Another voice from new land. I've been lurking here for a bit, and even registered awhile back to talk about a movie that is not even submitted, much less a star candidate (Caitsith's Radar Mission Lucky Shot only run).
When I first came here I did not even look at the list of the "best." But that was because I was directed here by word of mouth. The first thing I watched was the Super Metroid run, the any% with the bomb jump acrobatics and the murder beam glitch. I was watching it a bit behind the person who pointed it out to me, so we were talking about it. I remember being awed by the aforementioned "bomb jump acrobatics" and when the murder beam glitch came, it was quite a surprise. But the reason I even watched this at all was because I was familiar with the game, and also a bit familiar with these runs. Having seen the "crazy god technique" of SMB1 and the "legendary" SMB3 run by Morimoto. Not from this site here though.
But after that, I decided to go back and see what movies you had. I checked the NES and SNES sections. But did not download anything right away. And then I downloaded some more runs, but I had to be able to get them from archive.org because at first I did not watch using emulators for fear of vexing compatibility problems, I also avoided the torrents.
Man it was so long ago, and they are on a different computer so I don't remember all the ones I watched back then. But I do remember Dragon Warrior being one of the first. Like Unless I am one of those kids who got Dragon Warrior for free from Nintendo Power. Also like Unless, I could never beat it (without cheating). So it was exhilarating to see that game crushed so quickly. I also recall watching and enjoying: the Altered Beast run, both Kid chameleon runs (though I enjoyed the longer a lot more), a couple of Megaman series runs but I don't remember which ones, I think 2 and 3, and perhaps surprisingly, the Super Mario RPG run. Perhaps that last one indicates I am not a typical New'un, but that is what I went for.
I guess your goal with these starred movies is to set the hooks into new folks so they will come back and see what else there is to offer. I have to say that you guys have hooked me. I grabbed the compatible emulators, and everything. I even lurk around the forums quite a bit to see if any interesting or obscure runs are being done. Like for instance, the Radar Mission run and the Balloon Kid (almost) balloonless run. But the main thing that will hook people is familiarity, all the games I mentioned, I am familiar with. Ranging from very familiar, to even just a little. I even watched both UK runs because I played that game a bit once (I preferred the longer one). But then, I don't even recall noticing the stars.
Ahh, I am sorry if I am rambling too much, I tend to avoid posting as much as I can and then wind up making one huge post every so often.
Quite a few star changes were made, let's see if I can remember enough to summarize them here so they can be discussed if anyone feels like it:
Added stars to:
GBA Sonic Advance 2 by Nitsuja
NES Mega Man 5 by Baxter
Removed stars from:
NES Mega Man 1 by Bisqwit
Genesis Sonic 3 & Knuckles by SprintGod
SNES Super Demo World by Fabian & JXQ
SNES Super Mario World by Flagitious & VIPer7
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
Joined: 4/21/2004
Posts: 3517
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
With all due respect to Nitsujas Sonic Advance 2 run, how many here agrees with me that SprintGod's Sonic 3 & Knuckles is by far the best Sonic TAS ever done (if not even the best TAS in overall)? I mean compare peoples reaction when SprintGod submitted his second version of Sonic 3 & Knuckles with Nitsujas run and the runs themselves. Im assuming this is what happened; Nitsujas sonic run got a star in favor of SprintGod's run.. And another thing, how can you people complain that Rockman and Rockman 2 are too glitchy to get a star? C'mon man, thats the beauty of those runs, how the author behind those runs abuse them extensively to say the least.
I agree with this, especially because S3&K lends itself to more shortcuts with the use of the special effects of the different shields.
I'm not saying MM1's run isn't good by any means; I just think it is so glitched that a beginner wouldn't know how to take it. I've read all sorts of stuff about it and I still can't follow the entire thing. Once someone learns more about what is done here, then they would be able to appreciate the work that went into that run and follow it better - but they aren't a beginner by this point.
For my taste, a run that is glitched to the point of MM1 removes the nostalgia element for me, because it's almost like a completely different game is played (i.e. Magnet Beam abuse instead of playing the level "normally"). It's still interesting to realize how far the game can be pushed, but the end product isn't something I like to watch all that much. SMB2(USA) and Zelda 2 are runs I also feel this way about.
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
For me it is the amount of glitching that makes the run worthy of a star. The more, the better. MM1 should get it's star back, in my opinion. Surely there is an older run which can be improved. Take it's star away, but leave MM1s star alone. It is bloody well deserved!
Agreed. It's the most varied, even considering how long it is. In part, some of the goodness is getting around how the game makes you wait (rising sand in Sandopolis 2). The glitches are surprising, but the one that really matters (scrolling the screen around) is easily reproducable.
Admittingly, I'm biased since the only handheld Sonic game I've played was the Game Gear version of Sonic 2.
As far as Rockman goes, think of it as being too good for a star. Whenever I watch the acquisition of the Magnet Beam my brain just kinda glosses over it.
My views on the subject:
Stars are primarily movies that are good examples for newcomers and secondarily movies that are just awesome.
I feel that there should be variation in which movies have stars, that is...
- at least one star movie for every system
- not all star movies should be from the same series, or even worse same game (so I'm happy that the same Mario game doesn't have three star movies any more)
- there should be some variation in genres, meaning some platformers, some shooting, some RPGs
- the (majority of) the star movies should be for games that are fairly popular/famous
- the movies of course also be very impressive.
As such, I'm quite satisfied with the current selection.
It seems like a lot of people would also like some kind of top 10 for movies in terms of populariy and awesomeness. That kind of thing is probably better solved by some kind of voting system rather than one person choosing them. That means extra work of course, because someone has to code it. But if at all possible, I think that is the best solution.
This was exactly what I was thinking when I read on the IRC channel that these runs were given the axe (regarding the Sonic thing). SprintGod's run is just amazing, I think it's probably the most star deserving run (along with the only (?) N64 run currently published, Mario 64) on the entire site.
Other than that I guess it's pretty reasonable. Although it sucks getting my only run unstarred it didn't make much sense having that many SMW/SDW runs, especially not the SDW one.
I'm also surprised that Sonic 3 & Knuckles lost its star. It was long, but several starred runs are longer. Although, strangely, it is one of the only runs here that I was less impressed with the first time I watched it compared to the times I watched it later - usually it's the other way around.
Also, I liked the MM1 run more than the MM2 one, but maybe I'm crazy.
Joined: 11/22/2004
Posts: 1468
Location: Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Star removed from Mega Man? I'm sure there was good reasoning for it, but I can't possibly agree with it. Mega Man by Bisqwit is the ultimate example of a tool-assisted speedrun, more pure to the original concept than any other movie on the site.
I can only hope that he'll improve it soon, then, I guess!
Sure MM2 is more popular, but MM1 definetely looks cooler because MM2 glitches are slower to perform.
It's sad how Sonic 3 & Knuckles lost star, it's one of the coolest movies I've ever seen.
Also, I liked SDW 100% more than SMW 100% because of many glitches that aren't used in SMW 100%, and the game is more beautiful (in my opinion).
Bablo, I'm guessing the reasoning is that Super Mario World is one of the most popular SNES games there is, while no one knows what SDW is unless you're not a first time viewer. Makes perfect sense.
Joined: 5/20/2004
Posts: 118
Location: Over there!
There are known ways to significantly improve the Sonic 2 TAS, and quite a few areas that aren't optimised very well. If my Sonic 3 & Knuckles recording isn't worthy of a star, then Sonic 2 certainly isn't.
FWIW SprintGod, your run is one of three I have on my desktop and watch over and over again on my second monitor while doing other stuff. If you don't have a star you can always take solace in that it's one of the best speedruns there is.
I agree completely about the Sonic 3 vs Sonic 2 thing btw.
The added runs I have no problem with, as they're both the definition of "fast" and "planning" -- at least, mostly.
However, if you're going to show a super-glitch run like MM2, MM1 would be much better suited to it; as said before, glitches take less time to preform and are just generally even crazier.
Sonic3&Knuckles is almost definitely one of the best TAS's on this site; it's just so varied and tries to keep things new the whole way through
- SDW, even for someone who has no background, should still be counted; it's one of those games that just makes your jaw drop in sheer awe at how far ROM hacking can go, and it shows off every level in the game, even more glitches than SMW, and all kinds of fun things; it's the only run I managed to sit for over an hour to watch in one sitting with my jaw throughly down the whole time.
More opinions from me (cuz I know you love them hehe):
I was surprised that the longer SMW run kept its star instead of the shorter one. I've stated this before, but the flying gets old to me as the run goes on, and the run is in need of an improvement - not saying it's bad, just out of date with the current knowledge of SMW. On the other hand, the 11-exit run has tons of fun stuff packed into 10 minutes, including these highlights:
Bouncing off shell in YI4
P-Switch jump in IC
Screen-pallette glitch in DP1
Incredible Big Boo Fight in DSH
And it's incredibly optimized throughout.
Also, I'm not surprised SDW lost its star. I can see why it may not be the best choice for beginners to the site. But I'm happy that so many people do like the run anyway.
I think this is a good reason that Mega Man 2 is more suited for a star than Mega Man 1 - since the glitches have a bit of prep time in Mega Man 2, it gives the watcher a chance to catch their breath and see what's involved.
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
I would say give the star back to Rockman1. No offence to Bax1er, but i found Rockman1 to be alot more entertaining. Its shorter, and has the viewer saying "WTF did he just do! He cant do that! Thats impossible!". Then they watch the Megaman5 and say "I cant believe the Luck! Such good optimizations! I have to try that!".
I think Rockman deserves a star IMO.