Could be worth noting. When playing V1 on DOSBox, you get no delays during screen transitions if you play with max cycles. However, on ScummVM, screen transitions are slower.
If I take it correctly, this means that going for the old rusty key while waiting for Dr. Fred's cutscene is worth it when playing on DOSBox but not on ScummVM. On ScummVM, every screen transition makes that cutscene play later, so getting a kid captured is faster.
Similarly, when playing V2 inside Day of the Tentacle Remastered, you get instant screen transitions. So here it's faster to walk to the lab. When playing on DOSBox or ScummVM, you get a small delay on every screen transition, so getting a kid captured is faster.
That was my logic for picking up the rusty key on V1, yes. The route is not well-tested though and I wouldn't be surprised if the extra screen transitions still add little delays to the Dr Fred cutscene, even on DOSBox with high cycles. Could use some proper testing and timing.
V2 is also probably still faster than V1 on DOSBox. I just wanted to do a run with the door warps.
I think you made the right call. Doing nothing on ScummVM, it takes 4:25 from the moment you fix the wires until the cutscene starts. In your run, it takes 4:26, which is faster than getting caught.
Likewise, in my run inside DOTTR the cutscene started after 4:00 when walking all the way to the basement, while using the same route in V2 on ScummVM I got it after 4:11. In your V2 run on ScummVM (where you get caught), it takes 4:08.
Come to think about it, I haven't tested what happens inside DOTTR if a kid gets caught. Don't think it'll take less than 4:00, though.
I also agree that, with the known strats, V2 seems faster on any platform, even if we haven't spent much time on V1.
Just checked - when playing inside DOTTR, if a kid gets caught, you get Dr. Fred's cutscene after waiting for 4:08 or so.
Since we're mentioning version differences, here's how long the cutscene where Dr. Fred regains his sanity takes:
- V1 DOSBox: 25 seconds (corrected; I previously said 45 seconds because I didn't realize you could increase the text speed in V1 as well)
- V1 ScummVM (with dotskip): 17 seconds
- V2 inside DOTTR: 19 seconds
- V2 ScummVM (with dotskip): 12.5 seconds
I've just added a guide about version differences. Not sure about how accurate it is, though :). Feedback is welcome!
Turns out you can increase/decrease the text speed in V1 by pressing ">" and "<". So running it on DOSBox might be faster... if you can deal with the unresponsive controls.
