Edit: Changed title. See later messages for WIP details.
I understand that the typical tool-assisted-run goes all the way through a game. I have completed a tool-assisted-run of levels 1-1 and 1-2 of the hardest setting of Shadow Dancer, without using the sword, kicks, ninja magic, the dog, or any offensive manuevers other than intentionall bumping into enemies when necessary. This earns two Peaceful Bonus-es, a video game bonus so rare that Google only knows of one site that mentions it, and that site just lists a cheat code for getting the bonus.
Naturually, the peaceful bonus movie is a bit slower at clearing those levels than a pre-existing Shadow Dander tool-assissted-run as the ninja in my movie has spend a bit of extra time avoiding or bumping enemies that one would normally kill.
I'm not sure there's much point in extending the movie, as the next stage is a boss stage (can't get a Peaceful Bonus there as the boss must die) and the remaining non-boss stages seem to have so many enemies that the Peaceful Bonus may not be possible.
What do I do with such a movie?
Joined: 5/1/2004
Posts: 4096
Location: Rio, Brazil
I think if its such a hard goal then you should finish the movie getting the peacefull bonus on every stage that it is possible (this is in essence a pacifist run then?) looks hard to do and therefore a good thing, if it doesnt obsolete the other movie it should have 2 movies of that game since its such a Mega Drive classic. Just make sure your run is precise and doesnt take hits that really could be avoided without wasting time (or too much).
I think if its such a hard goal then you should finish the movie getting the peacefull bonus on every stage that it is possible (this is in essence a pacifist run then?)
Yes, and a game recognized one, too. (However, by forsaking the dog and magic, I exceed the requirements for the Peaceful Bonus in rounds 1-1 and 1-2.)
On the other hand a Peaceful Bonus 2-1 might be possible but I may have to die a few times while ridding the round of shieldmen/hostages. Shieldmen plus enemy ninjas plus no weapons tends to equal death for poor Shinobi. (Bumping into people wielding two katanas just isn't healthy.) I need to do more research into this stage, however.
FODA wrote:
looks hard to do and therefore a good thing, if it doesnt obsolete the other movie it should have 2 movies of that game since its such a Mega Drive classic. Just make sure your run is precise and doesnt take hits that really could be avoided without wasting time (or too much).
[/quote]
Already got in multiple manuevers done at the first/last possible frame. (E.g., ducking a bullet at the last possible frame).
There are a few sections that slow me down, though. There's two bad guys in the 1-1 that have to be bumped at least once--one stabs you from behind if you jump over him, the other obstructs a ledge that must be jumped over. The end of 1-2 is tricky in that you have to both keep the enemies where you want them and, even worse, there's a glitch that can make the second to last hostage vanish from the game, making the level impassible. (It seems game characters vanish when the screen gets too crowded.) There's a few jumps in my current 1-2 run that don't go as far forward as I'd like but they're there to keep the enemies from stabbing/shooting me in the back or the hostage from getting glitched.
Can you damage bosses with the dog or magic? Or do you need to kill things to get them?
The magic does damage bosses but you only get one use of magic per boss and it never does enough damage to kill a boss alone--you have to use ninja stars, too. The dog never deals any damage at any time (The dog is used to temporarily restrain several non-boss characters).
Update: I just found a way to cut about 6 seconds off a pacifist speedru of 1-1 while adding in a single kick that collects the hidden 1up token. (I think pacifists are allowed to kick inanimate objects.) That means round 1-1 gets cleared with 2:39 left on the game clock--not as fast as a perfect speedrun, but still quite impressive given that I have to bump into a few foes.
Looks like I've lots more research to do before submitting this movie, though.
This seems impressive. I have played that game like a billion times, and I've never heard anything about peaceful bonuses.
I strongly encourage you to continue this run.
However you should not submit runs unless it's compelte. Upload your WIP-run to a web server and post the link in here for us to view.
The run should be submitted when the last boss dies.
If you don't have access to a web server, you can mail me the GMV in a zip file with max compression. Then I can put it on my web server and link it for you.
My email is highness@133an.sytes.net
Cheers!
This seems impressive. I have played that game like a billion times, and I've never heard anything about peaceful bonuses.
I strongly encourage you to continue this run.
...
The run should be submitted when the last boss dies.
Well, that's the problem. The theme of the run is obliterated after round 1-2.
On the other hand, I've trimmed down rounds 1-1 and 1-2 to be almost as fast I can make them. They're pretty fast as is, but (to my utter disappointment) I'm going to have to rerecord some more as I just found another move that saves one frame.
Still, the existing movie, while not as fast as a conventional attacks-are-allowed speedrun, is still quite quick. (Round 1-1 ends with 2:39 on the game clock round with 2:34 on the game clock.)
After 1-2 without using the dog/magic/sword/stars/kicks[1], one must shoot the boss with stars. And, starting with round 2-1, there's too many enemies to dodge and/or bump out of the way. In other words, the game forces a standard non-pacifist speedrun once round 1-2 ends. And, if I was going to do a pure speedrun, I'd start from scratch as I wouldn't be getting Peaceful Bonuses in rounds 1-1 and round 1-2 as there's a few enemies I'd rather kick than bump.
If I need to complete a standard-all-the-way-to-the-end speedrun and then add this movie on the side, I can do that (It'll take me awhile though.) However, I, while I can keep trimming frames of 1-1 and 1-2, I can't see how this run with a very unusual theme theme can go any further than end of 1-2.
And I don't think it would be so bad if only two levels had the bonus. Hey, it's something special to show off, right? You can just try for as close to a pacifist run as possible.
put yourself in my rocketpack if that poochie is one outrageous dude
Update: Peaceful Bonus achieved on a practice 2-1 run. Currently I have to forsake the didn't-use-magic bonus, but it's doable. (At least with tool assistance. Lotsa luck doing it on a console.)
Another Update: Peaceful Bonus achieve on a practice 2-2 run by using magic. Oddly enough, I may have to use the magic bonus here just to keep a hostage from glitching out of the game [which makes the level unbeatable]. I can certainly reach where the hostage is supposed to be without any weapons at all, but the hostage tends to vanish if I do.
As far as I can tell, he game just doesn't expect that many red ninjas to not be killed and loses track of a hostage in the process.
Yet another update--Round 3-1 cleared peacefully (but with use of magic) on a trial run. (Don't have videos of 2-1 through 3-1 though--used a level skip, wasted frames, etc. It's just a proof of concept at the moment. And my level 1-1 has at least one unnessary frame, so that's going to be redone. This may take awhile).
I don't have any good feelings about round 3-2, though. Lots of red ninjas and the best way to peacefully deal with red ninjas (run away!) is impossible, as the entire level takes place on a single platform.
Good grief--it is possible to pass 3-2 with making no attacks other than the one use of ninja magic (and bumping a ninja or two off of the Statue of Liberty). Haven't tried level 4 but there's a fair chance that's a possible mission, even if I have to use both magic and the dog. I'm not looking forward to level 5 (there's a room with lots of green guys that, AFAIK, cannot be bumped ever). However, there's no end-of-round-bonuses at the end of level 5, so I might just pull out the sword finish the run normally from there.
Should be a heck of a video once I get it all together.
Do you have a WIP? I'd very much like to see this.
I've a recording of 1-1 and 1-2 that needs redoing. I didn't record 2-1 through 4-1 (4-1 is possible with use of ninja magic!) as they were just (very sloppy) proof of concept runs accessed via the level select code.
Oh, and I'm not looking foward to the boss levels or bonus levels. Boss levels break theme terribly and, while it's possible to keep theme in the bonus levels, that would be extremely boring, as you don't have to dodge survivors in those rounds. (Well, not shooting anybody in the bonus round might be interesting the first time to anyone who played the game without finding out that shooting nothing in the bonus round is worth a 1up. However, that would only be interesting the first time and there's multiple bonus rounds.)
4-2, on the other hand, just might prove impossible or at least impossible-for-me after all. The darkness makes it very difficult for me to time jumps, mislead enemies, etc. and there's the possiblity that I'll be forced to use ninja magic much earlier than I want to in order to prevent the hostage-vanishes-from-game glitch. The best I can do so far is get within a screen or two from the exit before I'm pinned down by a parade of ninjas and such.
Is there anyway to turn off the darkness layer in Gens? I'd do much better at level 4-2 if I could see all the sprites all of the time.
>Is there anyway to turn off the darkness layer in Gens? I'd do much better at level 4-2 if I could see all the sprites all of the time.
I have looked for this feature too. Playing in the blind is very frustrating. So far haven't found any such feature...
I haven't watched your run yet but I will. From the description it sounds like it could be interesting. I would like a normal as-fast-possible video too, though.
Do you have a WIP? I'd very much like to see this.
WIP file created.
I've redone 1-1 and 1-2, shaving off 54 frames. I've also messed up the re-record count but that really doesn't matter. (It's missing several hundred rerecords, but who's counting?)
I've created an pathetically designed Tripod site to host the WIP file. (It's an very ugly site. I'd rather make more peacefully insane ninja action than muck around with websites, so it'll have to do.)
See the awful website and get the WIP file at http://trazztar.tripod.com/index.htm
Guide to movie so far:
(Times in seconds, all times approximate)
0:13 I have to bump this guy. Jumping over him cleanly means he can stab me in the back.
0:17 I have to stall for the burst of flame (and I don't even want to know why there's explosive flames in the sewer system). What's not obvious is that if I make the following jump one frame sooner, I get shot.
0:19 This jump is a #$(*#$ to time. I can't jump over the gunman and the knifeman. I can't jump over the gunman and hit the knifeman from the right, either. I end up jumping up, staying left enough to draw the knifeman further left so that when I bump the gunman, I land on the right of the knifeman.
On second thought, it might be just as fast if not faster to jump and bump both the gunman and the knifeman. Ack. Oh, well, it looks much, much cooler this way.
Edit: on third thought after some research, the movie is correct as is. I redid the jump with both bumps and the second bump puts me too close to the next knifeman. Getting bumped completely over the first knifeman is *much* faster, even if I have to slow down just a bit to make the bump happen.
0:20 A few frames of walking to get in range and another jump-and-bump on a knifeman.
0:22 Whee! Over the shieldman. I can't jump over him cleanly, but that's OK as I want him in hitstun anyways. Oh, and I stand up in front of the oncoming bullet and duck at the last frame just to show off.
0:24 Okay, one kick. The one-up is here and it doesn't waste any time to get it. Might as well grab it, and kicking 1ups doesn't break the Peaceful Bonus.
0:26 It's time for Pogo Ninja! Bounce, bounce, bounce over the hapless gunmen.
0:29 Jump off of the bricks--I think it's one frame faster than falling off of them.
0:32 It's supposed to say Peaceful Bonus here. However, in order to save frames, I press a button before it shows up. I can prove I got the bonus when the next round starts as it's worth 100,000 points.
0:38 It's possible to jump straight to the hostage platform unharmed, but doing so causes the hostage to disappear due to a glitch, rendering the level unbeatable. (Bit of a shame because making the jump also causes another glitch that permanently disarms the shieldman.) I'll just have to get to the platform in two jumps.
0:41 By walking right and delaying the jump up to the uppermost platform, I can change how the gunman fires later.
0:44 The gunman fires too early, allowing me to jump right past him without having to dodge bullets.
0:45 By just barely landing on the upper platform, I can start walking right, giving me enough momentum to reach the right side of the gunman on the hostage platform. By landing as far right as possible without missing the platform, I conserve frames.
0:49 Thank you, Mr. Gunman, for adding a bit of pizzaz to an otherwise typical jump. I didn't plan this bullet but it's nice to have.
0:55 I'd rather take the low route, but every time I tried that, I either lost a hostage to a glitch or summoned an earthquake that dropped rocks in a very inconvient place. So I take the high route instead.
0:58 It's possible to jump over both of these rolling pillbug guys cleanly, but it's faster to get bumped over the second one.
1:00 The shieldman bump lets me stun the shieldman and fly through a bullet, too. It also means that the gunman won't try shooting to the right, so there's only one more real obstacle in the level.
Edit: It is possible to land to the left of the shieldman and pogo over him, the gunman and the rolypolyman. However, it's three frames slower. I'd love to land to the right of the shieldman--you can survive that if you jump out of the shieldman/gunman trap immediately. However, that route is blocked by a rolypolyman and it takes too long to move him out of the way.
1:01 I have to stay to the left of Mr Roly Poly long enough to keep him from rolling right and blocking the exit. After the brief stall, Shinobi can glide to the exit unmolested and pick up the second Peaceful Bonus.
WIP file updated (see http://trazztar.tripod.com/index.htm for link to file)
WIP notes (All times appoximate and in minutes:seconds.)
Levels 1-1 and 1-2 are unchanged.
New:
Level 1 Boss:
1:10 I walk away from the boss so that rocks that drop from the sky will fall in more convenient places.
1:11 This move is *extremely* important. By jumping early and firing the first shot while falling down I hit the ground sooner and I can't attempt another attack until I hit the ground. The next attack is fired while jumping up as I don't have enough time to set up a falling-downwards shot.
Another odd thing about this boss is that getting close doesn't help much (only one shot per jump so it doesn't matter if you get it in from across the screen) and, if you get too close it becomes difficult (impossible?) to hit the boss at all.
1:14 I can't jump fast enough to get in a fourth shot. Time to retreat once more to keep the falling rocks in convenient locations.
1:17 If ninja magic wasn't so #$&# slow, I'd use it to stay on the offense. It's faster to wait a moment and finish the job with stars, though.
1:20 I love the fact that the boss is completely cornered.
Bonus Stage:
Not that much I can do to make this lively. Still, I get 50 ninjas with 50 stars and finish them off quickly. There's very likely room for improvement. However, since the bonus stages aren't going to be as interesting as the real stages no matter what I do, 100% accuracy should be enough.
Oh, there is one added bit at the end. Watch as the screen darkens for an interrupted throwing motion at the last possible frame that doesn't throw a star.
Level 2-1:
2:22 By showing my back to the spandex guy, I provoke him into moving. If I jump over him while he's falling down, he won't have time to turn around and stab me.
2:24 It might be possible to speed things up here with ninja magic. I refuse to even consider that possibility as getting out of this situation without magic is much more exciting than making all the bad guys go poof.
2:28 Sorry, Mr. Black Spandex. I need this platform. (Oh, and blue ninjas are _stupid_)
2:30 Time to use the dog to prevent deadly crossfire. Unfortunately, the dog is a bit slow on the uptake, so I have stall a bit in the air before he realized that gunmen make nice chew toys.
2:31 With the gunman busy, I can duck under the shield and not worry about getting shot.
2:33 I love this part. (It's the return of Pogo Ninja!)
2:35 Sorry, doggie. I have frames to save. (Yes, a virtual dog was harmed in the making of this movie. :( )
2:36 Ouch. :( Poor doggie. Don't worry, I'll fix him up in no time. In the meantime, here's a move from Dr. Suess' guide to Shinobi, Hop on Handguns.
2:38 I have to bump these guys, but it's okay as the shieldman was above the lower level hostage anyways.
2:39 The doggie is healed! It's a miracle!
2:41 I stall a few frames before jumping so the bullet will pass by underneath.
2:45 By hanging to the left a bit, I can jump over this knifeman without bumping him. On second thought, this may cost a frame or two. Ouch.
2:51 This is subtle but important part. By jumping to the lower level and walking forward a few steps before returning to the upper level, the knifeman spawns (to the left) are delayed and the gunmen firing pattern (from the right) becomes much easier to deal with.
All that's left are two more jumps and a ninja bump and the level is over.
That's Peaceful Bonus #3 and Magic Unused Bonus #4. Score so far: 426,800 points.
How does the run look so far?
Hi hello I was wondering if anyone would be willing to make a TAS of this game on Level 3 (hard mode it changes hostage location, removes female hostage which gives power up, and changes enemy positions and patterns as well as giving bosses more health). I've done a good amount of work I think so whoever wanted to do this wouldn't have to do anything and I'd be willing to help to the best of my ability.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLQGYssVF1WTrfINzkCq1SB2H2sUMVxX-3&action_edit=1
ILs I have done.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NGSA3_l8p30
Theory TAS I have done before ILs to help route out the game for me to do runs that never get to the end.
Joined: 4/2/2009
Posts: 376
Location: Porto Alegre - Brazil
Forgive me, but I think this guy here is already playing the game on Level 3,...
I thought you were talking about the non-shuriken mode when I entered the topic, because I think that would be the most epic thing to do =)
Odd. I spent a long time looking for a good TAS of this game and I could never find one. Even looked here but I don't know how I couldn't find it.
As for no shuriken I would probably run it if the run became completely different because as it is I believe I try to stick mostly to jumpkicks.
Noted. Is there any chance that anyone here knows why a few of the glitches happen? Like 1-2 it is easy to despawn hostage and the ultimate frisbee guy's disc will just fall instead of boomerang back to him.
2-1 there's a stick man near the final hostage and since there's so much lag I'll kick him and he change's colors and I can move through him instead of bumping off of him.
2-2 is another hostage despawn but it can happen to 2nd to last hostage. Only guess I have is that it has something to do with projectiles since I think he will disappear when gunner shoots.
4-2 I found another hostage glitch that as far as I know the only way to correct it is either game over or reset because I guess it's a hostage underflow glitch or something. Somehow when I got the final hostage he never disappeared but it was added to the rescue count. I died to final gunner. Ran through whole stage again, got hostage, game told me I had to collect every single hostage again. None of them would respawn after that (couldn't beat level either since I had "more" to save).
Also does lag just eat inputs for this game or is there something I'm missing like it polls for inputs X amount of frames or something? So far as I see it running this game is basically a lottery since it seems like it is out of my hands on whether or not I can do what I want to do.
