v2 · updated 2026-06-09

Crack highly encrypted network firewalls in Wave Hack, a contemplative, signal-synthesis deduction puzzle for PICO-8. Reframing additive Fourier synthesis as a tactical cryptanalysis tool, your objective is to reconstruct a target composite waveform out of integer harmonic components. Cycle through independent sub-channels using organ drawbar logic, adjusting amplitudes and phase positions until they lock in. This is a game of quiet deduction, where difficulty comes from pure logical reasoning and signal decomposition, never from reflexes or a timer. Think forever, align your spectrum, and commit your probe to bypass the security core.

🕹️ Controls

Input Device	Action Performed
D-Pad Up / Down	Adjust the Amplitude of your active harmonic channel (or LPF cutoff in Sector 3).
D-Pad Left / Right	Adjust the Phase (horizontal shift) of your active harmonic channel (or LPF cutoff in Sector 3).
X (X key)	Cycle between your active harmonic channels (Channels 1–3, and the low-pass filter LPF cutoff in Sector 3).
O (Z key)	Commit your current candidate wave (locks in correctly aligned harmonics, returns a diagnostic scan, and burns one probe attempt).

📡 Hacking Protocols & Feedback

• The Commit Protocol: Your candidate wave is synthesized and adjusted in real time on the oscilloscope. However, whether your harmonic alignment is correct only resolves when you execute a Probe Commit. Probes are information: every commit doubles as a diagnostic scan of the signal you submitted. You have a limited budget of probe attempts per firewall, and deeper sectors run tighter budgets — spend probes deliberately.
• The Spectrum Analyzer: The bar graph at the top of the screen displays the frequency spectrum. Purple target outline boxes represent the required amplitude for each harmonic component. Filled blue bars represent your candidate signal’s current amplitudes. Match the height of your blue bars to the purple boxes to match target amplitudes!
• Tutorial Log Diagnostics: Core concepts (Phase calibration, Amplitude scaling, Fourier component cycling, and Low-Pass Filtering) are introduced via dismissable boot-up diagnostic prompts at the beginning of their respective levels.
• Tuner Lights (Sector 1 Training): While you train in Sector 1, the HUD at the bottom of the screen features real-time diagnostic indicators: when the amplitude of your active channel is correct, A:xx turns gold, and when the phase is correct, P:xx turns gold. From Sector 2 onward the live tuner is offline — alignment only resolves through committed probes.
• Probe Scan Reports (Sector 2+): Each failed probe stamps two verdict ticks onto the base of every unlocked spectrum bar — left tick = amplitude, right tick = phase. Gold means that parameter was within tolerance at the moment you committed; red means it was off. The SCAN: match percentage likewise only refreshes when you commit, reporting how close your probed waveform came. Read the report, retune, and probe again.
• Lock-In Diagnostics: Executing a Commit when a channel’s amplitude and phase are aligned within safe tolerance locks it in place permanently. Locked components glow gold and render their contribution cleanly.
• Low-Pass Filtering (Sector 3): In Sector 3, firewalls are masked by high-frequency white noise. Cycle to the filter channel (FLT) on the far right and use the D-pad to adjust the cutoff threshold. Setting the cutoff low filters out the static, but setting it too low will damp the signal. Balance noise suppression to deduce and calibrate target parameters!
• Progress Persistence & Calibration Reset: The game automatically saves your progress (unlocked stages) to cart data. To replay the tutorials or reset all unlocked stages, access the PICO-8 pause menu (typically Enter or P key) and select “reset progress”.

📜 Changelog

v2 — 2026-06-09

• refactor: restrict live tuner to sector 1 and implement per-probe diagnostic scan reports for advanced sectors

v1 — 2026-06-09

• feat: implement wave synthesis puzzle mechanics and level progression logic