔍 Recon
    yeaa.gif Buff your units DMG, debuff enemy units DMG.

  • 💣 Bombing Run
    plsss.gif Damages units and antenna.
    Pierces barricades.

  • 🧱 Barricade
    barric.png

    Shields from incoming unit fire.

Ratings

Overall 685th 3.158⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Fun 567th 3.184⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Innovation 561th 3.158⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Theme 657th 3.197⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Humor 505th 2.544⭐ 36🧑‍⚖️
Mood 722th 3⭐ 40🧑‍⚖️
Given 52🗳️ 63🗨️

Feedback

demian4ik
Apr 21st · 14:11 UTC
The roulette idea itself is really cool. The ranking/upgrade system (stars) for duplicate fighters is also interesting. I’d like to see more unit types.

If the game were expanded — for example, by adding a campaign or missions, sound, and more units — it would look much better overall.
luckix
Apr 21st · 19:11 UTC
Very cool game. With more units, upgrades and a campaign you have a nice idea!
MarWay
Apr 21st · 19:54 UTC
Nice idea, really!
Jordan The Human
Apr 24th · 19:08 UTC
Nice game ! I would like to see more features to play it more !
LDJam user 425464
Apr 25th · 13:12 UTC
nice idea! I felt like there wasnt too much player agency here but it could easily be added on top of the addicting gambling gameplay.
Gurtek
Apr 25th · 13:23 UTC
Nice game. The basic concept is super interesting.

I feel like it lacks a bit of a sense of damage, as it's not applied at the moment of impact.

With more units, support, and a system to slightly influence the RNG, it could be really fun :)
exofrenon
Apr 25th · 13:33 UTC
A really nice idea for a game, the roulette mechanic was a cool addition that gave some extra flavor to the gameplay. The graphics were sharp, and overall it looks quite polished. Good job overall.

Now for some constructive criticism on what could have been done better.

Overall, I see a lot of work was put into this, but I think that development priorities were not set straight. Some aspects of the game were very well done and others were undercooked, leading to an unbalanced experience, which I understand can happen often in such short hackathons but I think is the secret in having successful entries.

For example, even though the visuals are 10/10, the game has no sounds or music. You would expect a game that looks this good to have some audio, because it really is a low hanging fruit to add. I even started checking if something was wrong with my setup. So, less time should had been spent on the visuals and more on the audio.

Same thing with the amount of content, I wish there were more signal types to have more options at each, and more troops, even if it came at the cost of having worse visuals.

One final thing, It would have been nice if there was a better explanation of the rules of the game. I know it is a lot to add in-game tutorials, but even something simple as explaining them in more detail right here in the LD page would be enough. You can even do it right now.

I spent a lot of time reviewing this because I think the game (and the team) has a lot of potential. Great effort overall, congrats!
🎤 PanDuplan
Apr 25th · 13:50 UTC
@exofrenon Thank you very much for the detailed review. All makes sence. Our first jam and my first project with someone else who is not me :) Yea spent too much time on visuals and battle logic and then deadline SUDDENLY hit us with no sound added

Added rules and explanations here and on Itch.
MicleFirst
Apr 25th · 14:09 UTC
A very simple but wonderful game!
The mechanic is very clear, and I managed to win on my second try. For a jam project, this is great work!![chrome_kGCFcslmmA.png](///raw/5cc/76/z/72b0b.png)
Gecko64
Apr 25th · 14:13 UTC
Enjoyed the game, Id like to see maybe a in game tutorial that explains it a little more. Other than that good job :)
Deraxus
Apr 25th · 14:19 UTC
Good game with cool idea, but a bit difficult to understand what's happening on the screen)
LDJam user 260720
Apr 25th · 17:03 UTC
The roulette is a fun idea! you could really expand this game by adding ways to control the randomness!
good job!
🎤 PanDuplan
Apr 25th · 17:20 UTC
@miclefirst nice one! Congrats on completeing the game and thank you for playing
Asieke
Apr 26th · 04:05 UTC
An auto-battler where you gamble for units seems like a concept with decent potential. Also, the game low-key has the vibe of those flash games we used to play during computer lab in middle school.
VenomousMouse
Apr 26th · 11:21 UTC
Good game. Got solid mechanics. A bit of sound would be perfect and more content will expand possibilities of tactics.
Lenny Rudeberg
Apr 26th · 12:34 UTC
Good simple fun game, randomly rolling for the different units and buffs is very interesting idea. Love the artwork and animations. GG!
Psevdonim
Apr 26th · 13:11 UTC
It's cool, a bit addictive, I played it twice. It was a bit lacking in background music and gameplay variety, but overall it's pretty good for a game jam. And I can't help but notice that the grenade is definitely OP, especially when you get three of them in the slots xD
sledzik
Apr 26th · 13:33 UTC
Nice game, good artstyle, it would be cool if it had more sfx and some music, great job
🎤 PanDuplan
Apr 26th · 15:05 UTC
@psevdonim yea, grenade is bit OP, we were thinking of nerfing it but in this case game took bit long to complete so we didn't come up with good solution in time. Thank you for the review!
Rentem
Apr 26th · 15:46 UTC
Neat game. I like the artstyle. For me a tad to much randomness, wich I can not influece
Fractal
Apr 26th · 16:41 UTC
Cool and original idea! It was a bit hard to understand at first, but then it was quite fun to play. Although one small issue is that it seems to say Game over even when I win? Or did I misunderstand something?
1de
Apr 26th · 18:34 UTC
Combination of slots and autobattler is really fun!
🎤 PanDuplan
Apr 26th · 18:55 UTC
@fractal yea we bit of forgot to add special screen for victory. You surely won, well done :v:
Scottyartt
Apr 26th · 19:07 UTC
nice! art is fine, love it. Would be great to add some music on a background
CaptAndrey
Apr 26th · 21:55 UTC
It was fun! Got the "game over" screen after victory (I guess)
nnovak
Apr 27th · 05:02 UTC
I enjoyed playing the game, but there wasn't a a lot of feedback overall how I was doing when I went between cycles of few / many units and my board state
alexey_bobrovskiy
Apr 27th · 07:40 UTC
Great game, I liked that even despite the seemingly random gameplay, there is still room for choice
Wizard
Apr 27th · 08:42 UTC
A cool, easy to pick up game with a fun roulette mechanic as a "deck-builder". I can see how this game could be expanded upon quite easily. Really well done.
YadEnergy
Apr 28th · 11:54 UTC
Great game!
As for me it has some nostalgic vibes from old flash games in browser that I use to play as a kid
Maybe such niche art-style
GARYglhf
Apr 28th · 13:19 UTC
Здорово. Механика простая и понятная. Все супер, немного не хватает фоновой музыки)
Madbarron
May 05th · 04:15 UTC
The art is really fun, it reminds me of Advance Wars. To be honest I was confused while playing it, I couldn't keep track of whose turn it was, possibly because we kept rolling 3 of a kind? It was fun though!
Golda
May 05th · 21:26 UTC
The topic comes across really well, and the roulette mechanic is a blast! It's super fun and satisfying to mess around with