Zelda 2 glitched run, 1776 frames faster than the previous run. This is as good as I can reasonably do do Zelda 2.
I found a way to get through the basement where you get spells one frame faster than the published run. Though the basements are visited twice, I only use the new technique once, because it adversely affects the overworld randomness the second time.
On the overworld to palace 2, I wait 3 frames, and I have 1 (already mentioned) known frame of improvement for a total of 4 frames lost to manipulation. I am quite confident about that number.
Inside palace 2, I wait 7 frames to manipulate the next overworld. Even so, I can't find a way to manipulate away a battle in the swamp after Palace 2.
I save 4 frames doing the caves en route to the hammer cave thanks to more precise play.
I take a hit in the third room in the hammer cave, losing 44 frames. I gain 65 frames 2 rooms later because of not having to manipulate the axe and waiting for Link's invulnerability period to wear off. It's a net gain of 21 frames.
The last improvement is walking around the rock to the north to get the warp to east Hyrule. It winds up saving something like 6 steps on the overworld because Link warps to a different spot. It saves 109 frames.
In the old run, after the Jump spell is gotten, Link walks through the jump cave to level 2, playing it without the warping glitch active, then uses up&a (game restart trick) and travels to Saria via the warping glitch. Measured from getting Jump to entering Saria, this takes 9470 frames.
In the new run, up&a is used after getting the Jump spell, then Link travels to Palace 2 via the warping glitch and walks back across the swamp to Saria. Measured from getting Jump to entering Saria, this takes 7830 frames.
1640 frames saved thanks the the better route choice.
Any other questions, hit me up in this thread.

NesVideoAgent: Hi! I am a robot. I took a few screenshots of this movie and placed them here. Oh! I also corrected the ROM name.
  • You indicated Zelda 2 - The adventure of Link (U) [b4].nes
  • I updated it to Zelda II - The Adventure of Link (U) [!].nes


Active player (422)
Joined: 9/27/2004
Posts: 650
Location: Canada
I just sat down to record a commentary, but it turns out my microphone is total ass, so I'll have to find another way. It's sort of disappointing. I guess I could try using my feild recorder and capturing the audio via line-in, but that's a pretty poor idea, quality-wise. I need some time in my thinking spot. Think... think think...
Derk wrote:
The description says he doesn't kill a monster, but doesn't he kill a monster in the very first cave? Hit once on the way in, once on the way out... gets 10 exp.
Yes, this is true. I kill the hell out of that jerk >:[
Senior Moderator
Joined: 8/4/2005
Posts: 5770
Location: Away
You can use some cheap low-impedance dynamic headphones connected to the mic input. Not awesome, but enough for voice recording.
Warp wrote:
Edit: I think I understand now: It's my avatar, isn't it? It makes me look angry.
Joined: 5/2/2006
Posts: 1020
Location: Boulder, CO
It shouldnt cost too much if you end up buying a new mic. I know that the bestbuy near where I live sells a decent one for 15$, so I bet you could find something in that price range.
Has never colored a dinosaur.
Former player
Joined: 10/6/2007
Posts: 330
Location: B.C Canada
That was pretty messed up. By that I mean, that was really bizarre and wacky. I really liked it even though I had no idea what the heck happened. I always found the ending of that game to be kinda nasty. I was never able to beat this game, but it's fun to watch. I watch the non glitch version a lot.
Dwedit
He/Him
Joined: 3/24/2006
Posts: 692
Location: Chicago
If you use headphones as a microphone, you usually also need to very very heavily increase the volume, then use Goldwave on it to remove the 60Hz hum.
Active player (422)
Joined: 9/27/2004
Posts: 650
Location: Canada
Problem solved. I found a female quarter inch to male eighth inch adaptor in a box in the basement. So I could use my other mic. The adaptor probably screwed with the quality a bit, but it's not too bad. Anyway, here's to basement boxes. Also here's a commentary. This is sort of a temporary home for it for now. Hopefully one of you dudes who is savy about the video aspect can stick it on the video. It starts when the published avi starts. Probably doesn't have to be too exact anyway. Yes, that's as loud as I can talk without shouting. e: nice screenshot by the way, FractalFusion :)
Joined: 5/2/2006
Posts: 1020
Location: Boulder, CO
Nice, thanks for posting.
Has never colored a dinosaur.
Player (166)
Joined: 4/27/2006
Posts: 304
Location: Eastern Canada
Commentary is cool.
Active player (422)
Joined: 9/27/2004
Posts: 650
Location: Canada
Hi bump :) I rewatched this today, and it occured to me that the movement I used after taking the first hit on the way to the hammer is probably suboptimal. Did a quick test, and what do you know, it's easy to do faster. I don't particularly feel like redoing this run, however, and I feel as if just hexing in one improved room at this point would be pretty lazy TASing on my part, so if someone wants a "free" obsoletion of a pretty tight movie, here's a starting point.
Joined: 5/9/2005
Posts: 748
About half a bloody year ago, Inzult wrote:
Also here's a commentary.
Damn. I remember thinking when this was first published that I would wait for the commentary you were making. This is the first I have seen that you had finished it. Many thanks for the bump.
Active player (422)
Joined: 9/27/2004
Posts: 650
Location: Canada
Paused wrote:
About half a bloody year ago, Inzult wrote:
Also here's a commentary.
Damn. I remember thinking when this was first published that I would wait for the commentary you were making. This is the first I have seen that you had finished it. Many thanks for the bump.
Actually, that was supposed to be deleted off my friend's space after about a month, so I was hoping someone would make a video for me so I could stick it on youtube, but none of those things happened. :)
Joined: 1/13/2007
Posts: 335
You know what woud be interesting? a NON- TASed glitch run. One that does all the crazy glitch weirdness, but is doable on a real console.
Joined: 1/13/2007
Posts: 335
Wow. i tried this out for fun, and was able to replicate the run for the most part in real time. Of ocurse I had to use a lot of save stating and retrying. I'm ot that good. but i was able to do the healer glitch in realtime after many tries, and then the other bits aren't that bad until you get into the palace. SO i have to conclude a not tool assisted glitch run is possible. :)