Submission Text Full Submission Page Publication Page

Essentials

  • Emulator used: SNES9x 1.43 v9
Note: Due to an input display bug in SNES9x v9, it is recommended, but not required, to view the run with this bug-fixed SNES9x located here. However, the run will sync correctly on the standard SNES9x v9, and v7 as well.
  • Genre: Platform
  • Items: 100%
  • Aims for fastest time
    • Takes damage to save time
    • Abuses programming errors
    • Manipulates luck
  • Suggested screenshot:
This is an improvement of 2 minutes and 25 seconds to my previous run. I never expected to get anywhere close to this much improvement.
I aimed for real time instead of game time - this means that I took efforts to reduce lag, pause screens, and door transitions, even at the cost of in-game time.
The in-game timer for this run ended at 37 minutes, 54 seconds, an improvement of 2 minutes and 1 second over my previous version.

Breakdown of improvement (rough estimates)

Ceres & Crateria (Introduction and Bomb Torizo)
  • 2 seconds saved, mostly from tiny optimizations.
Brinstar (Kraid)
  • 2 seconds saved, again just little improvements here and there throughout.
Norfair (Crocomire and item collection)
  • 2 seconds saved by optimizations in earlier item collection.
  • 6 seconds saved on Crocomire.
  • 3 seconds saved in Crocomire's area.
Wrecked Ship & Crateria (Phantoon and item collection)
  • 3 seconds saved on the way to the ship.
  • 1 second saved not getting Phantoon's refills.
  • 7 seconds saved during item collection by better strategies and better robot manipulation.
  • Changing the route to do the Gauntlet area (to the upper-left of Samus's ship) at this point to save time later.
Brinstar (item collection)
  • 19 seconds saved directly and indirectly by removal of the crystal flash.
  • 6 seconds gained by better strategies during item collection.
  • The missile in the green tube is obtained now to save time later.
Maridia (Botwoon, Draygon, and item collection)
  • 6 seconds saved on item collection before Botwoon by better strategy and more optimized play.
  • 5 seconds saved from Botwoon to Draygon from better technique and not collecting refills.
  • 11 seconds saved on item collection after Draygon by better strategy and speed management.
Norfair (Gold Torizo, Ridley, and item collection)
  • 5 seconds saved from better speed management on the way to Gold Torizo.
  • 6 seconds saved on Gold Torizo from less strict manipulation and better shooting.
  • 3 seconds saved on the route to Ridley from better strategy.
  • 1 second saved on Ridley from better manipulation and avoiding refills.
  • 10 seconds saved on remaining item collection in Norfair.
Brinstar & Crateria (Item collection)
  • 6 seconds gained from better strategies up to and skipping the green tube missile.
  • 3 seconds gained in old Brinstar from better speed management.
  • 16 seconds gained due to changing the route for the Gauntlet.
Tourian & Crateria (Mother Brain and escape)
  • 21 seconds gained from skipping the baby Metroid.
  • 2 seconds gained from various other small optimizations.

Additional Information

The basis for techniques used in this run are explained on the Super Metroid Tricks page.
Controller input animation was added with an Input Animator utility I wrote. (This utility can also be used to remove the player 2-5 input, if desired.)
As mentioned above: Due to an input display bug in SNES9x v9, it is recommended, but not required, to view the run with the bugfixed SNES9x located here. The run will sync correctly on the standard SNES9x v9, and v7 as well.
For those interested in a more detailed breakdown of the time saved, you can check the spreadsheet (HTML) I used for comparisons during the making of the run. This spreadsheet will probably answer many specific questions, so I recommend taking a look at it if you are wondering about part of the run.
If anyone is interested in improving this run, contact me if you would like either (1) a 1-player SMV with no extraneous input, or (2) a spreadsheet similar in style to this one, set up to compare a new version.

Thank You

I would like to give thanks to those involved in helping Super Metroid TASing become what it is today. This includes:
  • Michael Flatley
  • Terimakasih
  • Saturn
  • catnap
  • hero of the day
  • moozooh
  • Kejardon
  • Graveworm
  • Frenom
Though I don't know them by name, thanks also to the many people who have done and researched console speedruns for the game, as they have found many strategies which were the basis for a tool-assisted speedrun.
Thanks to Gocha for his memory watcher utility for SNES9x which saved me a lot of time.
Thanks to Upthorn, nitsuja, and Fabianx for their help in removing the input display bug from SNES9x.
Thanks to Fabian for help with ideas for controller input.
Thanks to Bisqwit for a very handy HTML conversion of the spreadsheet.
Thanks to you for watching this run!
DeHackEd: Wow, that's a lot of votes.

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Posted: 3/17/2007 10:50 AM
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Cardboard
Skilled player (1670)
Joined: 6/11/2006
Posts: 818
Location: Arboga, Sweden
NES TAS of 2008 Rookie of 2007 GBx TASer of 2007
Actually JXQ still encounters the critters. They "teach" him how to do a walljump, so he didn't mess up the story in Fusion. Also, they deserve it, but for the love of all that's holy in this world, spare the walking trash can! That one is supposed to make me a millionare!
Warp wrote:
omg lol this is so fake!!!1 the nes cant produce music like this!
Posted: 3/17/2007 12:22 PM
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Highness
Player (70)
Joined: 8/24/2004
Posts: 2562
Location: Sweden
Nice run. Thanks for making it! Highly enjoyable. :)
Posted: 3/17/2007 1:26 PM
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creaothceann
He/Him
Editor
Joined: 4/7/2005
Posts: 1874
Location: Germany
Bisqwit wrote:
I'll try to make an extra AVI that has this input display in it as some kind of overlay, hopefully in a slightly more readable format than that of snes9x's. :)
That would be great. Maybe just squares for the "player x" rows, and a line of characters/symbols beneath it.
Posted: 3/17/2007 2:58 PM
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Mechuyael
Joined: 2/1/2007
Posts: 245
Location: Israel
What will happen if someone makes an improvement on this run that doesn't have super awesome special input for display? While I liked the input, I think it was a bit detrimental to the run (in my case), since I just watched the input, not the run itself. When the movie ended, I thought to myself that this is the end of the input, not of the run. I'm not trying to say that the movie is bad (it's obviously a great run, improves on the last run and all), but perhaps the input display is given too much importance here?
Posted: 3/17/2007 3:06 PM
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moozooh
Senior Moderator
Joined: 8/4/2005
Posts: 5770
Location: Away
Mechuyael wrote:
While I liked the input, I think it was a bit detrimental to the run (in my case), since I just watched the input, not the run itself. When the movie ended, I thought to myself that this is the end of the input, not of the run. I'm not trying to say that the movie is bad (it's obviously a great run, improves on the last run and all), but perhaps the input display is given too much importance here?
That is the question I would like you to ask yourself, since it was your choice to concentrate on the input instead of the run. ;)
Warp wrote:
Edit: I think I understand now: It's my avatar, isn't it? It makes me look angry.
Posted: 3/17/2007 3:25 PM
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Mechuyael
Joined: 2/1/2007
Posts: 245
Location: Israel
Well, personally the only Metroid runs I enjoyed watching were of Metroid II and Metroid Fusion, since I own those games. The others usually start boring me after around half an hour, so I wasn't surprised that I concentrated more on the input than the run itself.
Posted: 3/17/2007 8:01 PM
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Zurreco
Former player
Joined: 8/1/2004
Posts: 2687
Location: Seattle, WA
Excellent run, even without the input display hijinx. Votin' yes on dis.
hi nitrodon streamline: cyn-chine
Posted: 3/17/2007 8:10 PM
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CtrlAltDestroy
Active player (325)
Joined: 2/23/2005
Posts: 786
Forum Psychology Laws wrote:
If someone/something has a skyrocketing perfect record, they will eventually receive the lowest vote possible from one or more members.
Posted: 3/18/2007 12:39 AM
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Sastopher
Joined: 3/15/2005
Posts: 30
Location: Seattle, WA, USA
Do I even need to vote here? The question of publication seems pretty clear. Yes vote, star vote, ninja vote, vote vote. Good job JXQ. Nice run and a nice innovation on speedrunning.
I ought not to tie the knot too taught.
Posted: 3/18/2007 1:17 AM
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Dark_Fulgore
Player (147)
Joined: 7/12/2006
Posts: 264
Location: Brazil
I don't know Super Metroid well... But you played Tetris and Pong in Input Display !!!! Vote: YES !!!!
http://youtube.com/DarkFulgore
Posted: 3/18/2007 3:14 AM
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Oddity
Joined: 8/1/2004
Posts: 178
I finally don't believe this run can be improved majorly anymore. I believed it could many times, but not now. As to not sound repetitive, I thought the parts where Samus seemed to move at light speed were one of the more impressive/new aspects about this run. It must be a new trick, because I've never seen such speed in this game before. It happens when in screw attack mode while flying (fast) across the screen, and like hitting a corner or something, which makes it fly even faster, basically like teleportation. It happened several times.
<^>v AB X LR s
Posted: 3/18/2007 9:57 AM
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KDR_11k
Joined: 1/23/2006
Posts: 352
Location: Germany
Are you sure you aren't talking about the Speedbooster?
Posted: 3/18/2007 2:14 PM
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Qlex
He/Him
Joined: 2/25/2006
Posts: 193
Location: Available
Very good, I was impressed by the improvements, and I laughed at some entertaining moves. Too bad there's a lot of waiting due to the "getting item" screen, but even after seeing that game speedrun for the hundredth time, I found it very cool. Yes vote.
Posted: 3/18/2007 2:15 PM
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laughing_gas
Former player
Joined: 10/1/2006
Posts: 1102
Location: boot_camp
KDR_11k wrote:
Are you sure you aren't talking about the Speedbooster?
I think he's talking about this
Borg Collective wrote:
Negotiation is irrelevant. Self-determination is irrelevant. You will be assimilated.
Posted: 3/18/2007 2:42 PM
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JXQ
Experienced player (750)
Joined: 5/6/2005
Posts: 3132
NES TAS of 2008 Speedy TAS of 2008 SNES TASer of 2007 TAS of 2007 SNES TAS of 2007 Funny TAS of 2007
I think he's talking about a visual glitch when Samus's sprite turns completely black for a few frames, which happens during certain jumps with speed echoes + screw attack + coming out of spin animation. Examples are in the Norfair save room (433) and the Crateria diagonal speed room (478). I tried to use it as much as possible because I think it looks very cool, but it's tough to see exactly what happens at full speed.
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
Posted: 3/18/2007 5:09 PM
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creaothceann
He/Him
Editor
Joined: 4/7/2005
Posts: 1874
Location: Germany
JXQ!Samus = ninja :D
Posted: 3/18/2007 11:48 PM
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Oddity
Joined: 8/1/2004
Posts: 178
Possibly, but I know for certain it happened in the long room that goes diagonally top left to bottom right, near the end of the run when you're finishing up getting the items, going from bottom right to top left (also entering a secret pipe on the way up, and it's a room in one of the upper parts of the planet, with greenery [yeah I suck at names]). I think it also happened in that room when you're nearing the exit of Norfair, on the left side of the room with a zigzag pattern you need to go up, with these bird enemies or something that pop out of the ground (maybe). Needs to be published!
<^>v AB X LR s
Posted: 3/19/2007 12:10 AM
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Kitsune
Joined: 4/29/2005
Posts: 1212
I could not find the correct Rom version anywhere, but the one I used didn't desynch the Movie until the second Mother Brain fight. I gave it a Yes vote. :3
Posted: 3/19/2007 3:26 AM
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jimsfriend
Former player
Joined: 1/17/2006
Posts: 775
Location: Deign
jimsfriend wrote:
It was giid'. Not as much as my vacation, but still nice.
Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign aqfaq Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign Deign
Posted: 3/19/2007 4:31 PM
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Shaded_Spriter
Joined: 8/31/2006
Posts: 56
Location: England
I already watched it through once - going to watch it through again with input animations. (just on the part with pong happening :D) I have just got onto the collection counter...brilliant idea.
Posted: 3/19/2007 8:38 PM
Post subject: Movie published
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TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 14905
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. ---- [817] SNES Super Metroid "100%" by JXQ in 1:10:45.02
Posted: 3/19/2007 8:49 PM
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mmbossman
Experienced player (822)
Joined: 11/18/2006
Posts: 2426
Location: Back where I belong
GBx TAS of 2008
Submission to publication in four and a half days... that might be record time.
Living Well Is The Best Revenge My Personal Page
Posted: 3/19/2007 8:54 PM
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AngerFist
Active player (433)
Joined: 4/21/2004
Posts: 3517
Location: Stockholm, Sweden
First edition TAS of 2015 Innovative TAS of 2007
mmbossman wrote:
Submission to publication in four and a half days... that might be record time.
Nah I think Phil has that record or I could be terribly wrong.
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
Posted: 3/19/2007 8:59 PM
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Ozmodiar
Joined: 8/2/2004
Posts: 98
mmbossman wrote:
Submission to publication in four and a half days... that might be record time.
I'm sure a Mega Man submission has the record.
-Oz. If practice makes perfect, but nobody's perfect, why practice?
Posted: 3/19/2007 9:57 PM
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CtrlAltDestroy
Active player (325)
Joined: 2/23/2005
Posts: 786
I just watched the input display on this, and I am shocked. That's genius. Although I think you should have used it more. My favorite part was controlling the actions of the final boss and the Super Metroid.
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