Main Comments
Well, after 6 years of waiting, it's finally here! Here is the new update for the Exoddus 100% PSX TAS!! The new time is 2:13:07 compared to the old time of 2:14:16! This is mainly thanks to new strats and running at 60fps!
Technical Stuff
Emulator Used: Bizhawk v2.10
BIOS used: SCPH7003.bin
ROMS used:
- Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (USA) Disc 1.cue
- Oddworld: Abe's Exoddus (USA) Disc 2.cue
(Used the disc bundler on Bizhawk to use both discs as an xml file.)
Game Objectives
- Rescues All 300 Mudokons (100% Completion)
- Heavy Glitch Abuse
- Uses Major Skips
Glitches Used
Auto Turn Delay/Ledge Glitch
This glitch works by standing on the edge of the ledge and pressing the down button quickly and running towards a spot where you would like to hoist down. You will need to press either 'left or 'right after pressing down depending on which direction Abe was facing.
Stop Turn and Backwards Jump
By timing this glitch perfectly, you can make Abe stop and turn. To set it up, Abe needs to be standing near a ledge (pressing up whilst turning away from a ledge), you’ll be able to make Abe do a backwards jump. Notice that when you press the opposite direction to where Abe is standing at the incorrect frame, Abe will just jump up and stand. But if you time it perfectly, Abe will jump backwards and possibly jump to another screen. This will allow you to jump backwards to areas and skip certain areas. Sligfantry's video can show you how this glitch works:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DIo1TJUBGlo
Roll to Walk
This glitch is done in TASes and RTA runs. With just one frame, from a roll, Abe can automatically go into a walk. This is handy for positioning Abe towards a lever or towards a wheel.
Quick Bird Portal Closure
This is done by chanting to open a portal, then walk a few steps and then chant again. As soon as the remaining Mudokons enter the portal, let go of the chant buttons and Abe will laugh whilst the Mudokons enter the portal!
Improvements
Necrum Mines
This section has improved a lot since the last time I did it. With many years of PC speedruns, new strats have been found in almost all tunnels! Most notably in Tunnel 6 and 7 and in Tunnel 1 the way the ledge glitch is set up.
Necrum
I managed to improve the secret area where Abe now instantly rolls from the screen with the 3 Sligs in the background.
Mudanchee Vaults
In this area, I do a new start in the second trial with the Scrab and the invincibility traps.
Mudomo Vaults
At the Trials, I set up the ledge glitch to go to the room which would be Trial 2 in the previous run where Abe possesses the Paramite.
Bonewerkz
Annex 7
I matched this against the old TAS how Abe moves after pulling the lever with the lift to maneuver those Mudokons to get to the secret area.
Bonewerkz Ender
I improved the Phleg section a lot faster this time based on the latest speedrun strats!
Feeco Main Lobby 2
On the second visit, I went to the Feeco Ender secret area before heading to Barracks.
Slig Barracks
I managed to improve the entry with the strat used in the latest 100% and Hardcore runs!
Block 3
After completing Suite A and B, I set up a ledge glitch to get to Suites C and D!
Barracks Ender
I was told about a new strat where you can bump against the trap door to save time with the Sligs and the well! I also managed to make Dripik stand in the middle of the voice lock this time!
Feeco Depot Ender
Just like in Barracks, I manage to make Aslik stand in the middle of the voicelock!
Zulag 4
Someone discovered it was possible to rescue the Mudokons in the first part without possessing any Sligs to blow up those Greeters. There's also another new strat done underneath with the Slogs!
Zulag 6
I found a way to guide those Mudokons through the trapdoors a lot faster than the previous TAS! This was thanks to a desync, I noticed all the muds went through the trapdoors all at once!
Zulag 2
I was told it was optimal to say “Hi” and “Follow me” to the muds before taking care of the Flying Slig.
Zulag 9
In Door 1, I get the Angry Mud to follow me before saying “Sorry” to him. Before I say, “Follow me” to the mud before reaching him to say “Sorry”. In Door 2 I found a faster way to deal with the Slig.
Zulag 10
Since there was no lag in this room, I managed to get the Mudokons to come down with Abe with the lift and skipping having to say “Hi” and “Follow me” to the Muds below! Also, I’m able to set up the ledge glitch so I don’t have to go back to that screen and set it up later!
Future TASes
Now that this big TAS is done, I'm hoping to do some TASes on the PC versions, hopefully with Win95/98 and Bizhawk on DOSbox-X! The PC port of Exoddus will have the most interesting runs to watch as the any and 100% includes an Advanced Relocation Glitch (ARG) and 100% has some hidden wells that teleports Abe to quicker locations like a wrong warp in the Mario games resulting speedruns that can be done in under 2 hours, and there is to no lag on the PC version so further strats can be implemented! Also, Maximum Casualties on the PC can be finished with 310 Mudokons killed!
Thanks
I need to thank especially to l1ndblum in the Oddworld speedrunning community for showcasing me all these new strats and especially Namesoom for all his amazing PC runs! This TAS couldn't be done without this new strats! I’ll try to beat him at any% on the PC version of Oddysee soon!
nymx: Claiming for judging.
nymx: First off...thanks to
Samtastic for helping with the multi-disc load. I was eventually able to sync this movie. Second, I always like to see your improvements to these games. I remember seeing it for the first time and thinking how it caught my attention. Well, I applaud your efforts to maintaining the latest technique and keeping the TAS as fast as possible. Everything looks great and congratulations on a 1 minute and 9 second improvement!
