Emulator Information
  • Snes9x 1.43v9
  • Use WIP1 Timing
  • Allow Left+Right / Up+Down
Aims for...
  • Lowest Legit Item Collection
  • Ingame Oriented
  • Manipulates Luck
  • Takes Damage to Save Time
  • Abuses Programming Errors
READ THIS!
I am fully aware that this run will most likely not be published due to category issue (no, not optimization :P), but I started this run around a year ago, and with this submission text I will be proposing a possible solution to the "too many categories" issue with this game, and publicity!
About the Run (General Viewer)
14% SpeedBooster run: Collects the lowest amount of items for a legit game completion. The 14th item can be substituted as either the Ice Beam or the SpeedBooster. I chose the speed booster route because it
1) Has never been TAS’ed before.
2) Is more entertaining than the Ice Beam route despite the slower Ridley and Mother Brain fight.
Easily the hardest run to perform both on console and TAS conditions, watch as Samus smoothly glides through the game, cheating death by hitting 30 energy at multiple areas, collecting refills at every turn with minimal to none delays, defeating everything with the omega, the unstoppable, the almighty POS Power Beam, and taking on the Metroids with, not the Ice Beam, but Power Bombs!
  • Why is this run so difficult? Compared to:
  • 14% Ice - Well, for starters, I have the Speed Booster, which means I can spark. That ups the energy management by a ton, the next reason is that the Ice Beam makes for a very easy Tourian, while I’m stuck PBing the Metroids, which calls for extreme kill-yourself manipulation.
  • 100% - Despite what you may think, there is pretty heavy ammo/energy management throughout the early stages of this run, assuming you take Hero of the Day’s route.
  • Any% - The amount of manipulation required for this run is nothing compared to either of the 14% runs.
I guess that’s all you really need to know if you’re not a Super Metroid freak. Hopefully you will enjoy this, as it was so difficult to make. This run is the most optimized run created so far, with no known improvements, excluding the few-framers which would apply to the TASers part.
About the Run (TASers)
Proper re-record count is around 300-400k I believe, by simply looking at all the SMVs I have from hexing time and time again... >.>
Route
Phantoon first has always been the fastest route, and probably always will be. Doing Kraid after Ridley and Lower Norfair allows me to have the Speed Booster for his lair, but 1 less energy tank for Lower Norfair. The only major time-saver for having Kraid’s e-tank for Lower Norfair is the Big Acid Room Hero-Spark. This spark does not justify the amount of time lost from not having the Speed Booster in Kraid’s lair. The other argument-worthy point is also being stocked on supers from Mini-Kraid. Well, there were more than enough refills along the way to Lower Norfair to justify that alone, but not enough on the way back for Maridia. Thus, I am easily completely stocked for Maridia after doing Kraid’s lair, saving even more time. The estimated time gain is ~3.5 seconds. Yes, a sexy amount. This will also be the most optimal real-time any% route.
Other than the route, all known optimization tricks were applied where they would save time, including a new optimization trick I discovered during this run. We all know about the inverse WJ trick, which wasn’t really anything special other than for entertainment purposes. Well, utilizing this trick and jumping with .4096 speed going right, you can inverse WJ with .4096 speed, thus allowing the game to set your Y sub speed higher than that of a usual WJ. So far, it saved a frame on the wall before the pre-Draygon spark and a few frames in the escape sequence.
Credits
There are three people who really stood up and helped me out when needed throughout this run. They really did have a huge impact on the outcome of this run.
  • Kriole - Definitely the most deserving as the greatest help. Helped out with heavy manipulation issues and shared your finds during the any% that applied to my run, allowing me to implement them and keep a very tightly optimal run. You’re awesome man, too bad you suck at DotA you sorry piece of shit.
  • Saturn - Greatly helped in route making, planning, and helping me optimize very difficult techs seen throughout the run such as the Phantoon fight and reverse kago elevator tech. I’m also writing this text before submitting the run, so I’m going to assume you will be encoding it and making a secksy little AVI for me. Slave.
  • Hero of the Day - Ah, my motivator person guy. You’re just fun to talk to and without you around to push me forward, this run would still be stuck at fucking Norfair and the preparations for Lower Norfair. Also had some fantastic ideas for unique techs and timesavers here and there. Also my only American SM TASer bud. (Oops, and Taco!)
The other person I must thank is Cpadolf for mentoring and all my noobish ways back when I started TASing Super Metroid, and of course, having all the answers even when they are not there.

Nach: While this movie is more entertaining than some other lowest no SRAM hacking submissions, it looks too much like our any % run, just slower.
Publishing a movie has to be more about entertainment, not just route selection. I'm not saying this movie is bad in itself, but it was beaten to publication by another too similar but better movie.

adelikat Unrejecting this submission for consideration into the Alternative tier

Nach: Since more arbitrary goals where wanted is now acceptable, and this run is pretty good, accepting.

Skilled player (1430)
Joined: 7/15/2007
Posts: 1468
Location: Sweden
Kriole wrote:
No? Why, thank you.
Not no as in your run sucks, no as in it's not the most optimized "evar". I don't have anything against you, you know, and I did like your run a lot.
Kriole wrote:
This is bullshit, and you know it.
Hmm, yeah I guess it is. I haven't ever intentionally held anything away from someone else for my own gain (out of competition or something like that), but it's true that I haven't posted every improvement anyone could have had use of while working on a run. Had you ever asked for anything I would have given it to you though (not that I can prove it now).
Agare Bagare Kopparslagare
Experienced player (821)
Joined: 11/18/2006
Posts: 2426
Location: Back where I belong
adelikat wrote:
moozooh wrote:
...and appreciate the run for what it is — a good job by a very talented TASer.
This is worth emphasizing. Congrats on your first submission NameSpoofer.
^Yes, this. Thanks for that post moozooh, it helped me see things from a somewhat different angle.
Living Well Is The Best Revenge My Personal Page
Emulator Coder
Joined: 10/2/2005
Posts: 563
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Warp wrote:
I think that this is a good moment to bring up once again a relatively old idea which never caught on at the time (well, in none of the more than one times when it has been suggested): How about creating a more separate "concept demos" section of the website where alternative versions of runs, funny videos, playarounds and other such tool-assisted runs not completely suitable for main tasvideos publications could be put? Runs like this one could well go to that separate section. This way the hard work put into this run would not go completely to waste. Just bringing up an old idea...
I don't really understand why the "concept videos" thing never went through, but this thread probably isn't the place to bring it up. I do agree though, as the site is called TASVideos, and this (and all other concept videos) constitute a video of a TAS :P Though this video likely won't be published, it doesn't mean it has no merit and should be fed to the grue. I don't know much about SM, but I've enjoyed all the videos I've seen thus far, and this one is no different. Good job man!
Joined: 7/28/2005
Posts: 339
DarkKobold wrote:
Oh man, I need to run to the grocery store and get some popcorn. I ran out in the last 14% thread.
You sharin'?
Banned User
Joined: 12/5/2007
Posts: 742
Location: Gone
Yes, sharing! I prefer we are to share these ideas, techniques, and movies with others instead of arguing back-and-forth about them. While it's true that we the TAS'ers and viewers enjoy a lot of time watching these movies and such, I never agreed with the fact that harsh arguments like this would even turn this website into World War IV. Look, it's simple! We need to learn from each other about the way these games around here are TAS'ed. Cause I don't see a reason to argue at all. We have a lot of guests here, and I know I don't want to embarrass myself in front of them. Can we all just get along? Seriously. =/ p0rtal0frain, stretch the Meh bar. NameSpoofer, your attempt kept me entertained hands-down. ComicalFlop, shall I write you a prescription for chill-pills; looks like you need one. Moozooh, I like your speech. Everybody else, please take no offense.
Joined: 9/7/2005
Posts: 143
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Ridley was actually pretty good. Yes it took longer than normal due to lack of beams, but I still found it interesting. Mother Brain was a bit of a drag, but I got to see her attack patterns over the whole range of health. Not to mention the zebetite bypass method, which I'd never seen before. And the ammunition management was entertaining to me, since he only had to stop twice (thrice?) to collect ammo. Voting yes, and suggesting publication in the demo section. Why not? There are two movies of racing games that only complete one track. Slap Saturn's Ice run up there while you're at it.
This guy are sick.
Experienced player (858)
Joined: 11/26/2007
Posts: 400
Location: Sueeden
NameSpoofer wrote:
Demented rabble
If you don't understand the question, then don't answer. You managed to completely avoid all the points I brought up by spouting meaningless self-glorification. Seriously, what are you doing?
Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 136
Location: US
Daniel, Lord Bahamut wrote:
Ridley was actually pretty good. Yes it took longer than normal due to lack of beams, but I still found it interesting. Mother Brain was a bit of a drag, but I got to see her attack patterns over the whole range of health. Not to mention the zebetite bypass method, which I'd never seen before. And the ammunition management was entertaining to me, since he only had to stop twice (thrice?) to collect ammo.
Yeah Ridley required me to actually move around and such due to the battle style, but I couldn't do much at mother brain regardless, as turning around would have lost frames. The charge beam timer stops while Samus is turning around. I did have Saturn create a very cool AVI file of the Ridley fight, with epic music added with the beats lined up to the shots. (Most anyways...) It turned out much better than anticipated, and is a sick film. http://www.mediafire.com/?donmnkymmmm
Trained by Cpadolf. Mission: To Perfect. Hero says: Yeah bro, I almost went super saiyan once My SM-RBO Current Project(s): 1)I don't TAS anymore! Pay me!
Joined: 5/12/2009
Posts: 748
Location: Brazil
I've been waiting to watch this run and i'm glad to see it finished. I'd like to thank you for making this run even knowing it hardly would be published. It's an amazing run! Hope to see a new RBO and a new 100% soon, and i hope you guys keep improving the 14% run even if it's not published. This is the best Snes game and the best game to speedrun.
Joined: 6/4/2009
Posts: 893
that tas whas pretty good, voted yes because i think the quality of the run worth a publication but should it be published on THIS site, i don't know. If there was a "concept demo " section, it certainly should be in, or maybe on m2k2 ? (if the website don't die of a certain terminal decease????)
Joined: 5/2/2009
Posts: 656
Voting yes. It's a good movie, and for me it's all that matters.
My first language is not English, so please excuse myself if I write something wrong. I'll do my best do write as cleary as I can, so cope with me here =) (ノಥ益ಥ)ノ
Joined: 7/1/2008
Posts: 272
I'm going to have to say no. It didn't really entertain me much. I thought Saturn's run was better in that regard.
Emulator Coder
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
Warp wrote:
You might as well emulate what happens to a game if you smash the console with a sledgehammer. Maybe if the emulator could emulate it well enough, something interesting might happen.
Some games are programmed to behave differently if you reset them. We need to emulate reset. I myself have emulated reset in emulators, to match the original hardware. It's not the same as emulating smashing the console, or half ripping the cartridge out, or bending one of the pins connecting the game to the console. However, I view this in a different category, as some games even say please don't turn off or reset during save sequences. ---- Regarding this run, now that I've gotten a chance to watch it. I fully expected to be bored out of my mind, like I was when watching most other lowest % Super Metroid runs. For a nice pleasant surprise, aside from the Mother Brain fight, I was actually entertained. Regarding reaching the ghost ship. Was all those bomb jumps to avoid the Missile pack? Couldn't you jump off the side of the pedestal holding it? Could Phantoon have been beaten quicker if you manipulated him to dropping refills closer to you? For the long Mother Brain fight, how many charge beam shots would a Super Missile have saved? Since you could've gotten there with one more Super Missile have you not used it on the door monster, or killed the door monster, and then refilled your Missiles.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 136
Location: US
Nach wrote:
Regarding reaching the ghost ship. Was all those bomb jumps to avoid the Missile pack? Couldn't you jump off the side of the pedestal holding it?
100% required. Jumping off the side of the post would result in me picking them up.
Nach wrote:
Could Phantoon have been beaten quicker if you manipulated him to dropping refills closer to you?
No. Phantoon is programmed to only be hit by 3 missiles before disappearing. To perform the Doppler effect, you need a required amount of distance for an even spread to launch 19 missiles and a super to kill him.
Nach wrote:
For the long Mother Brain fight, how many charge beam shots would a Super Missile have saved? Since you could've gotten there with one more Super Missile have you not used it on the door monster, or killed the door monster, and then refilled your Missiles.
The backtrack to the missile station doesn't justify the time saved to have a super or 5 missiles for her. Glad you liked the run. :o
Trained by Cpadolf. Mission: To Perfect. Hero says: Yeah bro, I almost went super saiyan once My SM-RBO Current Project(s): 1)I don't TAS anymore! Pay me!
Emulator Coder
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
NameSpoofer wrote:
The backtrack to the missile station doesn't justify the time saved to have a super or 5 missiles for her.
And what about blowing up the door monster with charge beam shots?
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 136
Location: US
Not able to use the charge beam on eye doors in super metroid. =\
Trained by Cpadolf. Mission: To Perfect. Hero says: Yeah bro, I almost went super saiyan once My SM-RBO Current Project(s): 1)I don't TAS anymore! Pay me!
Joined: 2/19/2007
Posts: 424
Location: UK
Thanks for an impressive and entertaining run NameSpoofer! I was surprised that such an aggressive play style was possible with that little health. I also liked the use of the bomb spread. Going from watching the run to reading this thread was a bit of a let down, though, with all the sad bickering going on. I definitely think this run should be published, and I don't see the problem with many categories. If bandwidth or disk space is an issue, then make it an smv-only publication if you must. Anyway, since people seem to have a hard time noticing the improvements, I thought I'd make an encode using my comparison script. I am not quite sure what to compare to, though. Right now I'm thinking: 1. This run. 2. Current glitched any% or the current normal any% (ingame) 3. Saturn's ice low% 4. Fastest RBO run 5. The oldest possible run. The idea is to have one with as low optimization as possible, but it is better the closer its route is to this one, as the comparisons make more sense then. Terimakishi's runs are too old for the emulator, so I guess herooftheday's first attempt is the prime candidate here. Other suggestions are welcome! The list probably shouldn't be longer than 5 though, otherwise the screen will just be a forest of Samuses. Edit: In case any of you don't know what such a comparision video looks like, here is one I made a while ago, for the any% runs: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QdFUMRFpn74
Player (88)
Joined: 11/14/2005
Posts: 1057
Location: United States
why not just compare the 3 existing 14% runs? The routes are damn near identical, so it makes for the most accurate comparison. 1. Teri's 2. Saturn's 3. Spoofer's
They're off to find the hero of the day...
Joined: 6/3/2008
Posts: 136
Location: US
I actually wouldn't mind just seeing the room strats vs Saturn. I will beat him to every room transition rofl, yet he will pwn me at Ridley, the metroids, and mother brain. :S
Trained by Cpadolf. Mission: To Perfect. Hero says: Yeah bro, I almost went super saiyan once My SM-RBO Current Project(s): 1)I don't TAS anymore! Pay me!
Joined: 1/29/2007
Posts: 116
Aktanusa wrote:
Here is an encode:
Thank's a lot!
Joined: 7/2/2007
Posts: 3960
I finally got around to watching this...and the individual room strategies basically looked just like the any% run. :\ Except for the Ridley and MB fights, in fact, I didn't notice any significant differences (discounting items picked up, of course). Oh, well...it's still an impressive technical achievement.
Pyrel - an open-source rewrite of the Angband roguelike game in Python.
Joined: 2/19/2007
Posts: 424
Location: UK
hero of the day wrote:
why not just compare the 3 existing 14% runs? The routes are damn near identical, so it makes for the most accurate comparison. 1. Teri's 2. Saturn's 3. Spoofer's
Comparing to Terimaki's would be ideal, but as I said, it is too old, and I don't know of a lua-equipped emulator capable of playing it back.
Player (88)
Joined: 11/14/2005
Posts: 1057
Location: United States
Teri's run will playback on even the newest emulator. I just played it back with v1.43 +v15.3 (LUA 0.05).. http://tasvideos.org/movies/smv/terimakasih-supermetroid-items14p.zip
They're off to find the hero of the day...
Player (209)
Joined: 2/18/2005
Posts: 1451
Great run! I appreciate the dedication and the amount of work you put to finish this completely new TAS category never done before, regardless on whether it's faster or not. You proved to have excellent analyzing skill and creativity, as many of the strategies were only applicable in this run form, due to the unique conditions. My highlight is definitely the part between getting the Gravity Suit and Ridley. The way you managed to get through the Norfair/LN section with just one E-Tank after being completely depleted from WS, is impressive. It also shows what a huge advantage the normal charged beam has over the very uncomfortable Ice Beam to get many refills with almost no delays, and without being forced to use Missiles or pseudo-screw attacks. Game completion is a 29:22, so I guess it's safe to say that 0:28 won't be possible with the speed route. Thanks for clearing that question up and more or less confirm my estimations about it. :-) Good job on this truly original run. Going to make a HQ AVI, just gimme a few days.
See my perfect 100% movie-walkthroughs of the best RPG games on http://www.freewebs.com/saturnsmovies/index.htm Current TAS project (with new videos): Super Metroid Redesign, any% speedrun