(Link to video)
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Summary

  • Pacifist - Normal Mode
  • Real Kills: 3 - Beat: 1 - Exp : 1768 - Level: 8 - Rooms: 368 - Time Attack Entries: 6
  • Major skip glitch
  • Heavy glitch abuse
  • Heavy luck manipulation
  • Takes intentional damage
  • Uses warps
  • Uses an in-game code
  • Starts from a saved state or SRAM
  • Emulator used: BizHawk (2.10)
  • RealTime:19:56.07 GameTime:18:52(last input) Frames:71558 Re-records:335985
  • Verif Movie For SRAM

About the run

This is a slower version (~1min30) of my most recent sub for pacifist
The route is slightly different. (note: the extra time attack entry is Meet Death)
The main difference reside in getting poison for doing the levelup in colosseum since you have higher HP it is required, the axe armor is also required for stopping the toss since only the blade attack (grounded...) will deal enough damage.
Problem is the only way to get poison is at the librarian with meal ticket, this is why it takes an extra 2 min for the clock rush, worth noting it is so tight timing that you cant do the money glitch yet and forced to do it upon library revisit, also going reverse colosseum (like in the luck mode sub) is only a dozen frame faster so I kept it like this.
I am still submitting this run because it is fairly well optimize and I hope it can be put in playground.
eien86: Claiming for judging.
eien86: Waiting on the author to respond to a question about in-game code use.
eien86: This movie is similar in nature and execution to that of [6463] PSX Castlevania: Symphony of the Night "pacifist, luck mode" by arukAdo in 18:27.81, so I won't expand much on the technical analysis. However, the choice of goal deserves some discussion. Here the author submits this as "Pacifist, Normal Mode", but I reckon there is little normal in using a code (AXEARMOR) that grants you an in-game item (the Axe Armor) from the beginning. Hence, "pacifist, uses code AXEARMOR" is a more precise description of the goal.
The use of SaveRAM is justified here for two reasons: - It is necessary to buy the duplicator - Enables the use of the AXEARMOR code
The publisher should make sure both the use of SaveRAM and an in-game code is properly clarified.
Accepting to Standard
Thanks McBobX for the sync!
eien86: the author has requested that the categorization of this movie be re evaluated. I will be conferring with other judges regarding this.

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Posted: 2/16/2025 12:33 PM
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TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #9534: arukAdo's PSX Castlevania: Symphony of the Night "pacifist, uses AXEARMOR in-game code" in 19:56.08
Posted: 2/16/2025 11:08 PM
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McBobX
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After watching this one and the Luck Mode version, I am more convinced that Luck Mode is way better at handling this category, though because they're both similar after couple minutes, I guess they both fine? Either way, I am still more with Luck Mode version as it felt more enjoyable than this one, I'm voting Meh here.
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Posted: 8 days ago
(Edited: 8 days ago)
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eien86
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Hi arukAdo, I notice you input "AXEARMOR" in the name selection. Per [https://gamefaqs.gamespot.com/ps/196885-castlevania-symphony-of-the-night/cheats], this allows you to start the game with an armor already in the inventory. I am asking because this constitutes the use of an in-game code, which is allowed in certain circumstances, but needs to be properly clarified. Can you explain why you use it and how does that constitute "Normal Mode"?
Posted: 6 days ago
(Edited: 2 days ago)
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arukAdo
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The wording with "normal mode" is only to distinct the use of "luck mode", the difference is the starting stats, luck mode start at 25hp and 1mp regardless what you do, normal is stats you get from how you beat prologue; time, damage taken, hearts and what subweapon you have produce slight differences on the stats results. In this run, the axe armor is used to stop the big toss in the colosseum; it is not possible to get toss mid air but only on the ground (because of the increased HP) with the blade master slash attack (where as in the luck mode since lower HP you can simply touch him mid air to get toss), so without stopping your movement you would just get past the doorway, the axe armor provide the only mean to do this. The other consequence (from stats) is it allow to do more wingsmash due to higher mp capacity, it is in the end still slower than just going luck mode ironically. The sram main usage is (like in luck mode) to allow to buy the duplicator, that been sayd I believe "axearmor" can only be input with "replay" (sram) unlike luck mode itself. Despite they have the same kill count, I was under the assumption this could only go in playground, simply because its slower. The previous publication use "normal mode" (and sram for duplicator too)
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Posted: 1 hour ago
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feos
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arukAdo wrote:
The wording with "normal mode" is only to distinct the use of "luck mode", the difference is the starting stats, luck mode start at 25hp and 1mp regardless what you do, normal is stats you get from how you beat prologue; time, damage taken, hearts and what subweapon you have produce slight differences on the stats results.
If the luck mode code is not used then "luck mode" would just not be used in the branch label. It doesn't make sense to add "normal mode" now to all branches that don't use the luck mode cheat. Axearmor is a code tho, so it needs to be indicated.
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.
Posted: 42 minutes ago
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feos
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I just found out that the luck code is used in all SOTN branches aside from [2657] PSX Castlevania: Symphony of the Night "pacifist" by ForgoneMoose in 21:08.62 and [2584] PSX Castlevania: Symphony of the Night "Richter mode" by pirate_sephiroth & ForgoneMoose in 05:39.85. Yet there's zero distinction either way. Both fastest completion and no-major-skip-glitch use it like it's not big deal. Having 3 variations of pacifist makes this really hard to resolve: one uses a code, another uses another code, and the original uses no codes. We can't move an existing publication to Playground, and I can't say it's fine to have variants of all goals by different code usage. arukAdo, do you know why those 2 branches don't use the luck code? Was it to make gameplay more difficult, given that the code allows for a shorter movie?
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.
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