Info to sync the TAS
- Use Dolphin 4.0-4167
- Memory cards are off
- Uses LLE recompiler audio
- Dual Core and Idle Skipping turned off
Thanks to TheRobMan 07 and whokilledthekitty for their videos of runs of the game which I was able to use for reference.
I'm so glad that I finished this run, because I can remember thinking and feeling that it would never get done. I can remember starting it just about 6 months ago and being excited to even be able to play it. I used to love this game when I was younger but hating to have to go through the entire game not knowing any way to go through it faster. Now that I revisited it with some tools, it was much more excruciating exciting. I know that it's improvable but only to a certain extent, with the current route at least. With the current route and tricks/glitches, runs will never sub 2 hours. They will get close, but there is only so much that can be done to reduce time lost. There is probably a relatively small timesaver in the beginning with the Whomping Willow or somewhere in another one of the spell chambers. When I come back to the game again or when it gets more attention, I'm hoping more useful glitches will be discovered. I was also a bit annoyed at a small emulation error (I'm assuming) where Harry would start "stuttering" as he was running. It happened frequently.
About the TAS
- Aims to complete the game in as little time as possible
- Manipulates enemies to take or avoid damage to save time
- Abuses glitches
Techniques or tricks
The only real techniques that I used in this run were a quick turn-like movement that I use to change directions in a matter of a few frames and skipping the dialogue boxes. The quick turn movement happens when Harry is running and I press the L-trigger and hold a different direction. It happens because pressing the L-trigger is supposed to center the camera behind Harry, but if he's running it'll make him instantly change directions. It can also be used when Harry runs and jumps off a ledge. Harry will still jump off the ledge, but pressing the L-trigger on the right frame and holding a different direction will make Harry jump in that direction but still face the same way as running off the ledge. Also, during the run, when a help box pops up, I press Z to open the menu and then close out of it to make the box go away instead of just waiting to press A. Opening and closing the menu saves time over waiting to press A.
- The Burrow
- This area was fairly easy. It was just an introductory level, teaching the basics to the player. Nothing here could be skipped. Though, I do think I did the "washing machine duel" fairly quickly. The gnomes in the garden probably could have gone better, but I tried to spend as little time hitting and throwing them beyond the wall.
- Diagon Alley
- This area was a bit annoying just because of all the unskippable cutscenes.
- Whomping Willow
- Nothing too unpleasant about this area except for the final fight. I feel like I could get an early cycle somehow.
- Flying Lesson
- Simple and straightforward.
- Saving Neville
- This task was actually really annoying because it seemed like there was so much unnecessary running around (going to the Library to get the book, then going to get the Diffindo spell, then running all the way back to Neville who was stuck behind a big hanging carpet).
- Expelliarmus Challenge
- This chamber was really fun and I feel I did it really quickly. The beginning with the flying spiked balls was very solid in my opinion because I manipulated them to hit them in groups instead of one at a time. The major skip was done quickly, and the fight against the statue was done quickly as well.
- Quidditch Practice
- Practice was also straightforward.
- Skurge Spell & Hogwarts - A History
- This area was also pretty annoying. The very first section felt incredibly slow but there was nothing that could be done about it, and there were so many sections after that that I felt I could have saved time on if there was a way to avoid all the wall sneaking. Otherwise, the room with the enchanted bookcase was alright, and the room with Slytherin duel was solid. The most fun part was running past the prefects going towards the restricted section of the library.
- Avifors Challenge
- This challenge wasn't so hard. Not too much to say about it.
- Quidditch Match 1
- Very simple.
- Questioning Draco
- This was probably the most fun I had in the entire TAS. It was all supposed to be based on sneaking past the prefects and not getting caught, but instead I taunt them and run past them.
- Incendio Challenge
- This chamber wasn't that bad either. The initial statue fight was fast, the gate skip execution was good, and getting the spell book was quick as well. The only problem that I had was that I feel that pushing all the switches could have gone faster somehow. I think there will be a way to get past the door early without having to stop the fire from blocking it.
- Quidditch Match 2
- Again, nothing complicated about it.
- Forbidden Forest & Aragog
- sigh... I hated this area. There are a ton of enemies throwing projectiles at you that can still hurt you if you run into them, and often there was very little space with no room to dodge them. I still think it looked neat just skipping almost all the enemies, not having to stop for them. The fight with Aragog was excellent. I was able to manipulate him so that I could attack 4 times in a row without waiting, which is very fast. I'm happy with the fight.
- Quidditch Match 3
- Nothing much to comment on.
- Final Battle
- I honestly think this fight was terrible, yet I don't think there is really anything I can significantly improve on. I couldn't manipulate the basilisk to be open to attack early, so it seemed like it was very slow when it's supposed to be like that. All the "stuttering" during the running animation didn't help either. I hope I can get some kind of early attack cycles later on.
