This movie is the polar opposite of #6092: ThunderAxe31's GB Rolan's Curse "hardest password, game end glitch" in 04:36.89. This time I used a password that gives maxed stats to the player. I made this movie so that we could stress test the idea of accepting the usage of arbitrary passwords for beating a game faster, discussion started from this submission: #7451: andy120195's DS Pokémon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team "Wondermail" in 1:36:40.01. In my opinion, all these kinds of submissions are making use of unfair advantages.

slamo: Claiming for judging.
slamo: This is going to be awaiting a discussion on codes in Standard, so I'll set this to Delayed until that's figured out.
slamo: I guess this was a pretty good stress test! We could have just thrown it into Playground, but instead we had a discussion about allowing codes in general and implemented a new Standard branch to accommodate movies like this.
This run aims to use the password system to run through the game faster...well, that sounds like another layer to optimize, doesn't it? The password system is not that simple to decipher and has many different options for items, so it's not as trivial as it sounds. Finding the best possible password and running the game with it is a legitimate optimization challenge, one I think we should welcome for this game and other games as well.
The most important thing to note about this movie is that it is a completely separate branch from one that doesn't use codes. It will never obsolete the Fastest Completion branch. That run is always going to be there for the purists that want a clean start, but for anyone interested in pushing the game to its absolute limits, this movie is here as well.
The password usage fits within our rules. You could have started later in the game with the password, but you avoided this, so you don't skip any content. The password just gives you maximum stats and the two items you want, which are essentially things you're unlocking early, so it's allowed.
I'm removing the word "easiest" from the branch name. "Easiest" is too subjective. The goal is ostensibly to use the password that will result in the fastest time (without skipping stages), so just "password" will fit for this and for any future attempts at the Standard branch.
Accepting to Standard as the first entry in the new In-Game Codes branch.

despoa: Processing...
ThunderAxe31: Fixing cycle count.


TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15628
Location: 127.0.0.1
Player (26)
Joined: 8/29/2011
Posts: 1206
Location: Amsterdam
This is an interesting topic. Another game with a password system that has been thoroughly examined is Metroid. Documentation here; with a password, it's straightforward to start with, say, 250 missiles and 5 energy tanks. Would a run like that be more or less interesting than a standard Metroid run? Personally, I feel it would be less entertaining, because it no longer shows the superhuman skills I'd expect from a TAS; with high enough stats/life/missiles, almost any player can get through the game with ease. So I suggest that such passwords should only be allowed in the playground area.
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15628
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. ---- [4768] GB Rolan's Curse "password, game end glitch" by ThunderAxe31 in 04:04.80