MegaMan X5: The Improvement Project: Addendum is an attempt of improving on the Original game laid down by Acediez based on DarkSamus993 assets. One of the main differences between the hack and the original is the ability to mute Alia all the way through via toggling off the ‘Navigator’ option, which alone makes a mountain of difference in gameplay and the overall pace. There is another difference that is also as significant: power-up parts are gained regardless of the boss level, which incorporated new strategies and route. This run aims at the best time beating all the mavericks, optionally obtaining collectibles throughout. Before delving into stages, we may showcase the different routes in the following table:

Delaying the climb of the platforms until the camera catches up saves time over the dramatic “TAS” scene of the camera slower than the player (Door opens instantly).

This is the second stage after the Intro Stage. Slow though it may, it was beaten as soon as possible in order to equip Hyper Dash as soon as possible. It may be a framerule¬—the stage has framerules to govern when the last exploding train hits the facing one—slower than with Blaze Quake, which is a fair compromise in return to what Hyper Dash would save.

After Grizzly Slash beaten, we visit the ocean, and, unlike the former, this stage is not slower in terms of movement. In fact, the in-boat section that has no water is passed 25 frames faster than in Bernka & Shuy_’s All Stages Run.

SDC’ing all the way through saves a frame over the air saber KO. However, we use this frame, and others while skipping dialogue, for RNG manipulation for canon success.

As soon as having Hyper Dash as possible, this stage is beaten to equip Z-Saber +. Instead of going up and climbing ropes, since V- Shaver Air Dash can move V-Blocks (Hmm… V-Shaver… V-Blocks… Is that the logic?) like Gaea Armour Dash, we go through the down-floor route, which is faster.

Dark Dizzy (Dark Necrobat): Z-Saber + is taking 2 stages to be equipped. This will be one of them. Not as different from the original except that the Slowing Gimmick is removed. That’s why the first section is noticeably shorter.

This stage is a touch slower than with Blaze Quake. At the end of the motorbike section, ground dashing and jumping at the very last frame of control makes the player travel more distance forwards and saves time. The rest is just as normal.

Now that Z-Saber + is equipped, here we enter. Since Alia’s dialogues are no longer active, we activate and deactivate Dark Hold when needed. Perhaps that’s why it clocks at more time than in the Original X5 run (In-game timer I meant).

This is the first time Mat dies before jumping. Also, double-jumping to the boss door is noticeably faster than wall-kicking.

Movement improvements and KO’ing with E-Blade is 10 frames faster than returning to the eye after evading the projectile.

Same as the vanilla All Stages run.

The Green Eye in Rangda Bangda fight appears after the two walls are drawn near to save about 3 seconds.

Same as the vanilla X5.

Refights are of higher advantage with SDC’ing doable alongside with W-Shredder than in the Original X5. Sigma 2nd: Something weird happens with its I-frames. They sometimes get cut, which leads to faster kills.

Bernka & Shuy_: Their All Stages Run was my direct guide through this run.

HappyLee: Working with him on an any% run for the vanilla X5, he discovered some improvements in the Intro Stage that this run enjoyed.

McBobX: Enconding the run. Thank you!