Echo of You

Echoes of You is a unique game where every move you make echoes into the future. Each failed attempt creates a ghost of your past actions that lives on challenging you to outsmart your former self.

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Inspiration

The idea was sparked by the concept of time loops and AI memory replay. We wanted to build a game where your past actions aren't just forgotten—they become your next challenge. Inspired by titles like The Talos Principle, Braid, and Celeste's assist mode, we set out to create a game that reuses your own decisions as intelligent obstacles. In a world where AI is often used to predict, we flipped the idea—what if it was used to repeat your past to teach you how to outsmart yourself?

What it does

Echoes of You is a puzzle-action game where:

  • Each failed attempt becomes a ghost that mimics your past actions.
  • You must activate switches and reach a goal before time runs out.
  • Every round becomes harder with faster timers and smarter play.
  • Past ghosts reappear, forcing players to rethink their paths. It’s a race against yourself—your biggest enemy is your memory.

How we built it

Language & Framework: JavaScript with p5.js

  • User Interface: Fullscreen canvas UI using p5’s rendering engine (no HTML/CSS)
  • Game Logic: Custom-built level renderer, switch activation system, and ghost path recorder/replayer
  • Player Input: WASD + arrow key support, dynamic difficulty adjustment
  • Extra Polish: Instructional help panel, Fullscreen toggle, randomized levels, and restart functionality All of this was built from scratch and polished in under 2 hours during the hackathon sprint!

Challenges we ran into

  • Synchronizing the ghost logic: Making the ghosts replay actions accurately while ensuring no desync with player actions.
  • Level randomization: Balancing challenge and solvability on-the-fly.
  • Input conflict: Supporting both WASD and arrow keys with seamless transitions.
  • UI integration without HTML/CSS: Making collapsible panels and in-game buttons with only canvas drawing functions.
  • Game state bugs: Ensuring levels only advanced on win, not failure, and preventing ghost duplication.

Accomplishments that we're proud of

  • Functional clone system: Seeing the ghost move perfectly as a memory of the player is a magical moment.
  • Full gameplay loop: Title screen → Instructions → Rounds → Ghosts → Win/Lose → Restart.
  • Playable and fun in just 2 hours: The game is not only technically complete—it’s fun and unique.
  • Visual polish: Even without CSS or images, the design feels cohesive and modern.

What we learned

  • How to simulate time-based clones using array memory replay
  • Managing game states and player input in a single canvas loop
  • Balancing game difficulty and visual clarity with limited time
  • Designing levels that are solvable yet increasingly challenging
  • The power of constraint: not using HTML/CSS forced us to get creative with canvas UI/UX

What's next for Echo of You

  • AI ghost prediction (not just replay)
  • Sound design and background music
  • Custom level editor and saving/loading levels
  • Ghost types (mirror ghost, reverse ghost, multi-clone)
  • Global leaderboard based on speed and clone count
  • Gamepad support and mobile-friendly touch controls
  • Visual upgrades with particle effects and transitions

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