I've been thinking about this for a long while now, but have only just gotten annoyed enough to post it now because of the new "25%" category.

In most cases, a category of a game exists to show off some sort of "completion" or "unlock" state, or because of a special glitch that completely changes a run (such as MIPS and SBLJ in sm64). However, I feel like that with the Bejeweled games we are paying no consideration to that.

Not that I am against any category that does not have an explicit completion state. That would eliminate bejeweled 1 entirely, and cut down the Bejeweled 2, twist, and 3 leaderboards too much, and that does not seem fair.... especially since that would mean game modes that have their own unique playstyles would never be represented...

If someone not in the community were to ask "Why does 25% exist?", what would the answer be? From the outside, these categories look completely arbitrary and have absolutely no reason to exist. Even I, someone who follows bejeweled speedrunning, don't know the answer. This would not be an issue normally, and more respected speedgames have arbitrary categories (20 and 10 shines in SMS for an example.).

But what irks me specifically about 25% is that it seems like the most arbitrary of arbitrary categories. All this category is is an all puzzles run cut off after the fourth puzzle world. There is no "unlock" like in action 8 levels or some sort of glitched state like in the hyper mode max score run. There is also no difference in play between those two runs and THIS is what annoys me. The SMS 20 and 10 shines runs, even though it is a similar case to these categories, at least have some differences in regards to routing, and a runner may try more risky strats in a 10 shines run because of the shorter category. But none of that exists here. This also applies to the sub-boards of other bejeweled games, ESPECIALLY bejeweled deluxe time trial. The fact that there can be 4 different leaderboards in a category with no differences other than "it's longer" drives me insane.

But don't listen to me. I am not running the games anymore. You guys have fun with your new categories :D

I feel pretty much the same way. The game just becomes a giant drag near the end due to the high number of spheres required. Only reason I am responding to this is because I just did a run of the game. (5:28:46) It was alright except for the game being a drag, and cobraic twilight (FUCK THAT LEVEL)

cool. It would be nice to have some competition to keep me motivated

Good News: Just got a RECORDED 1:02:41. Was an amazing run except 50 seconds were lost to shark den. upload tomorrow sometime

just got a 1:06:10 igt in a "derust" run, and I wasn't recording. Totally didn't expect a pb out of it either, it was a really bad run until the split where I saved almost a minute in the final area.

Also 57:xx sum of best is here now