This submission file has been improved by 330 frames: https://tasvideos.org/UserFiles/Info/638373008411820267
About the Game
5-STAR is an NES homebrew puzzle-platformer created by Wendel Scardua for Ludum Dare 53, with the theme "Delivery". You play as a pizza delivery guy who has to deliver pizzas to 5 neighbourhoods and overcome different obstacles along the way such as hills and angry black cats.
About the TAS
This TAS aims to beat the game as fast as possible while delivering every pizza successfully.
Movement Tech
Different Speeds
We move at different speeds based on how many pizza boxes we're holding. We move slowest when we're holding 4 boxes and, every time we remove a box from the stack, our speed increases.
Acceleration
Again, the acceleration is different based on how many pizza boxes we're holding. We start each level at full acceleration, but if we hit a wall (which this TAS doesn't) the speed value on the X axis is automatically set to 0, and after that our speed slowly increases on a decreasing logarithm until the maximum speed based on how many boxes we're holding is reached.
Box Jump
By jumping and picking up a box at the same time, it's possible to jump from the box's height while still picking up said box. This can be used to make things much easier than intended.
TAS Strategy
The strategy here is to keep placing and picking up boxes without letting go of R/L (depending on what direction we're heading). This way, we can produce tiny waves of speed to travel slightly faster than intended on average. With this trick, I managed to save 46 frames in the first level over my 1st attempt, where I just held the boxes all the way.
Input ends on frame 7392 when we press start on the final tips screen.
That's all from me. Thanks for reading.
nymx: Claiming for judging.
nymx: Replacing movie file with an improved version.
nymx: LogansGamingRoom, thanks for making that change. This puts this TAS in a position for me to judge it positively. I don't see anything else that can be improved. Good Job.
Accepting.
despoa: Processing...