[P0RTAL 0ƒ RAIN] ~ presents to you
~~ N.E.S. Willow ~~
- 4th draft ~ 1'06:18.95 @ 60.0 frames/sec (1'06:12.41 @ 60.1 frames/sec)
- Complete playthrough
- Recommended in-game screenshot: frame # 217850
- Emulator used: FCE Ultra 0.98.28 (converted to FM2 using FCEUX 2.1.1)
- FCEU configuration: Allow L+R/U+D
- ROM filename used: "Willow (U) [!].nes"
- ROM checksum used: 38D1E298F55D24F4AFD08BDAA2002939
- Aim for fastest time
- Take damage to save time
- Use warps
- Use no passwords
- Use death as a shortcut (once)
- Abuse programming errors in the game
- Contains a few speed/entertainment transitions
- Manipulate luck, random enemy encounters, and strategy
- Genres: Action, Adventure, RPG
Before I begin, I want to make this as short as I can without much redunancy. This is an improvement of 35.51 seconds from my previous submission
#2376: p0rtal_0f_rain's NES Willow in 1:06:47.92
Click that link I mentioned to read about how the game was played (WARNING: contains spoilers!) - plus technical methods, glitches, and more.
Summary
Improvements include:
- quicker Bogarda defeat
- playing with zero defense (no shields)
- ignoring the need to level-grind before meeting Muzh
- slightly stronger abuse of "inaccuracy of MP" glitch
- manipulating random enemy encounters by using stop-and-go methods instead of sword-poking, this also saved a lot of frames
Nelwyn, Village of Dew, and Bogarda's Cave
I received word a while back that the Bogarda battle was improvable and I made sure the best adjustments for that event were made here.
Forest of Death and Matanda's Cave
I chose to skip the Gold shield upgrade in Matanda's Cave just to see how many frames I would save and how challenging the remaining part of the game would be played without a shield. I was impressed!
Lake Cheef, Crossroads, and the Under-Island Cave
At the crossroads section where Madmartigan was first found in chains, where I had to get the key to unlock the chains - I managed to take at least 3 damage-boosts from fire statues! This saved me more time as well.
A user gave word that it is possible to defeat Muzh at the Under-Island cave without using a shield. To me, not only I was able to do that, but I was also able to defeat Muzh on a lower level. Last time, I took care of Muzh on LV 5. Here, it's LV 4.
From there to the trail toward Nockmaar Castle, everything else was the same.
Path to Nockmaar
As usual, I did a level-grind here. But it has been improved due to more abuse of a glitch where MP is not accurate.
Nockmaar Castle: Preparing for Bavmorda
Strategy was the key not only to get as close to 31350 ex. as possible, but also to obtain 100 MP as well. I kill 8 zombies in a room that is simply one screen west of the main entrance. The reason is that (1) I wanted to avoid lodging at any cost. And (2) because according to my calculation, it takes 150 MP altogether to complete the entire Nockmaar scene before finally getting down to business with Queen Bavmorda.
50 to use Scepter to scare away the guard (50), 20 to Fleet after talking with Abang (70), 20 to call Ocarina to Tir Asleen (90), 20 to call Ocarina back to Nockmaar (110), 20 to Fleet out of Gen. Kael's room after defeating him (130), and 20 to call Ocarina straight to the Tavern en route to Fin Raziel's hideout (150).
Nockmaar Castle: Bavmorda
After completing the Nockmaar event and defeating Gen. Kael, the Bavmorda battle was also the same.
Special thanks to:
- theaxeman - not only for showing that it is was possible to defeat Muzh without a shield, but also made me believe it was possible to defeat Muzh on a level 4, maybe lower. Also, for providing a WIP clip to prove this.
- omnipotententity - for recently showing an improved route through Dew to get the Gold Statue and showing an improved Bogarda defeat.
- emptyeye - For his recent interest in this game and setting a single-segment record on speeddemosarchive.com because I learned a few things from that run of his.
- Finally, YOU. The tasvideos.org viewers and judges - Without your existence, none of this would be possible. Thank you! ^_^
