Hello and welcome to
Load State! I'm ikuyo, the lady that TASes less than she writes about it, and I'll be your guide today!
So, what is this about?
TASVideos is on a very good spot regarding publication and submission rates at the moment. Thanks to the tireless work of staff and the creative output of our users, we have consistently been hitting double digit publications and submissions each month for years now. While we usually acknowledge them during end of year Awards season, I feel it can be very easy to skim through our publication lists and feel a bit lost, especially as TAS work becomes more refined and specialized.
I can't solve this problem myself, but I can offer a guide: Load State (I had to give it a TAS related name, sorry, I don't make the rules) is a monthly recap of everything TASVideos has published the last month! While I can't spotlight every TAS on our site, I can give you a sample of the work being done in different pockets of our community. Maybe you will find a new TASer to enjoy, a cool game worth checking out, an improvement waiting to be done, or at least have some fun for a couple hours watching this hand-picked selection of movies. Hope you enjoy!
Fifty movies were published during the month of May, so let's take a look at some of my favorites and notable ones:
- I can't start any list of TASes from the month without mentioning [6521] GB Pokémon: Yellow Version "arbitrary code execution" by iXce in 05:24.41. ACE work is always a delight and I don't need to sell you on Bad Apple!. Welcome to TASVideos, iXce, and thanks!
- [6524] NES Famidash by Walgrey in 33:05.20 is an example of the complexities that arise with very limited space to work with. Autoscrolling games tend to be looked down on as simple, but as it often happens, a deeper look can reveal hidden nuance and finesse.
- If you're in the mood for a more conventional TAS, look no further than [6529] GBA Super Mario Advance 2: Super Mario World "all 96 exits and Dragon Coins" by IgorOliveira666 in 1:23:19.59. This overlooked GBA port added more Yoshi coins and an special ending for getting them all, and the author goes all out in both execution and routing for some high speed 100% fun.
- [6533] PSX Super Adventure Rockman by CoolHandMike in 1:20:55.18 is emblematic of the many changes TASVideos has gone through in the last few years. This oft-forgotten piece of Rockman history was submitted at some point and rejected for Game Choice, so seeing an improved movie make it in is quite a symbol. Amazing work!
- [6534] DS Scribblenauts "crashfest" by hydrideGS in 05:22.08 is one of the funniest movies I've seen in a while. Entertaining, educational and a novel take on using TAS as a teaching tool.
- [6539] GC Resident Evil 4 "The Mercenaries: Base, maximum score" by Ubercapitalist in 07:31.40 is a showcase of heavy RNG manipulation and clever optimization to make the most out of every screen and enemy spawn.
- [6542] Windows I Wanna Be the Guy "in-game codes" by tokoroten-az3 in 16:10.54, its author's debut movie, is a revisit to a classic Windows TAS with a different ruleset and new techniques.
- [6547] PSX Simple 1500 Series: Hello Kitty Vol. 01 — Bowling "Simple" by Spikestuff & inconsistent in 01:46.97 is a fun take on Bowling TASes. I also can't go and not mention this as part of the Simple Series TAS Jam! You're invited to TAS any of the Simple games and join in on the fun. Check this post for further info!
- [6548] SNES Mario's Super Picross "1 player, all puzzles" by UndercookedRice in 1:54:43.10 is technically sound and fun to watch! Congratulations to the author on his first publication.
- [6550] PSX Digimon Rumble Arena "Hard" by KusogeMan in 08:54.22 has everything you want to see in a fighting game TAS. Silly infinites? Check. Making the hardest AI look like a pushover? Of course. Restands? Sign me up!
- [6555] NES Super Mario Bros. "maximum score" by HappyLee, DaSmileKat, Kzwbz, Asumeh & Kosmic in 18:03.62 does some quite clever routing to achieve its goal as fast as possible, and executes it beautifully.
- [6556] GBC Pokémon Puzzle Challenge "Puzzle mode, all levels" by zzk1box in 44:20.78 is a significant improvement by a new author on what was already an impressive movie. Congratulations!
- [6566] Linux Fist of the Neverwake by inconsistent in 01:57.57 is a fun movie with unique movement for a rather unique platformer game. Any game with a wavedash is fun, and the author pushes the game as hard it can go.
- [6563] NES Punch-Out!! (Europe) by yellowdice in 18:51.94 is another beautiful debut, showing the differences to this version and using them to their fullest potential.
- [6567] PCECD Ai Cho Aniki "2 Players, A Rank" by Pepper-Color in 17:28.36 is a weird and wonderful game, and Pepper-Color pulls every trick on the book to achieve its best ending in the most impressive way possible.
That's my personal choice for TASes this month. Thanks to all the authors and members who make this possible! If you have a personal favorite you think deserves some love, let us all know.
