Finally, I am finished. This has been my project for several months now. This final version is 2173 frames (36.21 seconds) faster than Walkerboh's published movie.

About the game

I first saw this game from walker's run when I was looking for a famtasia run to improve.
This is a gem of a game for TASers. It is relatively unknown but is action packed, and has loads of strategic and route planning possibilities. It is much like megaman in that you take the levels in any order and get weapon power ups from the boss. Two of the weapon power ups are a cloud for flying and a throwing spear which you use to create ledges. Much like rush power-ups in megaman, these add to the route possibilities; allowing creative shortcuts. The game's best moments are the vertical zones in which the character must 1) fall and avoid ledges as much as possible, or 2) ascend up ledges as quick as possible. These areas are very interesting to watch and plan.
In addition, enemies can be manipulated to drop important power-ups including a magic potion (functions the same as energy tanks in metroid), a flint spear head that increases your attack power, and a head dress that increases your defense.
This is a very difficult & time consuming game to TAS though, ESPECIALLY the vertical sections. This is my second run through of the game.

Improvements

A number of optimizations led to the 30 sec improvement.
  • Route change. I got the cloud and spear first in order to maximize the shortcut possibilities of these items. Almost all levels benefit from the spear especially.
  • Flint spear head. The bosses can all be beaten in 5 hits with the spear head upgrade. The optimal weapon for each only kills them in 6. Since the bosses have a whopping 75 frames of invulnerability time, this is quite an item! I manage to manipulate it from enemy kills (which cost a little time, but only 10-20 frames). The first boss you meet would take 9 hits without the spear. That is a 300 frame difference!
  • Using the throwing spear to get enemy drops without losing time. Certain (very few) enemies can be killed in one hit from the spear. When I encounter these enemies, I shoot the spear from a distance and manipulate the drop that I want. That way I don't lose time getting them.
  • Using the throwing spear to ascend vertical stages quicker. By "extending" ledges with the spear, I am able to minimize horizontal movement in these areas, thereby speeding up vertical movement.
  • Having all 3 magic potions for the final boss. The dragon weapon is the best weapon for the boss but uses up 1 heart of your life. It use it the most, I make sure to have maximum energy.
  • Having as much energy as possible at the end of each level. You energy is filled up at the end of each level which costs time. So, while taking damage often saves time, it has to be balance with the cost at the end of each level. Also, I can manipulate hearts from enemies (and hidden ones).
  • Jumping of ladder instead of walking off. This is a minor improvement of about 4 frames. But it adds up over the course of the run.
  • Jumping as much as possible before grabbing a ladder. This saves at least 6 frames on each ladder.
  • Using enemies to propel me higher than normal. I use this to reach a few ledges quicker.
  • Finding hidden items. By jumping in the right spots, you can make item appear (kind of like Adventure Island). Some of these you can get without losing time. Other are worth the time lost (like magic potions).
  • Other misc minor improvements.

Summary

  • Uses FCEU 0.98.16
  • Aims for fastest time.
  • Take damage to save time.
  • Manipulates luck.
I hope you enjoy watching it.

adelikat: Feels weird accepting my own submission but the demand is high enough. Accepting.

TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #1147: adelikat's NES Whomp ‛Em in 11:39.45
JXQ
Experienced player (749)
Joined: 5/6/2005
Posts: 3132
Weird game. Does it remind anyone else of Deadly Towers? Not the most exciting game, but colorful and quick, plus a famtasia improvement, makes me vote my yes.
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
Joined: 3/26/2006
Posts: 42
Location: Germany
Quite interesting and varied game. Plus, a nice improvement. I Like it.
Active player (432)
Joined: 4/21/2004
Posts: 3516
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
Another famtasia run out of the picture. Voting yes.
Nitrogenesis wrote:
Guys I come from the DidyKnogRacist communite, and you are all wrong, tihs is the run of the mileniun and everyone who says otherwise dosnt know any bater! I found this run vary ease to masturbate too!!!! Don't fuck with me, I know this game so that mean I'm always right!StupedfackincommunityTASVideoz!!!!!!
Arc wrote:
I enjoyed this movie in which hands firmly gripping a shaft lead to balls deep in multiple holes.
natt wrote:
I don't want to get involved in this discussion, but as a point of fact C# is literally the first goddamn thing on that fucking page you linked did you even fucking read it
Cooljay wrote:
Mayor Haggar and Cody are such nice people for the community. Metro City's hospitals reached an all time new record of incoming patients due to their great efforts :P
Joined: 2/2/2005
Posts: 198
Nice run, but why are you using both controllers simulataneously?
Experienced player (611)
Joined: 4/24/2005
Posts: 612
Another obseleted run, Great! I remember playing this game back in the day or at least watching my brother play it. Voted Yes, and the reason both controllers are used is they have the same assigned buttons or keys alike.
Joined: 4/16/2004
Posts: 1286
Location: Finland
I was surprised at how much more entertaining your run is in comparison to WB's. Awesome job!
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 380
Location: Finland
Excellence. And an improvement to boot.
"Kids! Bringing about Armageddon can be dangerous. Do not attempt it in your home." ( Pratchett & Gaiman: Good Omens )
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Joined: 8/4/2005
Posts: 5769
Location: Away
Yeah, "weird" really is a rather exact description of this game (other than "a nice Megaman clone"). The run itself is of top quality. Haven't seen Walker's run, but this surely is a yes.
Warp wrote:
Edit: I think I understand now: It's my avatar, isn't it? It makes me look angry.
adelikat
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Joined: 11/3/2004
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Thanks for the good feedback guys :D
It's hard to look this good. My TAS projects
Joined: 11/13/2005
Posts: 1587
Excellent planning, awesome run. Voting yes.
Skilled player (1882)
Joined: 4/20/2005
Posts: 2160
Location: Norrköping, Sweden
Nice run, a well suited game for a TAS. I see you've planned this run quite well, not to mention executed it well too ;). The only thing that bugged me was that the music wasn't that good... :P Voting Yes.
Player (147)
Joined: 7/12/2006
Posts: 264
Location: Brazil
I didn't know that game...but the game is very nice !! and the run is amaaaaaaaziing !!!!! I liked a lot !! vote Yes !!
Joined: 11/30/2004
Posts: 83
Location: Basement
Now here's a not-often-thought-of classic. Nice run.
Player (57)
Joined: 6/15/2005
Posts: 312
Location: Sweden
Great job!! I was making a TAS of this game a long time go cuz I wanted to improve Walker's run, but then I quited cuz it was to strenuous. Anyway it is an improvment so I'm voting, >YES<
adelikat
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Diman wrote:
Great job!! I was making a TAS of this game a long time go cuz I wanted to improve Walker's run, but then I quited cuz it was to strenuous. Anyway it is an improvment so I'm voting, >YES<
Thanks Diman :) And I'm glad there is someone else out there who knows how taxing it is to TAS this game ;)
It's hard to look this good. My TAS projects
Skilled player (1882)
Joined: 4/20/2005
Posts: 2160
Location: Norrköping, Sweden
I'm just bumping this thread to ask if this shouldn't be accepted? It has received very good votes (18 yes), and is a big improvement (36.21 seconds is a lot) over the current run. I think it's clear to say that this run is publish-worthy.
Player (57)
Joined: 6/15/2005
Posts: 312
Location: Sweden
Seconded!
KennyMan666
He/Him
Joined: 8/24/2005
Posts: 374
Location: Göteboj
I'll chip in with another YES vote. I played this on emu long time ago, got to that first cloudy stage... This was well-played and so, nice job.
Det man inte har i begåvning får man ta ut i energi. "I think I need to get to Snoop Dogg's level of high to be able to research this post." -Samsara Read my fanfic, One Piece: Pure Corruption
Player (57)
Joined: 6/15/2005
Posts: 312
Location: Sweden
adelikat wrote:
And I'm glad there is someone else out there who knows how taxing it is to TAS this game ;)
Indeed sir! Especially when there are platforms you must jump up on to get to the top (when the game scrolls up as you jump). At least I thought THAT was taxing-must use the frame-advance key very often to get it frame perfect! :P Anyway you deserved to accept your own submission! I'm happy that you did that! ; D
Joined: 10/3/2005
Posts: 1332
I shall also set up this movie the token yes-vote. :) It reminded me in a pleasant way of Jackie Chan's Action Kung-Fu. Obviously very well played, as well.
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [688] NES Whomp ‛Em by adelikat in 11:39.45
Active player (421)
Joined: 9/27/2004
Posts: 650
Location: Canada
Hey, that was more entertaining than expected. Cool run.
Spikestuff
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WebNations/Sabih wrote:
+fsvgm777 never censoring anything.
Disables Comments and Ratings for the YouTube account. These colours are pretty neato, and also these.
DrD2k9
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Joined: 8/21/2016
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That's a rather interesting concept on encoding a run. For some games it may make zips easier to understand.