Clash at Demonhead is an fun platformer with awesome dialogs. There's a published run of the game
here.
There's a topic
here that discusses this game, but I thought it best to create a topic solely devoted to discussing this game. Any moderator is of course free to merge these two topics.
I have made a full TAS of the game that beats the game in 18:11, 4 min 5 seconds faster than the published run. This TAS is more of a testrun (although quite optimized), so I will redo it before submitting anything.
The input file is here:
http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1242884796/clash_at_demonhead_randil_v1.fm2
Major changes are:
*A new trick that allows me to only use up half as much of the power boots as you usually do: when running you gain momentum, increasing by 1 per frame, up to a maximum of 16. When you release the D-pad, your momentum will decrease by 1 per frame and you will continue moving until you lose all your momentum. The power boots meter does not decrease when you don't press the D-pad. So what I do in the TAS is to run for 16 frames and then releases the D-pad for 16 frames - I will move at top speed by doing this, but only deplete the power boots meter for the 16 frames I hold down the D-pad.
This trick basically makes the power boots item last twice as long. This makes the power boots item very desirable as they now last around 40 seconds, compared to the normal 20.
*I don't make the detour to route 22 to change in my gold for money, as I don't need that money.
*I climb mount Demonhead without getting pulled down. This saved about 1 minute.
*Bosses are killed faster, in particular the first boss.
*Less shopping, and done in better places.
I would love to hear any improvement ideas you might have (even crazy ones). As I said above, I will make a new version before submitting anything - there are some things I want to test, and I know of a few frames I can shave off.