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This is an improvement over [3453] GB Contra: The Alien Wars by ThunderAxe31 in 07:37.746
I wanted to implement the known improvements that I figured out years ago.
Also, I wanted to get the TAS updated for emulation accuracy and GBA mode for console verification (old movie is from 2017).

Tags

  • Intentional death
  • Hardest difficulty

Level 1 improvement

-4 frames thanks to improved boss fight

Level 3 improvemenets

-21 death abuse
-36 locusts: better rng manipulation + better optimization
-16 better midboss 1 tech
-0 different midboss 2 tech
+1 weird frame rules
-0 different strategy with multi-jump

Level 5 loss

+8 frames due to no death abuse available on final boss

Possible improvements

It's possible to kill level 1 boss faster by 1 frame, if you add a B press at frame 6180. This however causes the rest of the movie to desync horrendously. I've tried a LOT to fix that, and I couldn't due to uncontrollable changes of RNG behavior. Feel free to try yourself at risk of losing your sanity.
CoolHandMike: Claiming for judging.
CoolHandMike: Replacing movie file per submitter request.
CoolHandMike: This is an improvement over the [3453] GB Contra: The Alien Wars by ThunderAxe31 in 07:37.746 due to more accurate emulation. The newer one actually has the bios which adds several seconds alone.
Accepting to Standard.
Great job!
EZGames69: Processing...

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Posted: 10/28/2025 9:45 PM
TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #9993: ThunderAxe31's GB Contra: The Alien Wars in 07:39.919
Posted: 10/28/2025 11:28 PM
(Edited: 11/10/2025 7:47 PM)
ThunderAxe31
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Arcade TAS of 2023 Homebrew TAS of 2023 PSX TASer of 2022 Gameboy TASer of 2017
Hold on... I already found more improvements... Edit: 4 frames saved on level 1, entertaining touchups in level 3: User movie #638984007406124216 I'm finally done with this game.
my personal page - my YouTube channel - my GitHub - my Discord: thunderaxe31 <Masterjun> if you look at the "NES" in a weird angle, it actually clearly says "GBA"
Posted: 11/15/2025 6:05 PM
CoolHandMike
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Could you point out a couple noticeable spots where I can see the difference in emulation?
discord: CoolHandMike#0352
Posted: 11/15/2025 9:10 PM
(Edited: 11/15/2025 9:11 PM)
ThunderAxe31
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🇮🇹 Italy
Joined: 9/12/2016
Posts: 1672
Location: 🇮🇹 Italy
Arcade TAS of 2023 Homebrew TAS of 2023 PSX TASer of 2022 Gameboy TASer of 2017
Ok, I just now tried resyncing this movie on the old BizHawk version. New movie is 200 frames longer due to the introduction of the BIOS boot, and 8 more frames longer due to various loading times being longer, up to the beginning of level 2. In the old BizHawk version, this movie desyncs irremediably during level 2, due to the game engine being susceptible to small CPU cycle changes.
my personal page - my YouTube channel - my GitHub - my Discord: thunderaxe31 <Masterjun> if you look at the "NES" in a weird angle, it actually clearly says "GBA"
Posted: 11/15/2025 9:31 PM
CoolHandMike
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Arcade TASer of 2025 Arcade TAS of 2025 Arcade TASer of 2024 First edition TAS of 2023 Sega TAS of 2023
ThunderAxe31 wrote:
Ok, I just now tried resyncing this movie on the old BizHawk version. New movie is 200 frames longer due to the introduction of the BIOS boot, and 8 more frames longer due to various loading times being longer, up to the beginning of level 2. In the old BizHawk version, this movie desyncs irremediably during level 2, due to the game engine being susceptible to small CPU cycle changes.
Thanks!
discord: CoolHandMike#0352
Posted: 11/19/2025 5:03 PM
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. ---- [6821] GB Contra: The Alien Wars by ThunderAxe31 in 07:39.919