(Link to video)
This is an SMB2J any% run with most optimized stages and latest techniques, and a 27-frame improvement over my last run in 2011.
I didn't expect my last run could be improved, until a week ago, I found a faster way of falling in the water after hitting a ceiling, which saves 1 frame from the water stage in 8-4. The key is to maximize the falling speed by just the right swimming strength.
By then I thought: "Oh, great, another 1-frame improvement. How would I dare to submit it this time..." But when I started testing some previous stages, it shocked me that I could pass the wall by bouncing on a Goomba without losing speed after all, saving a frame rule (21 frames) in 1-2, something I thought was impossible 5 years ago. The key is to manipulate the loading time of the two Goombas, and to jump very precisely.
Both stages have been improved during the last run. I'm surprised that they can be improved even further.
The other 5 frames come from the first stage of 8-4. They were lost due to bad luck at the Podoboo in the last run, but are now back.
With every stage fully optimized, I boldly predict that this would be the speed limit and the very last any% run of SMB2J, along with SMB warped run.

Special features

Every stage has been reproduced and perfected, except 1-1. There are also a few surprises in store where time hasn't been saved, for instance:
  • Lakitu's kiss at the end of 4-1
    • I guess it's more interesting if you imagine it as a "kiss", rather than killing Lakitu the same frame it turns around.
  • Jumping through the long firebar in 4-4
    • Back when I was making the SMB2J Luigi TAS, I thought time wouldn't allow Mario to jump through the long firebar at the beginning of 4-4, but it turns out that it does, just barely for Mario to catch up with the frame rule.
  • Sliding at Warp Zone of 5-2
    • It's only possible thanks to the fast pipe entering trick I found during the Luigi TAS.
  • Killing final Bowser
    • Watching such quick kill, can you see how many fireballs are used?
Overall, the entertainment is improved a lot, with more actions, more killings, more music playing, etc.. I can't go through every minor improvements and detail, so here's a self-explanatory comparison video that I made: Download 2048x1152 HD comparison encode (MKV, 35.3 MB)

Suggested screenshot

This time, I changed the location getting the Fire Flower to a much dangerous place, which no TAS has ever set foot on. Although it only doesn't waste time because of the frame rule, I find it more entertaining, because getting the flower earlier helps to clear some enemies on the way, and the movement itself is pretty extreme and even more difficult than it seems.
Thank you for watching. I hope you'll enjoy the new run even better. :D

Masterjun: Oh man, saving the frames! Judging.
Masterjun: Solid optimization, and cool idea to use the frame rules as an opportunity to entertain a bit more! Accepting to Moons as an improvement to the previous run.
Spikestuff: Publishing, and encoding 13 times over Nevermind. Famtasia Screwed me.

Post subject: Re: You did say "anything" after all.
Expert player (2454)
Joined: 12/23/2007
Posts: 822
Spikestuff wrote:
Can you get Famtasia running FDS?
I don't use Famtasia, but I know if you want to run FDS with FCEUX, "disksys.rom" is all you need.
Recent projects: SMB warpless TAS (2018), SMB warpless walkathon (2019), SMB something never done before (2019), Extra Mario Bros. (best ending) (2020).
Site Admin, Skilled player (1236)
Joined: 4/17/2010
Posts: 11274
Location: RU
What does Famtasia even have to do with this?
Warning: When making decisions, I try to collect as much data as possible before actually deciding. I try to abstract away and see the principles behind real world events and people's opinions. I try to generalize them and turn into something clear and reusable. I hate depending on unpredictable and having to make lottery guesses. Any problem can be solved by systems thinking and acting.
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 14893
Location: 127.0.0.1
This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [3348] FDS Super Mario Bros. 2 "warps, Mario" by HappyLee in 08:04.83
Post subject: Famtasia is still better than Mupen.
Spikestuff
They/Them
Editor, Publisher, Expert player (2300)
Joined: 10/12/2011
Posts: 6341
Location: The land down under.
feos wrote:
What does Famtasia even have to do with this?
Well, if you know me. You know that I have a project which is reencoding old, old TASes and spamming the crap out of TVC for all to enjoy wanting to kill me at the end. And in my defense HappyLee did write "anything". And I took that anything to ask how to get Famtasia running FDS. And fun fact. I've been at Famtasia FDS for 3 damn months (Not including last year / keeping on the very down low / and was for the 12 other SMB2j runs before this submission and I instead did Super Metroid any% & Early Arcade TASes in the end) and only brought it up at publication. And in my publication note writing "and encoding 13 times over" which refers to the 13 warp runs of SMB2j (including this run). But as we are. This has been published without the 12 older runs, thanks to the Gem known as Famtasia FDS. I'll spam your feed in the future with this one day, just like how Mike Tyson's Punch Out has to wait.
WebNations/Sabih wrote:
+fsvgm777 never censoring anything.
Disables Comments and Ratings for the YouTube account. Something better for yourself and also others.
Buddybenj
He/Him
Joined: 1/12/2013
Posts: 166
Location: USA
Do any of these improvements also apply to the Luigi run?
Projects: Interested in TASing N64 Mario Golf. GBA Mario Tennis: Power Tour is on hold.
Expert player (2454)
Joined: 12/23/2007
Posts: 822
Buddybenj wrote:
Do any of these improvements also apply to the Luigi run?
I haven't tested it, but I guess only the 1-frame improvement in 8-4, if any. Since it's only 1 frame, and not many people would care about it, I wouldn't test it and other potential improvements until finishing my other project.
Recent projects: SMB warpless TAS (2018), SMB warpless walkathon (2019), SMB something never done before (2019), Extra Mario Bros. (best ending) (2020).
Spikestuff
They/Them
Editor, Publisher, Expert player (2300)
Joined: 10/12/2011
Posts: 6341
Location: The land down under.
HappyLee wrote:
Since it's only 1 frame, and not many people would care about it.
To bring up other 1 frame improvement TASes (including SMB). DO IT!
WebNations/Sabih wrote:
+fsvgm777 never censoring anything.
Disables Comments and Ratings for the YouTube account. Something better for yourself and also others.