NOTE: This was recorded with Snes9x 1.52, NOT 1.51 or 1.43. You can get it at http://code.google.com/p/snes9x-rr/downloads/list As for why I'm using this version, it's because of the greater accuracy (especially with sound emulation thanks to Blargg's DSP core). It sounds like there's further work being done on the APU, so I may very well attempt an improvement in the future. Yes, 1.52 doesn't have much lua functionality at the moment, but I didn't really need lua functionality this time.
ALSO NOTE: This movie starts from a save because you have to have played through a fair bit of the game and then saved in order to access Special Mode. I've made a verification movie that is a very rough play-through of normal mode. I've uploaded this to Mediafire at [dead link removed] A tip for fast-forwarding: go to Options->Settings and enable "Toggled fast-forward mode" so you don't have to keep holding down the button. Of course, people who aren't trying to verify can just start playing the Special Mode SMV since it has the save.
This submission incorporates various improvements that were mostly found by Hotarubi. Many, many thanks to Hotarubi without which the tremendous time improvement in this version would not have been possible. The total improvement over my last submission is 1855 frames, or almost 31 seconds. Another major timesaver was managing to get better luck with the bosses.
For a list of tricks for ActRaiser, please see this site's article on ActRaiser at GameResources/SNES/ActRaiser That page was made with the US version in mind, but much of what's on that page is also applicable to the Japanese version.
So why does this run play through the Japanese version's Special Mode instead of the US version's Professional Mode? First, the US Normal Mode stages have already been TASed through the ActRaiser TAS that's available on this site at [1747] SNES ActRaiser by zidanax & dunnius in 53:55.57. Second, the Japanese version is harder, so for those who've played the game it looks more impressive. Apart from there being differences between US Normal mode and Professional Mode, there are many differences between Professional Mode and Special Mode. Overall the differences between US Normal Mode and Special Mode are even greater than the differences between US Normal Mode and Professional Mode. Here's a (not neccessarily exhaustive) list from Sir VG:
The general difference between Normal and Professional/Special Modes (pulled from my SDA Run):

1. You start with the full 24 HP.
2. Magic is removed.
3. Simulation Mode is removed. You just go from act to act.
4. The initial 'statue inhabiting' animation has been removed form the startof the acts. You simply start the level right away.
5. Enemy damage does 2 HP damage. Terrain damage still does just 1.
6. Enemies that normally take 1 hit to kill now take 2. Multi-hit enemies don't take any more than before. 
Certain 'destructible terrain' like the floating skulls in Aitos Act I still only take 1 hit to kill.
7. Certain enemies have a different pattern, though not very many.
8. Magic Scrolls in the Acts have been replaced by Crushes.
9. NO CONTINUES. You lose and it's game over.
10. After an act is cleared, there is no life/time bonus. Your life gets refilled and you move on to the next level.
11. Projectiles in Aitos Act I have been removed and replaced with a 1-UP. You still get them for the Tanzara battle.
12. Ending is removed and you just go straight to the credits, with the final image changed from 'THE END' to 'YOU ARE THE BEST PLAYER!'

Differences between US Professional! mode and Japanese Special Mode 
(most of what I can think of offhand - this doesn't  count religious references removed, since it was mainly in the simulation/creation section):

1. Changes in terrain in a few levels. Most noticeable in Filmoa Act I.
2. A few location name changes (Fillmore vs Filmoa, Kasandora vs Casandra, Marahna vs Marana, and Deathheim vs Death heim).
3. Filmoa Act II's music is the same as Act I.
4. Some enemies take even MORE damage.
5. Floating skulls in Aitos Act I can't be killed (they just self destruct).
6. Some boss attack changes (mainly faster, but Rafflasher in Marana Act I ducks in and out)
7. Timer stops after Satan Phase 1. Also, more lag during Phase 2 in the Japanese version.
8. All spikes (except the small falling ones), unless you're in a temporary invulnerable state are INSTANT KILL. 
Also extra spikes in various locations (most noticeably in Filmoa Act II and Bloodpool Act II).
9. Less lives. US starts with 5, Japanese with 2.
I've also noticed some (subtle) changes in the AI. For example, the Arctic Wyvern flies away about 10 frames sooner after shooting balls of ice. In addition, some of the enemy hitboxes are slightly larger.
Possible improvements: The main way to save time would be to somehow get even better luck on the bosses. We aren't sure of all the details of how boss attack patterns are decided. Getting all the details might involve some reverse engineering? There are also a few timesavers that I had to pull out in order to maintain good luck with boss attack patterns, so with a better understanding of how boss attack patterns are decided perhaps some of those timesavers could be put in.
Acknowledgements:
  • Thanks again to Hotarubi for finding various clever tricks.
  • 大根さん for uploading a Special Mode TAS to Nicovideo. I picked up numerous little things from that run.
  • Sir VG for giving lots of good feedback on my WIPs.
  • Dunnius for his research on boss attack patterns.
  • PJ, speedrunner of the Professional mode, for finding the walljump in Marahna Act 1.
  • Ogreslayer, who discovered many of the tricks used in this run and the US normal mode run.
  • All the people in the ActRaiser thread for their feedback and encouragement.

klmz: As a pure side-scrolling-action-platformer under this special mode, this game has good level design and configurations. The missing plot and god-simulation part might do have decreased the interests in this game, but in my opinion let the viewer focus on the action part. The choice of English version aiming for a higher visible difficulty is also sensible. The technical quality is high, and smart tricks are demonstrated to make this run more different from normal walkthrough even though they can be performed in real-time. I am accepting this submission for publication alongside the existing main quest run.
NitroGenesis: Added YT module.
Velitha: Processing, using NitroGenesis's encodes as they look fine to me

TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #3342: zidanax's SNES ActRaiser "Special Mode" in 21:01.73
Sir_VG
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FINALLY. I was hoping this didn't die so close to the finish line. I pretty much can vote yes on this already, since I've followed the WIPs, though I'll wait to see if/what any changes you've made since the last one.
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Sorry about the long wait. I was working on my Lufia run and sort of forgot about this for awhile. Dunnius has been really busy and hasn't found any further info on manipulating boss patterns. Given that doing so would probably require RE'ing the game I finally decided to submit what I have.
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Second, the Japanese version is harder, so for those who've played the game it looks more impressive.
But if you think the other way around... People who have played the easier version might expect this less impresive than this movie is and they might actually "confirm" that via autosuggestion, and that would waste your extra efforts. Such situations have been observed with games like Ninja Gaiden 3. Just imagine: "Oh I remember this was the easiest game in the original series! Must be least impressive!" said people who played the (J) version of that game. So I think it's important to emphasize that "this run uses the Japanese version which is harder" in the descriptions.
<klmz> it reminds me of that people used to keep quoting adelikat's IRC statements in the old good days <adelikat> no doubt <adelikat> klmz, they still do
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I've been anticipating this movie for sometime.
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Great run! Yes vote. Seeing the falling on Casandra Act I, LOL. Well, I do NOT think ending levels higher up on the screen saves through special mode. So you can erase my credit this time. And thanks for crediting me about that thing on the normal mode run.
mklip2001
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Very nice! I'm quite glad to see a run finally made it to TASVideos which only runs the action portions. Some notes I made for myself when I watched this: * I found myself really surprised at the same place neo_omegon pointed out. * The boss manipulation is really awesome. Casandra 1 and Aitos 2 really stick out for me. * The Casandra 2 boss fight was pretty surprising, in a good way. * It's a shame how much longer the Marana 1 boss fight is in the Japanese version. Yes vote. Also, I have a screenshot suggestion: At the very end of the first refight in Death Heim, against the Filmoa 2 boss, you finish the fight while being impaled on his axe. That would make a cool picture.
Used to be a frequent submissions commenter. My new computer has had some issues running emulators, so I've been here more sporadically. Still haven't gotten around to actually TASing yet... I was going to improve Kid Dracula for GB. It seems I was beaten to it, though, with a recent awesome run by Hetfield90 and StarvinStruthers. (http://tasvideos.org/2928M.html.) Thanks to goofydylan8 for running Gargoyle's Quest 2 because I mentioned the game! (http://tasvideos.org/2001M.html) Thanks to feos and MESHUGGAH for taking up runs of Duck Tales 2 because of my old signature! Thanks also to Samsara for finishing a Treasure Master run. From the submission comments:
Shoutouts and thanks to mklip2001 for arguably being the nicest and most supportive person on the forums.
Sir_VG
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mklip2001 wrote:
Very nice! I'm quite glad to see a run finally made it to TASVideos which only runs the action portions. Some notes I made for myself when I watched this: * I found myself really surprised at the same place neo_omegon pointed out. * The boss manipulation is really awesome. Casandra 1 and Aitos 2 really stick out for me. * The Casandra 2 boss fight was pretty surprising, in a good way. * It's a shame how much longer the Marana 1 boss fight is in the Japanese version. Yes vote. Also, I have a screenshot suggestion: At the very end of the first refight in Death Heim, against the Filmoa 2 boss, you finish the fight while being impaled on his axe. That would make a cool picture.
I think we have to go with that or with the exit from Casandra Act I Part 1. And yes folks, the battle against Rafflasher really sucked in the Japanese version. It's one of those things that I think really makes it clear to the viewer, even if they've never played the Japanese one and either only played the English one or watched the current full game TAS that this really is much harder and handled in an impressive manner.
Taking over the world, one game at a time. Currently TASing: Nothing
PJ
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Oh man! I'm so pumped to watch this. From what I've seen from the WIPs, it will certainly not disappoint. ^_^ Thanks for the credit in your notes, Zidanax! I'm glad that shortcut helped. :D
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Awesome. That is all. Yes vote.
Sage advice from a friend of Jim: So put your tinfoil hat back in the closet, open your eyes to the truth, and realize that the government is in fact causing austismal cancer with it's 9/11 fluoride vaccinations of your water supply.
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Yes vote of course!
PJ
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Blew my mind. It goes without saying, this is a "yes" from me.
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There is something that makes me wonder: why has this submission received significantly less votes and comments than the previous "main quest"/"story mode" run? Is it a seasonal issue or a viability problem with emulator-end-watching?
<klmz> it reminds me of that people used to keep quoting adelikat's IRC statements in the old good days <adelikat> no doubt <adelikat> klmz, they still do
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An encode has not been done yet. After it is complete there will be more votes. I watched the WIPs, so I didn't have to wait for an encode this time.
Sir_VG
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I'll work on a preview encode. I've got the initial encode done, so I'll try to finish it this morning. My vote is a definite YES. Suggestions for screenshots: Casandra Act I Part 1 (falling below the door) Marana Act I Boss (Fighting stuck in the boss) Death heim - Filmoa Boss (During Death Animation) Death heim - Casandra Boss (On the wall above the small head fighting the big one) Temp Encode: Removed, since it's been published.
Taking over the world, one game at a time. Currently TASing: Nothing
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YoungJ1997lol wrote:
Normally i would say Yes, but thennI thought "its not the same hack" so ill stick with meh.
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. ---- [1914] SNES ActRaiser "Special Mode" by zidanax in 21:01.73
Joined: 3/5/2012
Posts: 2
Hey guys, as some of you might know, Zidanax was a bit of a loner in the real world. I say 'was' because last weekend he chose to end his life. From his last logged in date, it seems that this forum was one of the last places he visited. Tim was a coworker and classmate of mine, but I never knew him more than casually, I only found this by searching for his username. I'm posting hoping that people who knew him on this site will find this and know why he is no longer around, and hoping to find anyone who talked with him frequently to maybe find out more information for his family. If you have anything to share, please PM me.
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May his beloved soul rest in peace.
Nitrogenesis wrote:
Guys I come from the DidyKnogRacist communite, and you are all wrong, tihs is the run of the mileniun and everyone who says otherwise dosnt know any bater! I found this run vary ease to masturbate too!!!! Don't fuck with me, I know this game so that mean I'm always right!StupedfackincommunityTASVideoz!!!!!!
Arc wrote:
I enjoyed this movie in which hands firmly gripping a shaft lead to balls deep in multiple holes.
natt wrote:
I don't want to get involved in this discussion, but as a point of fact C# is literally the first goddamn thing on that fucking page you linked did you even fucking read it
Cooljay wrote:
Mayor Haggar and Cody are such nice people for the community. Metro City's hospitals reached an all time new record of incoming patients due to their great efforts :P
Guga
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Wow, this is so sad. May he rest in peace.
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I don't think this got noticed for 5 days because not a lot of discussion typically goes on in the PubMov forum. Hopefully more people will see this, and anyone that knew the guy can come forward and give a bit of insight to the family and friends.
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Words can't express the sadness this brings on. All the very best wishes to you and everyone else touched by this.
Sir_VG
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I wonder if he's moved since I last sent things to him, cause I found the newspaper from the town I last have but I didn't see anything. Granted the address I have is from 1.5 years ago, but I wanted to see it, cause I just don't believe it. :(
Taking over the world, one game at a time. Currently TASing: Nothing
Spikestuff
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Wow.... Rest in peace Zidanax
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+fsvgm777 never censoring anything.
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