This topic is for the purpose of discussing #3466: McBobX's SNES Mega Man X2 "no upgrades" in 33:21.67

This looked reasonably optimized, but I don't think we need a "no upgrades" run that doesn't get the best ending. It's not that much faster. Voting No for bad goal choice.

It's really a tough call for me. On the one hand, I don't really see any improvements over the gameplay that you can compare to FractalFusion's run. This run is only faster due to the fact that there's 2 less bosses to fight total. I timed Fractal's fight against Serges in Magna Centipede's stage from the time he took the side path to the time he got back (since you come back the way you came) and it ended up being 40 seconds, more time than the gap between these two runs. The fight against Agile in Bubble Crab's stage also adds a few seconds to the equation (though that fight is pretty quick and leads to a shortcut, but I think it still adds some time to the length of the stage). The same goes for Violen, though his fight is a bit longer than Agile's. If this video were to be accepted, I think it would have to be yet another category for this game, and honestly, I think the two we have are good enough. Due to these reasons, I feel like I have to vote no. I think it's a well-done run, but nothing that actually improves on the current no upgrade run.

The run looks good but it doesn't add anything of entertainment value that "low%, best ending" doesn't already have, so I don't think it has a place on the site. I'm also a little puzzled on why people are still TASing this game on 1.43 when it's pretty clear that 1.51+ emulates X2 much more accurately (lag emulation allows extra glitches that work on console). Maybe there's a perfectly reasonable explanation, but I hope it's not just "the old runs are on 1.43 so it's easier to compare". Hopefully the inevitable huge any% X2 improvement will break the cycle.

I'm not 100% on X2 in 1.51. But if we could get TASing on 1.53, it would be the best probably because you can skip Snails Miniboss like we do in Normal Speedruns (using charged burner for 100% and uncharged burner in low%). Also, it's best to run the Japanese version because you can skip a large crystal block in Snail's stage that for some reason you can not do in the US version.

Part of what makes MMX2 runs so exciting is how the upgrades are put towards terrific use. Without them, the run is a lot more bland.

Also, it's best to run the Japanese version because you can skip a large crystal block in Snail's stage that for some reason you can not do in the US version.

I'm pretty sure the glitch can be done on any version. However, it seems to require the X-Buster upgrade, so it can't be done in a no-upgrades run.

Why was this boss order preferred over Sponge > Gater > Crab > Stag > Moth > Centipede > Snail? Or Centipede could be second. Reason I ask is because Sponge weapon in Low% is the only speed boost you have. So getting it asap would yield faster stage times. I am sure I will be corrected if I am wrong, but FractualFusion's rout was to be ready for the Zero part fights. So due to the lack of the fights, the rout should have been change to deal with the different goals. Waiting for encode but just on rout alone I am leaning towards a "No" vote unless some info is brought up explaining the reasons behind the choices that was made rather than just copping the last rout.

I can only vote after seeing the encode, my computer refuses to run SNES videos properly +_+

Although this run has improved over the previous edition, I still feel it is quite lacking. * The best ending run uses the route for a reason. This one just copies the route without good reason. * A significant number of boss fights are suboptimal. Fights such as the C4 Sword (Centipede's midboss), Magna Centipede (both fights), Serges Machine, and Sigma are notably suboptimal. * In Wheel Gator's stage, the fast Ride Armor trick was not used. * In Morph Moth's stage, the second midboss jumped before falling apart; this wastes time. * There are a significant number of missed shots. Most in the Magna Centipede stage. * Near the beginning of X-Hunter 1, the run uses Crystal on an enemy but doesn't take advantage of it to skip a wall-jump. McBobX, you need to watch the published runs carefully and in emulator (using input display), using prior knowledge to present a good TAS. If using the knowledge we have is too difficult, perhaps you should try another game. If you have any further questions about how to make a good TAS of Mega Man X2, you may reply here.

om, nom, nom... juicy!