You are still modifying the game's internal data, and this is forbidden in almost every game's speedrunning community, including this one. If allowed, it can lead to arguments about, "oh, this guy modified (thing) in the game for his run, so can I also change (thing)???". We really don't need that.

It's more than allowed. It's very allowed. Mega allowed. Very much allowed indeed.

(almost every single run uses it and you should too because it saves you from a bad case of arthritis)

That's an extremely arbitrary idea for a category. To be blunt, nobody would run that - Secret stages and only one Extra Stage? That would be extremely random and out of place next to Any%. A better new category would be All Stages (All 30 story stages + all secret stages + all extra stages), something that has actually been discussed before and could definitely be added if there's enough interest and runs to back it up.

Nope.

It's not hard to export a video to your computer then put it in a video editor and add a timer.

Well, we're using completely different strats. You're free to use your own of course, but if yours is only getting you to around 2 and a half hours, it obviously needs some adjusting. We discuss our pretty different strats in the discord server.

In the Wii U version, you would use the Legend of Zelda DLC Zone to grind for animals. Now, the grind is shorter and in Tropical Coast 1.

In essence, for the PC version: Make sure you have 100 animals by the end of Windy Hill 3. Complete Windy Hill 4. For Desert Ruins 4's requirement, you should get that normally while doing your run. Then when you get to Tropical Coast 1, stop proceeding when you reach this part of the level. Get the checkpoint if you didn't already, and... see those capsules? Open them all, then get KO'd by an enemy nearby, and repeat. You'll want to repeat this until you reach a little over 1000 animals. Complete the rest of the world, and your animal quota for the rest of the game will be fulfilled.

Load times are slightly faster. And in the Wingless version of Any%, animal grinding is simplified and faster as well. There's really no reason to use the Wii U version anymore unless you can't afford/don't want to buy the game on PC.

As a runner I felt the need to point out that this server is for SPEEDRUNNING the game. There's been a lot of random people joining then leaving soon after because they were probably looking for a bigger, casual community server. So, again, it should be obvious, but this server is for speedrun discussion of Battlefront II 2017.

You mean the pause menu came up during a cutscene load, or the bottom screen "cutscene skip" yes/no options came up during the load?

In 2014 I wanted a new username. So of course I happened to be really into anime at the time, like a lot more than I am now as just a casual show watcher. One day, I googled "japanese names" and ended up on a list of them. It was really big, and I scrolled and scrolled until I found Sayuri, and I really liked the sound of it and its meaning (flower? can't remember).

Look, Sayuri is way better than 3030sonic Keepo

Jebaited

Added. We should be seeing semi-frequent runs of your category or it risks deletion.

It's mostly 2.5D but has 3D sections here and there that serve as transitions to the 2.5D parts. (with the exception of two endgame stages that are completely 3D) To be honest, there are way better 2D/2.5D platformers out there, but I wouldn't write Forces off without at least giving it a shot. I know there are some better platformers out there but personally I can't put down Forces! So, basically, try it. You might like some parts of it.

As long as your recording isn't completely unwatchable, it doesn't matter how you get your footage :)

So, starting right off.

Rules can be relatively close to Any%, with some differences. Beat the episode from a new save, or with a pre-completed save. For a new file, time starts when you confirm a new file on the title screen, and time ends when the timer stops after touching the goal in Virtual Reality. Everything after the goal is mashing through cutscenes and textboxes, so this seems like the best place to end it. From a pre-completed file, time can start on pressing A to load the first level (Enemy Territory), and end time the same way as stated above. Note that these rules are all if we include/use RTA.

Hard/Normal difficulties will both still be allowed, no-brainer there. Now for the big differences, RTA and IGT, I personally would go with having both RTA + IGT, but I understand why just IGT would be preferred so I can go with that too. If we're going to allow both ways of going through the run, though (NG and NG+) then we probably should just stick with IGT. IGT timing should be self-explanatory; add up all your total level times (I'm so glad this game doesn't restart/reverse the timer when you die...). If you restart in any level for whatever reason, add the time before the restart on top of the time you got in the level(s) after the restart.

For reference, here's my Episode Shadow PB as of this posting:

That's everything I can think of.

...what? There's no exclusive PS4/Vita ending, if that's what you're implying.

Flashback death warp, found by Phatank:

This warp saves around 20 seconds and is similar to the previously found one. Get to the position in the video; again, not super precise. Walk forward while repeatedly pressing the Esc key and drop on top of the rocks in the video. Walk forward and get enough momentum so you can slide down the hill and fall to your death. Click Retry when the option comes up, and you're taken to the entrance of the VHS tape shack.

The Arrival death warp, found by Phatank:

This death warp takes you right to the beginning of the fire sequence instead of having to walk to it, saving up to 30 seconds or more if done very well.

Get around the area as shown in the demonstration, and look forward; it's not too precise. Now, walk forward and mash your Esc key to constantly open/close the pause menu. Keep going until you pass the line of trees, then drop down near the rocks. Walk forward and fall down to the ground; if you did it right, the screen will turn black and Lauren will be killed. When the next menu comes up, press "Retry", and bam, at the beginning of the fire section.