(Link to video)
This submission beats the final loop of this game. I used in-game codes to play the final loop.

Game objectives

  • Emulator used: BizHawk 2.8.0
  • Uses hardest difficulty
  • Uses an in-game code

Comments

This game has 3 loops:
  • In the second loop, enemy placements change and bosses move quickly.
  • In the third loop, bosses move more quickly, and the game displays a special message after the ending.
To avoid repetition, I use in-game codes and start from the final loop. Actually, you have to gameover in the second loop to enter the third loop.
In this run, most of optimizations are with boss fights. I instakill most of bosses with "special attack".
I set the movie endpoint to the last input to display a special message ("GIVE UP !") after the ending.

In-game codes

Increment the game loop count

You can increment the game loop count by pressing Up + I + II + Run on the title screen. To enter the third loop, use this code again after gameovering in the second loop.

Debug menu

You can enter a debug menu by:
  • Reset pressing Up + Select.
  • Release the keys, and input this sequence: Up, Up, Up, Right, Right, Right, Right, Right, Right, Down, Down, Left Left.
In this run, I set the life count to 1 to gameover in the second loop quickly.

Special attack

Every time you take a damage in a boss fight, the hero charges an "anger", and you can use a "special attack".
  • When the anger is 1, you can use "Big Punch" by pressing Right + I simultaneously. It deals 3 damage.
  • When the anger is 2, you can use "Big Punch" by pressing I.
  • When the anger is 3 or above, you can use "Rush Punch" by pressing I.
In this run, I use only Rush Punch.

Stage by stage comments

Stage 1

I instakilled all bosses with Rush Punch.
1-1 Boss attacks while the hero is invincible, so it takes time a little to take 3 damage.
In 1-2, I delayed 4 frames to reach the boss in order to manipulate him. But I'm not sure if it's optimal.

Stage 2

In third loop, I wasn't able to instakill 2-1 and 2-3 boss, as they move very quickly. (It is possible to instakill them in the first loop)

Stage 3

I instakilled all bosses with Rush Punch.

Stage 4

I instakilled all bosses with Rush Punch.

RAM map

All addresses are CPU logical.
AddressTypeDescription
$261Cu8anger
$2BC3u8hero health
$2BC4u8boss health
$2BE4u8life count
$2D7Du8stage (0-based)
$2D7Eu8section in current stage (8 section per 1 scene)
$2D7Fu8progress in current section
$3D08u8loop count (0-based)

feos: Claiming for judging.
feos: Clearing the branch since it's just a difficulty mode that doesn't significantly change gameplay (to warrant a separate branch).
feos: Thanks to Darkman425 for the review.
Accepting over [4431] PCE China Warrior by EZGames69 in 12:03.53 since the improvement is in actual gameplay, and the movie seems longer because it shows a message at the end (which appears instead of going to a harder loop like the previous 2 loops do).
In-game code usage is justified, because instead of skipping levels within the same game loop, it skips to the harder loop, and every loop has an ending so we wouldn't require to play more than one loop.

EZGames69: Processing...

TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #7981: TaoTao's PCE China Warrior in 13:41.63
Darkman425
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A quick review: I got this to sync on my end. The final input needed to get the ending started is at 11:20.05, which makes this over 40 seconds faster than the publication done on the first loop through the use of the counterattack strategies on all the bosses. The final input in the submission is done after the ending to display the third loop's final message at the end.
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The in-game name of this loop is Act 3.
Currently we have this in the rules about unlockable content:
  • In-Game Codes: In-game codes that add gameplay are allowed for a separate branch, as long as such codes are used optimally. Codes that modify or disable in-game mechanics are not allowed, unless they unlock an in-game item or a skill that does that.
Individual game modes (level sets, episodes, etc.), including those unlocked using in-game codes, are also acceptable as separate branches. These can also include different playable characters if their gameplay is significantly different. For games that have a second quest or loop, you are allowed to play only the first quest. The second quest is only required to be included if gameplay is significantly different.
  • If a game's second quest is just a harder difficulty mode, it is allowed by itself.
In-game codes that access harder difficulties and/or bonus content, including cosmetic improvements, are allowed for all branches.
This movie uses an in-game code to access the hardest difficulty loop of the game. To me, that difficulty loop doesn't look like a separate game, so I'm leaning towards obsoleting [4431] PCE China Warrior by EZGames69 in 12:03.53 because boss fights are now much faster. Link to video The rule about second quest being the hardest difficulty mode may sound unclear in what "by itself" is referring to, but the original idea was allowing it without the first loop in the same movie. However there's no mention of whether it's allowed as a separate branch. It is automatically allowed if it looks like a separate game, but if it's only slightly different, it should compete in the same categories with other difficulty modes IMO.
Warning: When making decisions, I try to collect as much data as possible before actually deciding. I try to abstract away and see the principles behind real world events and people's opinions. I try to generalize them and turn into something clear and reusable. I hate depending on unpredictable and having to make lottery guesses. Any problem can be solved by systems thinking and acting.
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Thank you for the comparison, feos. I only assigned the separate branch just because I'm not sure about the rules, but I don't particularly stick to it. If the branch is not needed, please remove it.
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [5117] PCE China Warrior by TaoTao in 13:41.63