Post subject: Pocket Bomberman
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I started working on a run of the Game Boy Color version of Pocket Bomberman this week. Here's my current run through the first world, which has already been through a few revisions: http://www.filespace.org/BagOfMagicFood/Pocket_Bomberman_U_C.vbm What does everybody think? Is it fun to watch? Is there anything in these levels I still need to improve?
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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I tried the first level and was 44 frames faster by killing the guy on the top instead of the guy by the exit door first. Looks very fast though, I was surprised at how fast you went (and the amount of fireworks involved) once you got the remote control and fire powerup on level 3. Did you decide that speed-ups aren't worth getting unless you can get them without going out of your way? I thought the one at the start of level 2 would be worth it, but maybe it requires too much waiting to make up for it later. Also, have you decided on whether you're getting the flying powerup? While it's awfully handy, I have a feeling it would actually slow you down too much in a time attack compared to rapidly jumping off of bombs when you need to go up.
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put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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Looks good, and I don't see anything that could be done faster. I'm looking forward to the rest of it.
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Well, since you suggested it, I'm going to try getting the roller skate at the beginning of 1-2 and seeing if I can catch up to my last run. I already played 1-2 and ended up 150 frames behind, so skate-grabbing Bomberman has his work cut out for him. The other powerup I need to manage is the heart. If there's one that's not too out of the way, such as in 2-3, then I should try to use it to get some temporary invincibility later so I can avoid dodging dangers for a while.
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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Watched through it and liked what I saw. Looking forward to seeing rest of the game as well. :)
"Kids! Bringing about Armageddon can be dangerous. Do not attempt it in your home." ( Pratchett & Gaiman: Good Omens )
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Hmm, that extra roller skate is closing the gap faster than I expected. I'm only 28 frames behind the other movie after 1-4, so I'll probably be ahead by the time I can grab the next skate. So I'll probably have to decide whether to get it in 2-2, 2-3, or 2-5. And now I'm less sure about this, since there's also the possibility of grabbing a skate in 1-1 or 1-3.
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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I'm pretty sure the one in 1-3 is worth getting, since you have remote bombs by then and it's near the shortest path. I think the one in 1-1 is not worth it, but I'm slightly less sure about that. I would guess that the maximum speed is something like 6-8 skates and that the fastest route involves getting that many before about halfway through the game.
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Actually, the limit to skates is 3, so once I get the third one, I'll never have to worry about skates again. (That's also the limit to those sandal things, which serve as anti-skate items to slow you down for whatever reason.) You're probably right about both those levels, so I might test 1-3's skate grab sometime soon.
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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Hey, I just found a new trick that's related to that fast jump-off trick I've been using. It lets you walk through walls! So once I get two bombs, I can get into any wall except the level borders and parts of walls on the ground (I have to be in the air to do it). Now I need to figure out where to use it. One drawback is that I can't sneak out of a wall just enough to set a bomb and step back in, because the game pushes Bomberman completely out once he gets close. This is a bit of a problem in 1-2, since I only have two bombs and no remote detonator, so if I get inside the pillar, I'll have to wait for the bombs I used to get inside to go off before I can bomb the enemy and escape. Should I get a third bomb or fourth bomb? This may take some more testing. It could also affect when I want to pick up skates. I had just done a test where I picked up the skates in 1-2 and 1-3 and reached the boss in almost the same amount of time as without skates, so there would be only savings in 2-1 and I could safely stick with that movie. But then I discovered the go-through-walls trick, so the skates MIGHT be less useful for the times I'm using them if I end up walking less.
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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Well, okay, so it probably won't be THAT dire. I can just bomb the mouse/tree/thing and the block with the skate, then get the skate while forcing Bomberman into the wall. After the bombs I used to get inside the wall go off, I can bomb the Gargachu and escape into the pillar. I really hate that I have to wait for bomb explosions in that level, though...
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
Joined: 7/28/2006
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I needed a break from Zelda, so I started making a run of this game. http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/4363/pocketbomberman.vbm I figured out how to get into the wall like Bag said, but with 2 bombs I was only able to force bomberman into a wall tile that had an empty space beneath it. Example: *=wall tile *** ***<-I could force bomberman in here *<-or here So I didn't have as much freedom as I thought with the glitch so far. But during the boss I'll hopefully grab the bomb so I'll have 3 bombs to work with the glitch for the other worlds.(I'm going to try and get the skate during the boss too) Anyways, I'll probably be switching off every once an awhile between this game and Zelda. I find it hard to tool assist the same game for a long period of time.
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Hmmmm... Maybe I'll get interested in this game again now that I have someone to compete with!
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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Awesome, all though I don't know if I could keep up with you :)
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Turns out I was wrong about having to have an empty space beneath the wall tile. With two bombs you can force bomberman into any wall tile. I must have done something wrong when I tested before. Here's the first 4 stages redone with more use of the wall glitch: http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/4391/pocketbomberman.vbm So is anyone interested in this run?
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Sure, this game is quick and cool to watch. I just had one little problem of deciding which power-ups to get when, so I'll try to get back to you on that.
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
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One thing I'm considering is getting a third bomb before the boss. There were a few parts where I had to wait for bombs to explode so it may save time to get the bomb in the beginning of the second stage.
Joined: 1/18/2006
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Wow impressive, it's cool because at one point I starting doing a non-tool-assisted run of this and my route in the first stage was pretty much the same. The only thing is I didn't know about the walk through walls thing. With that and remote bombs you go pretty darn fast. I do have one suggestion, you wait for the skate in the second level, I think it would be faster just to scrap it and maybe get the skate in one of the later levels.
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I tested it, and it's faster to take the bomb at the beginning of level 2. By the end of the 4th area it's 186 frames faster, a lot more than I thought it would save. Spikeman: Getting the skate now didn't waste much time because I had to wait for the extra bomb anyway. I'll post a WIP soon.
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New WIP that plays up to 2-1. http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/4483/pocketbomberman.vbm I stopped here because I think it might be faster to grab a heart somewhere in the first 4 areas to absorb the bomb at the end of 2-1 rather than walking back to avoid it. Any thoughts on this anyone?
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I tried getting the heart but it wasted more time getting it then it saved later, so I'm just continuing on. Also, Bag said it was impossible to get into the ceiling, but if you glitch into a wall that's connected to the ceiling you can jump up into it. You can also jump up past the ceiling and it causes all sorts of glitches and stuff. The only thing I've found out that might help is you can send bomberman to the bottom of the level. Perhaps if you start near the ceiling in a level you could glitch to get to the bottom quickly. Anyways, I'm still experimenting and will hopefully find something useful.
Joined: 7/28/2006
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4 and a half years later... After a long hiatus from TASing I've been getting the urge to work on a TAS lately, so I'm going to pick this game up again. Not sure how much interest there is for this game, but it's really fun to TAS and I also see there is a published run for it now. I've finished the first world minus the boss and already used some of the published runs strategies (in particular his route in 1-1 and 1-4 were both faster). However I'm pretty sure his power up route is not optimal. My current run finishes 1-4 408 frames faster than the published run with one less skate, which will be picked up during the boss fight without wasting any time. Here's the wip for anyone who's interested: http://dehacked.2y.net/microstorage.php/info/1036625960/Vespa%20pocketbomberman%20v2.vbm
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I do like watching TASes of this game. It's surprisingly fast-paced for GB. Keep up the good work!
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That's a tough video comparison to comprehend, but am I correct in assuming that when you jump and make a bomb, each time it pushes your x pixel position a little bit?
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