Revision (current)
Last Updated by moozooh on 2/11/2024 1:38 PM
This page describes the proper tagging of movies with movie tags. It is required reading for all users with access to movie tag assignment (admin / adminassistant / judge / publisher / editor).
Additional reading
* [Publisher Guidelines]
* [Editor Guidelines]
* [Text Formatting Rules]
%%TOC%%
!!! Overview
The goal of tags is to categorize movies based on game genre, movie goals, and various aspects of TASing (that may or may not be entertaining to an audience member). This gives visitors the freedom to group movies based around their particular interests. Therefore proper tagging is critical to the usefulness of this feature.
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!!! Non-fastest completion goals
!! Playaround
Used for movies where fastest speed or maximal completion are not primary goals. This is for entertainment based movies that "play around" and showcase [Glossary#GamePlayGameplay|gameplay] variety (including arbitrary code execution for entertainment instead of speed). Runs which aim for fastest time under a preset number of goal choices should not be tagged with this.
Examples:
* [1013M|River City Ransom]
* [934M|Mortal Kombat 2]
* [1039M|Tecmo Superbowl]
* [1118M|RBI Baseball]
!! Aims for maximum score
Used for movies that aim for the highest score possible at the expense of fastest completion time. This is an acceptable tag even if the author aims for fastest completion time as a secondary goal.
Examples:
* [814M|Star Fox]
* [1634M|Epic Pinball "Super Android"]
* [2310M|Bishi Bashi Special]
!! Maximum kills
Used for movies that aim for the killing of all (or all that is possible) enemies at the expense of fastest completion time. This is an acceptable tag even if the author aims for fastest completion time as a secondary goal.
Examples:
* [1116M|Gradius 3]
* [2189M|Gumshoe]
* [2356M|Yoshi's Safari]
!! Aims for in-game time instead of real-time
Used for movies that aim for fastest time based on an in-game timer. This tag should be used only when the in-game timer is in direct conflict with aiming for the fastest real time completion.
Examples:
* [1908M|Super Metroid "any%, ingame"]
* [2488M|Punch-Out!!]
* [2017M|Mr. Driller 2]
* [2410M|Sonic] [2037M|the] [1656M|Hedgehog] [1188M|series]
!! Abuses unintended environment
This tag is for movies that abuse emulated environment tweaks not intended for normal play, such as overclocked CPU, incompatible hardware or software components, and other cases addressed by [MovieRules#PcGameEnvironmentMustBeLegitimate|this rule].
Example:
* [3833M|TowerFall Ascension "all trials, 1000 fps"]
!! Demonstration
This should be used for movies that demonstrate some goal (or subgoal) that is not covered by other "non-fastest completion" movie tags and contradicts fastest completion time. Such movies demonstrate unusual TAS concepts, set arbitrary conditions (like walkathon) and faithfully reach their uncommon goals.
Examples:
* [1895M|Super Mario Bros. "walkathon"] – unusual goal choice (banning the run button).
* [1365M|Super Mario Bros. "-3 stage ending"] – unconventional game completion.
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!!! Categories
!! Contains speed/entertainment tradeoffs
This tag should not be used for non-speed-oriented runs such as maximum score runs or playarounds. Instead, it should be used for movies that primarily aim for fastest time but make some (small) time sacrifices for the sake of entertaining the audience, avoiding repetition, or avoiding doing something that would be uninteresting. It may also be to collect an item or show off a part of the game that increases entertainment value.
This tag should only be used for cases where actual gameplay time is affected (for instance, games in which the author inputs their name at the beginning should not be tagged with this).
Examples:
* [2344M|Harmony of Dissonance] – deviates from the fastest path to collect an item that displays damage (allowing the screen to be flooded with critical hit messages in boss fights).
* [749M|Paperboy] – plays the final training course.
* [1898M|Yoshi's Island] - forgoes 1/1 running to be able to juggle eggs and enemies.
!! Best ending
Used for movies that achieve some kind of "best ending" when choosing another one would prove to be faster. However, if the best ending is achieved solely by getting 100% completion, then use that tag instead.
Examples:
* [1546M|Gimmick! "best ending"]
* [1018M|James Pond 3]
* [1917M|Cave Story]
!! 100% completion
Different games have different criteria for what defines 100%. Regardless of the definition, this should be used if the movie falls in a 100% category. Do not use this if the [fastest completion] results in a 100% completion.
Examples:
* [2436M|Super Metroid "100%"]
* [1970M|Kirby 64 "all shards"]
* [2208M|Super Mario 64 "all 120 stars"]
!! Low% completion
Used for runs which aim to collect as few items as possible. Do not use this if the fastest route uses the fewest items. It is used only on games where item collection is not mandatory (or became non-mandatory due to tricks or glitches).
Examples:
* [1578M|Rygar "0%"]
* [1443M|Metroid "low%"]
* [1392M|Mega Man X2 "Best ending, no upgrades"]
!! Uses a suboptimal character
For games that have multiple playable characters, this tag is used when a movie uses a character that results in a slower completion time. This is not based on whether or not the character itself is faster/slower. In some cases, the character is better, but their superior abilities do not compensate for the extra time it takes to unlock them.
Note: This tag is only applicable if the fastest character is available for the first playthrough. This means that default characters are not considered suboptimal if unlocking a faster character entails completing the game at least once (see [MovieTagGuidelines#SecondQuestPostGameCompletion|Second quest/Post-game completion]).
If an optional character inherently features more than 50% of unique gameplay (levels, bosses, etc), its choice counts as alternate game mode, and this tag does not apply.
Examples:
* [2210M|Super Mario Bros. 2 (J) – Luigi] – a slower character who results in a slower completion time.
* [1979M|Castlevania 3 – Grant] – the superior character in the game TAS-wise but that doesn't make up for the time spent getting to him.
* [1435M|Rondo of Blood – Maria] – a character who is faster and completes levels fastest, but unlocking her is overall slower due to cutscenes.
!! Uses warps
This tag should be used when a movie uses level warps. Warps commonly mean shortcuts in game progression provided by the game that allow to skip levels. This movie tag only labels intentional warps (such as the SMB warp zones). For warps generated by elaborate glitches, use [MovieTagGuidelines#MajorSkipGlitch|Major skip glitch] instead.
Examples:
* [1715M|Super Mario Bros.] - uses the built-in warp zones.
!! Forgoes warps
Used for movies (typically full completion movies) of a game that contains built-in warps and explicitly avoids them.
Examples:
* [1962M|Super Mario Bros. "warpless"]
!! Pacifist version
Used for movies that explicitly avoid killing enemies (or only kill as few as possible) when it is unnecessary for game completion, even at the expense of completion time. In games where avoiding unnecessary kills does not postpone completion, it can be used as a stylistic choice and should still be tagged. It should also be tagged in games where it is recognized as an achievement in-game. It should __not__ be used if it is a time saving measure.
Examples:
* [1926M|Contra "pacifist"] – delays completion time.
* [1321M|Yo! Noid] – stylistic choice.
* [2120M|Silver Surfer] – stylistic choice.
* [4043M|Undertale "True Pacifist ending"] - achievement recognized in-game
!! Uses easiest difficulty
For games with multiple difficulty levels, we usually suggest using the hardest setting. In some cases, this makes the completion time much longer, or causes other adverse effects, so the player selects the easiest difficulty level instead.
Examples:
* [957M|Duke Nukem 64]
* [944M|River City Ransom]
* [1386M|Cyborg 009]
!! Uses hardest difficulty
For games with multiple difficulty levels, this indicates that the player has selected the hardest difficulty level. See the [Guidelines] for why this is normally done.
Examples:
* [1750M|Goldeneye 007]
* [759M|Mortal Kombat 4]
* [1539M|Kirby's Dream Land]
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!!! Additional Goals/Categories
!! Multiple games in one movie
This is a category for movies that complete several different games with the same input file.
Examples:
* [1894M|Mega Man X, X2 & X3] – three games in one movie.
* [871M|Mega Man 3, 4, 5 & 6] – four games in one movie.
* [1268M|Adventures of Lolo] – two games in one movie, but as an easter egg.
!! Single level
For movies that only complete one level/race of a game. These types of runs are generally incomplete, and thus discouraged.
Examples:
* [516M|F-Zero "first track"]
* [113M|Top Gear "one track"]
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!!! Using/Avoiding time-saving techniques
!! Heavy luck manipulation
This category should be used when ''significant'' [luck manipulation] occurs, which means the movie manipulates ''very unlikely'' events throughout. The luck manipulation should be visible to the viewer. This is ideal for movies where many enemy drops are manipulated, or many critical hits are scored.
Examples:
* [1119M|Castlevania 2]
* [519M|Dragon Warrior 4]
* [1828M|Pokémon: Ruby Version]
!! Heavy glitch abuse
This is used when ''significant'' glitches are used that alter the look/feel of the game, change the gameplay, or create significant time savers. Small bugs in the programming do not warrant this category.
Examples:
* [1686M|Mega Man]
* [1868M|Super Mario World "small only"]
* [1013M|River City Ransom "playaround"]
* [1978M|Super Metroid "glitched any%"]
!! Forgoes time-saving glitches
This is to be used for "low glitch" runs that ''intentionally'' avoid time-saving glitches.
Examples:
* [862M|Pulseman "no motion glitch"]
* [2062M|Super Mario 64 "70 stars, no BLJ"]
* [1937M|Sonic the Hedgehog "no zips"]
* [1368M|Super Metroid "any%"]
!! Uses death to save time
Self-explanatory. Movies that take advantage of death for time saving purposes.
Examples:
* [1090M|Rygar]
* [1279M|Double Dragon 2]
* [1863M|New Super Mario Bros.]
!! Forgoes time-saving death
Used for movies where players could have saved time with death but ''intentionally'' chose not to.
Example:
* [1795M|Solomon's Key]
* [1618M|Bionic Commando]
* [2009M|Muramasa]
!! Takes damage to save time
Self-explanatory. Movies that take damage for time-saving purposes.
Examples:
* [1279M|Double Dragon 2]
* [901M|Castlevania]
* [701M|Kirby's Adventure]
!! Forgoes time-saving damage
Used for movies where players could have saved time by taking damage but ''intentionally'' chose not to.
Examples:
* [2332M|Bay Route]
* [2325M|Yie Ar Kung-Fu II "no damage"]
* [1478M|Aria of Sorrow "warpless"]
!! Heavy resource management
This tag is for movies that __continuously use__ abundant optional in-game resources to their maximum to go through the game faster __while continuously replenishing__ these resources along the way for a net time gain. Examples of such resources could be in-game currency, weapons/ammo, magic, keys, etc.; [#UsesDeathToSaveTime|lives] and [#TakesDamageToSaveTime|hitpoints] are already covered by other tags. ''Heavy management'' here refers to several aspects observed throughout the entire run that would've been hard or highly improbable to execute with any less than superhuman abilities and foresight:
* Meticulous planning, precision, and (if applicable) luck manipulation involved in maintaining the balance between spending and renewing resources.
* Wherever multiple in-game routes can be taken, taking or designing a route with a precise resource plan already in mind.
* Consistently making an informed choice in situations which can be solved using different resources (e.g. which weapon/ammo to use, whether to use a non-renewable resource, whether to take damage to conserve other resources, etc.).
Examples:
* [4010M|Super Metroid "100%"]
!! Corrupts memory
Used for movies that [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Memory_corruption|corrupt the game's memory] in some fashion, causing unintended game behavior such as triggering the game's credits early.
* [1886M|Super Mario Land 2]
* [2379M|Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]
* [2403M|Battletoads]
* [1686M|Mega Man]
!! Foregoes memory corruption
Used for movies where players could have saved time by memory corruption but ''intentionally'' chose not to in order to make the movie longer (and less glitched).
* [2320M|Super Mario World 2 "100%"]
* [2661M|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night "all relics & bosses"]
* [4010M|Super Metroid "100%"]
!! Corrupts save data
Used for movies that take advantage of glitching the save data (SRAM, memory card, save file, etc.) in some way. This can be done by resetting or suspending a game during the saving process or by taking advantage of a glitch that causes data to overflow. This technique is a subset of memory corruption, but since the latter is implied, the "memory corruption" tag should not be added to movies that ''only'' corrupt save data.
Examples:
* [2047M|Chrono Trigger]
* [1481M|Dragon Warrior 3]
* [1860M|Pokémon: Yellow Version]
!! Forgoes save data corruption
Used for movies where players could have saved time by save data corruption but ''intentionally'' chose not to in order to make the movie longer (and less glitched).
* [931M|Dragon Warrior 3 "no item glitch"]
* [1297M|EarthBound "no save corruption"]
* [1840M|Pokémon: Blue Version "Gotta Catch 'Em All!"]
!! Major skip glitch
Such movies have a glitch (or a combination of glitches) that allows to skip major portions of the game without satisfying the in-game requirements. Most of the time, more than half of the game is skipped, compared to the fastest movie that avoids this technique. Glitches involved are also quite elaborate and often include memory corruption.
* [2601M|Mega Man (JPN) "game end glitch"]
* [3264M|Super Mario 64 "1 Key"]
* [3497M|Crash Bandicoot: Warped (JPN) "item glitch, gate clip" ]
* [3528M|Battletoads "game end glitch"]
!! Forgoes major skip glitch
Applicable for movies where Major skip glitch is possible, but was not used to show off more of the game.
* [1590M|Super Mario Bros. 3 "warps"]
* [2661M|Castlevania: Symphony of the Night "all relics & bosses"]
* [2592M|Chrono Trigger]
!! Uses a game restart sequence
A game restart sequence includes pressing reset, power-on, or using a built-in game restart such as pressing a certain button combination on the second controller.
Examples:
* [1685M|The Legend of Zelda]
* [1144M|Metroid]
* [1462M|Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX]
!! Forgoes a time-saving restart sequence
Used for movies where players could have taken advantage of a game restart sequence to save time but ''intentionally'' chose not to.
Examples:
* [3598M|Pokémon: Pearl Version]
* [4009M|VVVVVV]
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!!! Number of characters
!! 2 players
!! 3 players
!! 4 players
!! 5 players
For movies that control 2, 3, 4 or 5 characters simultaneously. The number of authors involved in making the movie is irrelevant.
Examples:
* [1279M|Double Dragon 2] – 2 player
* [703M|Lost Vikings] – 3 player
* [784M|Nightmare on Elm Street] – 4 player
* [1645M|Dungeon Explorer] - 5 player
!! One player in multiplayer game
Used for movies where players could have used more than one character at a time but chose not to. This tag is still appropriate if using multiple players is slower.
Examples:
* [1385M|Metal Slug X "1 player"]
* [320M|Battletoads "warpless, 1 player"]
* [1926M|Contra "pacifist"]
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!!! Passwords, predefined saves, and codes
!! Second quest/Post-game completion
Used for movies that start in a mode that is normally only unlockable after completing the game at least once. These modes are usually accessed by game codes/passwords or by starting from SRAM or saved state.
Examples:
* [1205M|The Legend of Zelda "2nd Quest"] - second quest accessed by a specific save file name.
* [1162M|Harmony of Dissonance "Maxim in bounds"] - alternate character unlocked by beating the game once.
* [1157M|Super R-Type] – second (hardest) loop accessed by a password.
!! Starts from a saved state or SRAM
Used for movies starting from an [Glossary#SaveRam|in-game save] (often called SaveRAM or battery-backed SRAM) or an [Glossary#Savestate|emulator savestate] utilized for the same effect. The most common purpose is unlocking a gameplay mode not accessible otherwise (without completing the game or certain events first).
Examples:
* [1162M|Harmony of Dissonance "Maxim in bounds"]
* [2452M|Super Mario Bros. Deluxe "You vs. Boo"]
* [2258M|Mega Man Xtreme 2 "Xtreme Mode"]
!! Uses a level password
Generally passwords / stage selection are not allowed. Exceptions are usually made to unlock entertaining characters or gameplay modes or skip straight to the most entertaining level(s).
Examples:
* [1990M|Zanac]
* [1414M|Minesweeper]
* [437M|Adventures of Lolo 2 "Pro levels"]
!! Uses an in-game code
Used for movies that modify a certain in-game feature by entering [Glossary#CodeModification|an in-game code]. This tag should not be used for codes that access specific levels, since we have a special tag for that ("Uses a level password").
* [4710M|Spyro The Dragon "Vortex"]