Hi there,
I've been discussing with a few people over at SDA for a few days now about doing a 100% SotN Run. I have a few things to talk about first, and would like any suggestions or advice that could be offered.
By 100% (or, as the game calls it, 200.6%, I think?), I mean:
* Full Map Coverage, including secret areas accessible without glitches.
* Full list of relics collected.
* All power-ups (Life Boosts and Heart Boosts) collected.
* All "boss" monsters defeated.
The ones I'm a little iffy on would be:
* All monsters defeated. By that, I don't mean everytime I come across a monster, I have to fight it, but rather, I encounter and defeat at least 1 of every monster. That gives me the whole monster catalog (or whatever it's called). The only time I see this becoming a true issue is in situations like that one monster the Lesser Demon boss summons (the Mudman?), and that's the only place in the game he can be encountered. That potentially makes for a very long battle if he takes too long to summon the monster.
* All original items owned by Alucard collected. This was brought up by a friend of mine, but he said that since Death took those items at the beginning, I should get them all back. That means Alucard's Sword, Shield, and Armor, Necklace of J, and Twilight Cloak(?). Not sure on this one either, but since I get the Sword and cloak anyway in my own runs, that shouldn't be too outlandish.
* Glitch-only areas. I don't know much about these, but I know they exist (like that one right inside the main gate, the second you start, that lets you go down into some cave with a save point?). It seems silly of me to work towards that kind of goal, but it may be necessary for some people to count it as 100%. I guess if it's an area that would be accessible in the console game, then I should have to try to get to it on the emulator, but I would definitely like to discuss this with people.
I wouldn't use save states, though I would probably use save points if I did it that way. I would love to do a single-segment run, but I have an irritated sciatic nerve, and can't sit for more than an hour or so at a time, so would have to save and take breaks.
It's been recommended to me that I should (or would have to) include all monster drops (items that can only be obtained by random drops), as well as at least one of every item in the game. I'm really doubting that this would be very feasible. I'm honestly not very interested in a "luck manipulation" run of the game, which is what the game would become if I did that.
I've studies several other runs of the game, but since none are 100%, I wouldn't be able to use their particular sequence breaks. However, I have mapped out a strategy that gets all the necessary locations out of the way quickly enough, and then circles around (once I have the bat and the super jump) to get certain other areas. I would love to discuss this with someone who has given this project at attempt, or either knows the map and "standard" sequence very well.
I also think that I would do my best to not use the whole Shield Rod/Alucard's Shield effects, or the Crissaegrimm. I know these aren't cheats or glitches, but it makes the game less fun (in my opinion). I've mastered enough of the battles that I think I could do it in a good time without using those, and the battles I'm not sure of, I would learn to master (such as "locking" galamoth so he can't move, and such).
So, this is basically where I ask, what do you guys think? Do you think the options I outlined above would qualify? Should there be more? Less? I honestly don't really like the idea of abusing glitches, deaths, etc, but if that's how it would have to qualify, then I'm willing to give it a shot. It would just require me to essentially to relearn the game.
Thanks,
-Ish