Overly In-Depth Speedrun Guide for Jad

(Last Updated 6/7/23: A cleaner formatted version with visual examples on Google Docs: https://docs.google.com/document/d/19UJTUujoteVZLQGktvoOwKtQJUmKRvK6FSQrOby5t-I/edit?usp=sharing)

--Introduction--
I took a lot of notes for myself while learning this speedrun. No reason to keep them locked away from any folks who want to get into running the game as well. Hopefully, this serves as a semi-encyclopedia for you.

If you have anything you’d like to see, add, or correct: Feel free to leave comments here or reach out on Twitter (https://twitter.com/Ryyudo).

--Techniques--
I-Drop: Using invulnerability frames to drop down to the next floor without dying.
Uses: Going down a single floor without having to wait for an elevator. Can be set up with deaths/continues (long invulnerability) or taking damage (short invulnerability)

Airwalk: Dashing while falling to gain slight left/right movement.
Uses: Often paired with I-Drops to fall down non-elevator shafts and run onto a ledge to skip segments, dashing off elevators to be airborne for a second to manipulate stage checks (i.e Stage 5/Crimson Line)

Jumpstart: Pressing up and jumping out of an elevator to send it up a floor and for you to remain on the same floor.
Uses: Shorten returning elevator cycles, scrolling the screen, creating an empty elevator shaft for a Deathwarp.

Deathwarp: An intentional death to reposition your character.
Uses: Skipping segments. Deaths provide recovery on bombs and health as well if it can be fit in.

Red Doors: The goals of the game; must enter the door to progress to the next area.
Exit doors by pressing down
Can stay inside doors to avoid situations while waiting for elevator cycles
Deathwarps often aim towards the next nearest red door.

Real Fake Floor/Ceiling: Manipulate elevator patterns using the screen’s scroll position.
Elevators will act as if they reached their top/bottom floor if it’s at the top or bottom of the screen and will go the opposite direction afterward.
Can hold elevators from moving to prevent scrolling for future elevators to cycle on.


--Stage Guide--
*Acknowledge that something will effectively always go wrong in this game. It’s an arcade game, it’s built different. Don’t let it deter you! Figure out how to crack the issue as best as possible and keep running.*

*Stage 1*
- First door
Take elevator down to the floor with the red door and enter.

- Second door
Exit door and dash left to fall into the elevator shaft.
I-Drop into the shaft again and dash left and take the elevator down.
Dash right on top of next elevator and wait to descend.
Deathwarp by dashing left and dropping into the next elevator shaft.
Continuing will place you in front of next red door.

- Third door
Descend one floor after the explosion. Can ignore enemy out the door.
Dash left and take elevator down two floors.
Dash right to the red door next door.

- Exit
I-Drop into shaft next to door, on top of elevator
Dash left to next elevator and descend one floor.
Dash left to next elevator and descend until exit.

*Stage 2*
Note: I have trouble with this, but listen for the first drum “clunk” to time your starting dash.

- First Door
Dash right and take elevator down.
Dash left and take elevator down.
Launcher drops here but I don’t believe there’s any value to pick up.
Dash right and enter the door.

- Airplane
Dash left to the escalator and ride up.
Sometimes Orange enemy will shoot if just far enough to the right.
Sometimes an enemy will spawn and be crushed by the elevator.
Dash left after escalator, ignoring robots.
Robots will not get a shot in if fast enough.
Place yourself very close to the left side and begin shooting upward.
Optimal position: Jad’s knee should be poking out from behind the railing. 
Update 5/16/23:
Use your jump to hit enemies flying in from behind you or landing on top of you. Do it early to hit them out of air, and do it late to hit them on the ground (hits twice).
If enemies gather up this is often positive. Using a crouch grenade to clear 3-5 enemies at once will make the next pack come in a bit faster + more together. This is a soft science though so kind of flow between them coming one-at-a-time and more grouped together.
You’ll get a melee attack if the enemy is too close, so be aware of your positioning after it.
Use crouching bombs to attack grounded enemies (usually kills in one).
Begin running left once the last enemy is killed and enter the airplane
Dashing against the screen as soon as the last jetpack enemy is dead will ensure you run into the dog and rifleman before they attack.
Update 5/16/23:
Dash to the far left of the plane but stop a bit short of it. Crouch and turn around and begin shooting right (towards the plane’s entrance).
If positioned correctly, with Jad’s gun flare on the second-to-last line between the seats.
Enemies on the left side will walk/jump out and despawn quickly. Enemies on the right will take the full wrath of your bullets. 
Once the red jetpack comes out, dash out a bit and shoot him. 
Ensure that all the enemies on the right are either dead or in grenade range once the red jetpack dies and that you’re as far left as possible after he drops the grenade.


- Second Door
I-Drop using the invincibility from the explosion and Airwalk left onto the second floor, if done correctly.
This is tight timing! Some outcomes that might help you understand what went wrong:
Airwalk too early: You’ll bounce back a bit off the upper floor.
Airwalk too late: It’ll look like you didn’t move midair at all.
Started I-Drop too slow: You’ll die before you reach the second floor.
Dash left and take the elevator down. Jumpstart elevator as you exit right.
Dash right to the door.

- Exit
Dash left and take elevator up to top floor when it returns.
Dash right and take next elevator up to top floor.
Dash left and take elevator up one floor.
Deathwarp by falling/jumping into the next hole.
If you take damage, wait until invulnerability ends before Deathwarping
Take elevator to your immediate left then run right to end the stage.

*Stage 3*
- First Door
Dash right to elevator and take to top floor.
Dash right to elevator and take down a floor. 
Dash left as soon as possible off the elevator (minor Airwalk) and enter the red door.

- Second Door
Dash right back onto elevator to the top floor
Dash left onto elevator and take to next floor
Dash right and JUMP onto next elevator.
Seems to be some RNG if you can catch this elevator or not.
If you do not catch elevator: Once the elevator returns, hold it down for a Real Fake Ceiling on the upper left elevator. After the upper-left elevator goes up, take your elevator up.
Dash left and take next elevator up
Dash left and take next elevator up one floor, then Jumpstart elevator to remain on second floor.
Deathwarp in the open shaft and revive to the top floor.
Dash left into next elevator down.
Dash left. Shoot rifleman or jump over rifleman’s bullet
Take elevator up and dash right to elevator
Head up a single floor and dash left to red door.
Jumpstarting elevator here seems to make things just a bit off going forward due to scrolling. Currently not recommended.

- Third Door
Dash right to take the elevator to the top floor.
Dash left towards elevator.
Grab [M] powerup from the first crate.
Take elevator up, dash right to next elevator through dogs.
Shoot minimal bullets to stop jetpacks from attacking to save [M] bullets.
Dash right to next elevator and ride up
Dash left to next elevator and ride up
Dash right to next elevator and ride up to top floor
Most enemy layouts do not seem to stop Jad, but be aware! The further away, the more time they have to get a shot out.
Dash left to next elevator and ride up
Dash right to second elevator and ride up for door.
Wall gun may require ducking or taking a hit, but shouldn’t mess with cycles

- Fourth Door
Exit and take left elevator back down.
Dash left to next elevator and ride it up to the top.
Dash to furthest right elevator. Should end up inside or on top to go up to next floor.
Jump into next left elevator up.
If you miss it, use the Blue door for i-frames + potential health up.
Dash right to next elevator up.
Cycles here are weird! Recommend attempting a jump onto any elevators you’re uncertain if you’ll make it onto.
Dash left to elevator and go up
Dash right to next elevator and go up.
Dash left to next elevator and go up.
Dash right to next elevator and go up one floor.
Enemies might be mean here, I’d suggest throwing a bomb at the furthest rifleman as they’re the riskiest.
If no rifleman, likely OK to just go to next elevator 
Can attempt a jump for safety to ensure catching it
Do not Jumpstart this elevator when on the Red Door floor. It’ll screw up the following cycles.
Dash left and enter the door.

- Exit
Dash right and take elevator up to top floor. A rifleman up should take the elevator down to you.
Dash/Jump left and take next elevator up to top floor
May get shot while riding up here.
Depending on cycle, can take elevator to the left or right up a floor to scroll screen and start boss fight.

You have some time here for a couple of these:
Highly recommend: Go to top-right corner and jump to kill the bots from the ceiling and lower floors
Can open trash pile at bottom-right for potential healing.
Can open sandbag at bottom-left for potential item
Do NOT open the box on the 2nd floor to the right and then take elevator up. May explode barrels too early. 
When the boss releases the fifth jetpack enemy, shoot the barrels and jump into the middle section.
When flames run out, crouch throw one grenade at a time
Save 2-3 grenades for Stage 4

- Red Jetpack Enemies
Shoot slightly slower for consistent damage and prevent them from being pushed out of range.
Crouch drop grenades down when available (save 2-3 grenades for Stage 4)
Theory - Red Jetpacks frame data after getting shot: A moment of invulnerability, a moment of vulnerability, then invulnerability, then vulnerable. Happens in under a 1-1.5 second period.
These apply unless a bullet hits another target which immediately makes all other enemies vulnerable. 
Best practice to shoot a different enemy once an enemy is hit unless an enemy is getting combo’d in their windows of middle vulnerability.

*Stage 4*
- First Door + Tight Sequence
Begin dashing right into train car
Dash and turn around once under 2nd robot to step on the 1st robot, then turn back around to step on 2nd and 3rd.
Continue dashing right and wait for next elevator from the right side to go up to next floor for the door
If low health: Opportunity to be killed by enemies for refills on bombs/health

- Tight Sequence
Enter Red Door from maximum range off the elevator ASAP.
Exit and stick to the far right of the elevator while taking it to the top floor.
Near the end of the elevator ride, jump to the left to get extra height and land on the elevator.
Dash right to the next elevator and take it up.

- Second Door
Crouch drop one before reaching the top to clear out enemies
If no bombs: Begin running right immediately at the top. Timing might allow for bullets to clash with elevators while running away from them.
Dash right to next door.
Timing of elevators may stop you so watch out for that.

- All Remaining Doors
Go up elevator to the right
Go up elevator to the left.
Dash right and jump for elevator.
Dash left and wait for elevator up.
Dash and go up elevator to the right
Take a shot from machine and i-frames to get onto next elevator

Take the next elevator up. Few options here to get to the next elevator:
Recommended: Throw bomb near the end of the elevator ride.
Can dash and jump as necessary through enemies. This will be RNG-based but general reactions as follows for the 2nd enemy (First guy should be able to be reached no matter what with a dash.)
2nd Standing: Dash into/jump over bullet
2nd Crouching: Jump into for safety
2nd Prone: Dash over entirely and ignore
2nd Backstepping: Must shoot or wait. Very difficult to time jump over and dash will not reach.

Once past the ventilation room, dash left to the first elevator up.
Likely have to jump to catch.
Take the second elevator up and get to the door.
Use invincibility to exit door, dash left, and jump over the ledge to the next door
Repeat the process quickly until the exit.
Nothing should stop you but sometimes a stray bullet does a thing.

*Stage 5*
Made an example video of a run-through: https://youtu.be/dkcaxi-_xWw

- First Door
I-Drop into the elevator to the right to and ride to the bottom floor.
Airwalk off this elevator by dashing off it near the bottom floor.
Getting Airwalk is important because it forces the screen to scroll down. Missing it will lock you out from moving left.
If you do miss Airwalk: Enter and exit the Blue Door quickly.
Dash left to the next elevator.
Inconsistent if it’s there or not.
Take next elevator to the right, when available.
If previous elevator was available right away, this elevator will get taken up by an enemy.
Drop off when the enemy starts taking the elevator up to land as it’s coming up, then immediately dash off before it reaches the top. This sets up some very favorable 5-Elevator cycles!
Dash through enemies and wait to take a hit at the end to set up an I-Drop for the next elevator. The screen should NOT scroll down.
Dash down next two hallways + elevators as normal to the 5-Elevator section.
5-Elevators is interesting…
If the section before was done correctly: You should be able to directly dash onto the 5-elevators to the left-most elevator right as it begins going down. Take it back up to the red door’s floor. [Update 5/16/23: The guide from here will assume this tactic was done]
Alt (Slower + Safer) Strat: Real Fake Floor by staying on the floor above until the five elevators go down a floor before you go down. The elevators should come back up for you fairly quickly.
Honestly, a lot can go wonky here.
Dash left to door and enter the Red Door.

- Second Door
Exit onto the left-most elevator.
Take elevator down until you’re on the floor with the Red Door on the right side.
Deathwarp off the edge to be teleported to the door.

- Third Door
I-Drop left to bottom floor.
Dash left for left-most elevator, which should be in position, and ride down.
Sometimes enemies steals this to ride up!
You’ll take a hit from electricity here.
Dash right and take elevator down to the upper floor
Dash left without stopping for enemies and jump the gap. 
Update 5/16/23: Immediately turn around to face right and throw a standing grenade to get rid of all enemies. 
Dash right and jump early onto elevator. You’re trying to get some height for when it takes off while not getting hit by the electricity above while jumping.
Dash left and jump on next elevator. 
Dash right and take elevator up to next door.
Wait in door until next elevator descends.

- Fourth door
Use delay + invlun from Red Door door to get to next elevator.
Update 5/16: Sometimes this area scrolls weirdly and ruins everything! Play by ear if it does.
Dash right and crouch on the elevator until right after the Wall Gun fires its second shot before going up.
Dash left and catch elevator.
Dash left and catch elevator.
Dash right and catch elevator.
Dash right and catch elevator.
Dash right to next door. Delay exit until next elevator is coming back up.

- Fifth Door
Dash left to elevator and Real Fake Floor the bottom right elevator to start going down before you go down.
Dash right to next elevator.
[Update 5/16] Dash left to next elevator and Jumpstart elevator before accessing the Red Door. The screen will scroll up creating a Real Fake Floor setup for the rest of the stage.
Exit
From this point, ride every elevator down completely before dashing off it. Every elevator should be ready to go for you.
If you step off early and cause any sort of fall, the setup is ruined.
Dash right straight through on the final floor to the exit.


Stage 6
- First door
Dash right and I-Drop to the elevator.
Jumpstart elevator before running to the door.

- Second door
Dash right and take elevator to bottom floor.
Dash to the furthest left elevator. 
Stay crouched and shoot left until the next area, stopping at the top-most floor.
Dash left to next elevator and take it down, then dash into the door.

- Third door
Dash right to the furthest-right elevator and take it up. 
Throw a bomb as soon as your head peeks over the edge.
Immediately dash to the right to the next elevator and jump to catch it.
May get RNG’d here and not be able to catch the cycle.
Dash left to the door.

- Fourth Door
Dash to left elevator and take it up. 
Wait for first elevator to the right to drop down. Take it up then dash to the next elevator right.
Real Fake Ceiling the elevator in the shaft directly to above you, moving up when it moves.
Dash left to next elevator. May need to jump.
Dash right to the next elevator and take up one floor.
Jumpstart the elevator and dash to the door.

- Fifth door
Take elevator when available and go up to the top floor.
Dash left to next elevator and take it all the way up to the top floor (past the computer)
You will take a hit here so take a death before going onto the elevator if low on health.
Can also take a hit from the electricity for i-frames to avoid the hit. Electricity does very little damage.
Can be dodged with a perfectly timed jump, but screwing up loses a lot of time without saving any time on success.
If any human enemies, throw a bomb. Otherwise, dash right past the enemies and jump to the second crate with the [L] and pick up.
Need 4-5 shots for the final boss so don’t need to be stingy with ammo.
Jump to small platform and wait for elevator. Take to the bottom floor.
Enter door at the bottom.

- Finale
Exit and step back onto elevator and follow pattern:
Go up two floors to scroll the screen and Real Fake Ceiling top-left elevator. Go down a floor to stall further.
Once the next elevator goes up, begin your ascent to the top floor
If done properly, you can dash left and the elevator will be available.
Ride up to top floor. Handle enemies quickly here (and every following floor)
Dash right and ride elevator up to top floor, handing enemies quickly on the floor.
Dash left to elevator and ride to top floor, handling enemies again.
Dash right to elevator and ride to top floor.
Fire launcher, dash left to next elevators and take it up to the top floor.
Throw bomb or fire launcher to destroy bullet. Jump first gap quickly.
Update 5/16/23: Can take a kick on the way up from the upper floor enemy and use the invuln to jump across.
Unsure why, but I find trying to destroy the bullet VERY inconsistent for me? So I prefer taking the kick if possible.
Duck second bullet, jump second gap.
Dash past upon landing to get another hit and position yourself just right of him. 
He should kick you once, but all subsequent kicks should miss.
Begin throwing bombs one at a time to avoid boss’ i-frames.
Once the boss dies, begin firing launcher.

Ryyudo

Elevator Action Returns

Arcade

ZendoiKaban

TheOpponent

USA / NTSC

Kart

Edie

Saturn/S-Tribute

Character

Select Arcade for the original arcade release or emulations of the arcade release, including Egret II Mini (Plug and Play).

Version

MAME 0.266 was released today, which includes a rewrite of the Taito F3 driver. This brings fixes to many video emulation bugs that have existed in MAME for decades, including all of the problems in Elevator Action Returns regarding stage introductions and the lighting changes after an electrical bo