Aww CRAP!
I just watched it again at full speed without using turbo from the very beginning, and it desynched in the first runaway dog fight ...
Seems like this game likes to randomly desynch at some places... it SUCKS!
... is there anything I can do to NOT get any desynchs?... if not, then this project if OVER ...
* UPDATE *
The current progress is up to the beginning of the Gaint Step cave. Enjoy!
Here's the link: http://halamantariel.homeip.net/speedruns/
Rom name and version: Earthbound (U).smc
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Feel free to post any comments or suggestions regarding what's done up to now and what's to follow.
As I said earlier, I wanted to leave a stronger "mark" in this run than I did in the Illusion of Gaia (no mark at all). This run will be officially mine :) You'll see my name on every fight :D
* UPDATE *
This is the first update for this new TAS I've started. This is my second one in total, right after Illusion of Gaia, which I completed the day before yesterday.
There's not a lot of work done, but a LOT of re-records for that small amount of time. The main reason is that I had to test the fighting "randomisation" of the game. I managed to manipulate it quite well so far. Here are some explanations of the tests I've made:
You can manipulate ALL the enemies that appear and where they appear. For instance, I manipulated the first enemy to be a Runaway Dog instead of a Spiteful Crow. That's why I stopped in front of the door before exiting.
Also, the path I took to go from the first Runaway Dog to the second determined what enemy I would face. It also made a Magic Butterfly appear. I was really surprised to see how much manipulation I could do simply by choosing a different path. I chose to manipulate the second enemy to be a Runaway Dog again.
I could manipulate the whole path to be without a single enemy, but I will manipulate it to be full of Runaway Dogs to make my levels go up fast, so that I beat Frank without difficulties. Also, they are really easy to manipulate, and they often don't attack at all. It'll also make my learning of the fight system easier so that I know it better later in the game.
And now, let's describe the two fights:
First Runaway Dog fight: Moved the cursor 5 times to get 2 points on offense at level up. That was the best level up I could get. It was totally impossible to get points on something else than Offense, HP or PP, so I took the best one I could.
Second Runaway Dog fight: Moved the cursor 8 times to get a SMAAAASH!! That killed the dog in a single blow.
ANYWAYS ... so the current progress is up to the end of the second fight I encoutered.
Here's the link: http://halamantariel.homeip.net/speedruns/
Rom name and version: Earthbound (U).smc
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Feel free to post any comments or suggestions regarding what's done up to now and what's to follow.
P.S.: I think that all the descriptions of all the updates are going to be quite long, kind of like this one, I think, because I'll describe all the "luck manipulations" I made in the current progress. That's if nobody complains about that, of course :) I will stop describing the manipulations if you want me to.
This is totally unrelated to the TAS, but anyways ... here's a link: http://www.terraearth.com/illusion_of_gaia/rumors.htm
This "Secret" is in fact a rumor, all explained in that link, but I'll copy/paste it here anyways. During your trip to the Incan Ruins, you'll notice a small hole near the entrance. It looks like you could use Will's Psycho Slide to enter the hole. The only problem is, you don't get that skill until Mu, and there is no way to get back.
Thanks to some people, I succeeded in proving that this is false. Myth BUSTED! Even with Psycho Slide, you can't enter the hole.
*back to the topic now*
Of course I can! I've edited the submission text to include the link to the many savestates for the movie. Sorry I didn't think of it before seeing your post.
They are called Red Jewels. Don't count on it. I won't do the 100% run for Illusion of Gaia. The only thing you get for getting all the jewels is a new dungeon which, in return, gives you nothing. I don't think it's worth all the trouble of making another 2 hours run. (that one would probably be from 2h30m to 3h)
Well, of course it is! Else, why do you think I'd bother changing the route to go take Earthquaker and then use it for nothing? :) I had no choice to do it, so I did it.
Probably not. Will stays still for a few frames before sliding, and I think that he would reach the exit about at the same time when running or when sliding because of those "still" frames.
Whenever I slide, it's because I have to get through an enemy or to slide through a hole. I don't think I used it when I didn't HAVE to. Also, when I kill an enemy with sliding, it's because if I hit it with the sword, I'd have to hit it again, and again, and again... So I decided to slide-kill it. Believe me, sliding IS faster at a lot of places.
Because I don't like the fact of entering a room, swinging the sword, start to run while charging the sword, stop to start spinning, spin, etc... I could have done it, but depending on the places, it wouldn't have been faster.
* UPDATE *
I swear, this is the very last update there'll ever be for my Illusion of Gaia Tool-Assisted Time-Attack. I have just completed the game! The movie totals 456745 frames, using approximately 6091 (because I hex-edited certain places, which didn't increase the count), and lasts 2 hours 6 minutes and 52seconds. Of course, this doesn't include the ending animation.
Here's a proof of the end:
Here's the link for the final smv and savestates:
http://halamantariel.homeip.net/speedruns/
Rom name and version: Illusion of Gaia (U) [!].smc
Feel free to post any comments about that masterpiece I've created :)
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Oh and by the way, it's not already submitted because I'll take some time to watch it all the way through and write my novel .. erm .. comments. After I'm done, I'll submit it.
Hmm .. I don't really know. But I think it just looks ugly when entering a room: "Attack, start to run, charge while running, stop, press L and R to start spinning (starting to move with spin dash is quite long too), plus the boost you get only lasts for a little while. Of course, there WOULD be a little gain in frames, but I don't really mind that at all. Plus, I don't think the gain would be really big.
So unless someone really really wants me to do that whenever I can, I won't. I think it's ugly, and I don't want my speedrun to be ugly.
That's what I call a job well done! Congratulations on this one!
Everytime I saw those red "blocks" come down on the enemies, I started to laugh! So many times have I played this game, and so many times did I get frustrated at some enemies... I've got nothing but good things to say about this run!
Huge YES vote from me!
* UPDATE *
Updates are coming really fast these days! In less than 24 hours (again), I completed dungeon #8: Ankor Wat. This dungeon doesn't have any boss either. This one is basically: run and dodge. I had to pick up a few items on the way, like the Black Diamond Glasses, which were not required for me to play, but when used, give a lot more appreciation for the viewer. I don't think you would've liked seeing a very bright white screen for a few minutes.
On other news, this Tool-Assisted Time-Attack (TATA) has now gone past the 1h30m mark. This is a totally useless statistic, but I think it's quite cool to know how much I have done so far. What's left to be done: Dao, Pyramid, Babel Tower and then the Comet fight. I think the total time for the run might be a little more than 2 hours. We'll see.
So here it is, dungeon #8: Ankor Wat completed. Enjoy! As usual, you'll find all the savestates you could wish you had for this TATA.
Here's the link: http://halamantariel.homeip.net/speedruns/
Rom name and version: Illusion of Gaia (U) [!].smc
Feel free to post any comments on suggestions.
I'd have to say the 3 player Secret of Mana. It would be the first TAS to ever be 3-players-played-by-one-person.
Oh yeah .. I totally agree! I've played that game for a long time and it would be REALLY awesome to have a perfect TAS.
I'm actually at this point right now in my run. I was wondering the same thing .. because I just tested it with Freedan and I can't hit that enemy. I'll just make the run normally, going to get Earthquaker.
Yeah ... well I didn't find any way to manipulate that damn lilly pad, so I did as I did with Sandworm: Do with what you have.
* UPDATE *
When I said the pace would go back to normal, I was right! In less than 24 hours, I completed dungeon #7: Moutain Temple. This dungeon doesn't have any boss to fight, but it is still full of enemies and quite long, when playing on the console. I figured out that when tool-assisted, this dungeon is a piece of cake! Plus, when watching at full speed, it gives quite a good impression, in my opinion.
So here it is, dungeon #7: Moutain Temple completed. Enjoy!
Here's the link: http://halamantariel.homeip.net/speedruns/
Rom name and version: Illusion of Gaia (U) [!].smc
Feel free to post any comments on suggestions regarding that last section completed (From the end of the Sandworm fight to the end of the current movie)
* UPDATE *
Finally, after a little less than two months of frustration, I beat the crap out of Sandworm.
The fight lasts around 55 seconds, which is great since I hated that damn worm more than anything else that I hate. Really, this boss completely made me lose the will to time attack. After two months, I finally decided that even though THAT fight wouldn't be perfect, I would do it anyway. I should have done that long ago.
It is done now, friends. Enjoy it, because I will NOT re-do this one. That's really the worst point in the game so far. Even worst than the raft scene.
Here's the link: http://halamantariel.homeip.net/speedruns/
Rom name and version: Illusion of Gaia (U) [!].smc
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I will now continue normal work on the speed run. Updates should come at the usual pace they appeared before that long break I took. I hope to finish that time attack soon, so that I can get frustrated after Earthbound (I'll time-attack that game too, for those who don't follow the forum too much).
Woah ... Speed isn't for the drug "Speed" ... it's for "Speed runs" ... I really didn't see that it could be interpreted THAT way..! I am shocked! :) It really was for Speed Runs
Yes, and Yes.
For the first yes, I really don't think perfecting this specific speed run to the frame is important, seeing how long it will be in the end. A few frames more to write the names doesn't matter, in my opinion.
For the second yes, I guess I really don't have a choice ... I guess I'll ask the encoder to add a caption at the bottom saying some funny things ... it would make something to do for the viewers!
That's a good idea, but I prefer leaving my "mark" in that time attack rather than giving funny names.
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I've been testing the battle system a bit, and I can't find how to get a SMAAAAAASH!! on every turn. I haven't been able to get a SMAAAAAASH!! once yet... Has anyone tested the battle system for this particular aspect?
Woah, that's a lot of comments before I even start my run!
No, you can't. PSI Teleport A allows you to change directions while teleporting. This way you can teleport while going in squares/rectangles if you like. I didn't test this yet, but I'm assuming that changing direction at evert frame would allow me to teleport inside a very small contained area. I could teleport from anywhere, I think.
Good idea. I'll take notes of all the comments and suggestions I get and will keep that notepad open when doing the time attack :)
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And now, some comments of my own.
I started the time-attack, but I only did the very beggining. I named all characters and things I had to name, and I go, for now, up to the very first enemy we encounter.
I also plan on using the Rock Candy Trick. I don't know where or when I'm going to use it, but I sure will.
By the way, I named all my things in the following order: Hala, Manta, Riel, Poo (default name .. ran out of imagination), King, Steak, Speed (PSI Speed :D)
Hey everyone!
I'd like to announce that I will do this Earthbound tool-assisted time-attack when I'll be finished with my Illusion of Gaia one. I played this game for many years as a child (this game helped me a LOT to learn English, by the way), and I think I mastered it quite well. Well enough to make a tool-assisted time-attack for it, anyways.
Culden: can you send me your wallthrough at halamantariel@hotmail.com please? I'll take the time to watch it before starting my run.
Like I said a little earlier, after the final exams are over at school, I'll have a little more motivation to finish this run. Actually, I'm already missing speed running. This is a good thing :) It means I'll continue and finish this run soon after my exams are over, which is June 11th.
About that glitch you found: I don't think I understand what you mean perfectly ... and also, 40 frames is not a huge amout of frames. I'm aiming for no-damage and that's all. I didn't plan on using glitches (since I didn't know of any), and I don't think I'm going to change these plans. Thanks for wanting to help, though. It's really appreciated.