I got the same from GOG. It's known as "25th Anniversary", though not its official name.

It's actually a Unity port but feels pretty much the same as original DOS except for a few modern enhancements that can be disabled by selecting "Classic" mode. There are bonus points scattered around the maps that you can collect to unlock "street art". They kinda stick out but aren't likely to slow you down. Otherwise, looks the same as the original (with upscaling).

Interesting thing is that this is the 1993 version (like the SNES version) which means you can't do the turn-around wall glitches but you can do the forward-facing ones. There's no password support, but you unlock levels for level select as you complete them. Apparently you can't remap controls (keyboard mapping is the same as the DOS version), but it does have XBox gamepad support. Or, if you're looking for a new challenge, it also has mouse support!

That's all I know. Not sure how the console versions compare, but I'd expect them to be fairly identical. Seems pretty solid for speedrunning purposes.

We did not receive a response from sumpura thus far, so the run in question has been delisted. If the video gets reposted, his time may be reinstated. We would either need sumpura to provide a link or ok the release of the video on his behalf.

Thanks! Plenty of time to save tho. Might be shooting for mid 33:XX with Rianna for now. Eventually will be ditching her, but still gotta test out a few things. Stay tuned!

That sounds alright, but I'm curious what you consider the end marker to be. Is it when the "Mission Success" message just begins to fade in or when it's completely faded in? Or maybe it should be completely black screen before the message appears? I don't mean to be too nitpicky here, but this could be important when retiming existing runs as well as verifying new runs.

Also, why I like the start and end markers to be completely obvious is so there's no confusion caused by poor video encoding or cutting. I feel this is more important to you if you're going to be the mod responsible for timing these runs, so whatever you're comfortable with is fine by me. As a runner, I just need to know where it starts and where it ends.

Hi! I'm going to be submitting ILs to the leaderboards, so naturally I was looking into how the runs should be timed. There don't seem to be any rules posted atm, so I figured I would just check how others have timed their runs and follow suit. Unfortunately, this did not go as planned.

I counted 5 individuals that currently have at least 1 IL run posted, and for whatever reason they all seem to use a different timing method! In fact, some of them are a little skewed. For instance, wilderjoe's Normal runs seem to use the YT video length regardless of when the run starts or ends (which makes the Mission 1 time quite inaccurate compared to the others). Even further off the rails is Sinochek's Hard runs which are posted with the official SDA times, and apparently these do not include the time lost to autosave.

I don't think there's any urgency to retime these runs immediately, but I thought I'd mention it just in case it causes any confusion in the future. I'd also like to explain the timing method I've settled on and why I feel it makes sense:

Start: When the screen goes black after clicking the Start button End: When the UI disppears and fade out begins

There's a slight problem with starting time any later than immediately on Start. Basically, the player gains control at different times depending on if they skipped the cutscene or let it play out (see Cyberdemon531's All Cutscenes run for demonstration of this). While deciding when to skip the cutscene could be considered a subtle added element of strategy, it's probably far simpler to oblige the runner to skip the cutscene asap. Also, as a result, all runs started in this manner will begin in the same state, thus making runs more fair and comparable.

As for the time ending when the final fade out begins, this is simply when loss of control occurs. It should be noted that the fade out can be skipped by pressing Esc, but there's no real reason to allow the runner to gain a second by doing so as it has very little to do with actual gameplay. It may also be slightly easier on the runner at the end of a mission to not have to be concerned with this action.

So, I just thought I'd throw this out there so everyone can be on the same page. If anyone has any additional thoughts, feel free to share them. I'm fine with timing my runs any which way so long as everyone agrees. Cheers!

OK, now any% is dead. Barely put up a fight.

There's definitely merit to having an All Relics category. Even if you take the RNG factor out, there still a lot to be done in the routing. I wouldn't call it "uninteresting" necessarily (maybe a matter of taste), though it changes the dynamics of the run without a doubt. There's still a lot of work left to be done for longer runs, but any% is basically dead.

Sorry for the delay, but I've been struggling to find some free time to get back to this.

Long story short: RNG manipulation is not happening. Instead, RNG seed tracking IS happening. Like, now. It's happening now!

See the Google Docs link in my previous post. It has sheets containing all the random data the game generates by seed (see sheet called "Seed Data Dump", as well as the link on the 1st sheet for Slot Data). It's comprehensive and includes all objects that may show up in each fixed slot, like relics, lairs, friendly monsters, map in chest, etc. If it can be determined definitively by the seed, I've included it. Slots are numbered according to the maps which I included in the doc as well.

I've also posted a video which demonstrates the seed tracking method in action (on console). The YT description contains explanation and notes which I hope are clear. Note, this information is relevant to all categories, not just any%. I will gladly answer any questions or elaborate as needed.

Thanks, but I'm currently unable to select SMS as the platform when submitting a run. I believe the platform still needs to be added to the game settings by moderator.

If you care to add the Sega Master System version, I'll submit my run for it. It's got a few glitches if you're into that sort of thing.

About the SMS version:

• Only real time is relevant since IGT is not displayed after the final level. Actually, there's a trick to skip level transitions so IGT is not displayed at all. B^)
• Game Gear version is nearly identical except laggier in an unremarkable way.
• Though originally a Europe only release, it's not PAL exclusive. (FYI: my run is NTSC/60Hz on emulator [BizHawk])

A brief update:

I tested on console and unfortunately it looks like this manipulation method is not reliable. The hardware counter varies a bit too much (probably b/c of Genesis bus issues). Even so, one should be able to get a decent time in Dig% if they've got a weekend to kill and they're willing to do some very monotonous grinding. The odds are apparently not that bad. I was hoping for something a bit more repeatable, but no such luck.

However, I'm not done yet. I'll need to do some more script fu to extract ALL of the relevant data. I'll link the small bit I've got so far, but there's still plenty of work and testing to be done. I should also be able to explain more of the internal game logic as things progress.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1QWHg8eypXkI8GVnfibYOmsAtuPKXkPzjtp04OjwveN0/edit?usp=sharing

Hi! Thought I'd share what I'm currently working on, in case anyone is interested. It's still a work in progress, but I feel this is a good starting point. I'm currently on emulator with plans to transition to console. This will require a lot of testing and planning, though.

I put a lot of notes in the YT description. I won't repost them all here so as not to clutter, but I will elaborate if there are any questions.

Very interesting! Apparently, you don't even need to hit the "What's the story" option. You can exit the conversation immediately and it still puts her in the Jump House.

Awesome! You definitely have some interesting route ideas, like using the Quinton contact and Sharkey to warp back to Sinsearach. Also, nice that some of the safer options you choose don't really waste much time, so could be very useful for route balancing. I'm thinking of maybe revising my route and trying it out again, but I'll have to put it off at least a couple weeks due to work obligations. In the meantime, good luck on the runs!

These are the revised any% category rules I'm proposing. If anything here is not clear, needs to be added or rewritten, let me know. Otherwise, we can go ahead and post them up.

Objective: Beat the Game

Rules:

You must start the run using the "New Game" option. (You may choose any character type.)

You are allowed to use the "Save Game" and "Load Game" options during the run. However, you may only use the "Load Game" option on a slot that was saved after the run has started. Loading a previously saved game is not allowed.

Timing:

• starts when the first dialogue with the hotel clerk appears.
• ends when the final dialogue with Licourtrix appears.

Note: for your run to qualify, you must complete the final dialogue with Licourtrix.

Quality Standards:

Game audio must be included in the recording. Other audio (commentary, chat, etc.) may be included as long as game is audible.

Runs may be rejected for poor video quality:

• Please make an effort to record at a decent resolution (>= 240p) and consistent frame rate (>= ~30fps).
• If you're unsure about your video quality, ask in the forum.

OK knewster, I accepted your best run with game audio -- 54:39 after retiming. Actually, I would accept your marathon run since it's faster even with the awkward start (lol). I haven't officially rejected your faster runs without audio (your 47:xx is a good run), but it's probably best to keep it off the board for now. I assume you will be going for another PB, but if not, let me know. We should clarify the rules to avoid confusion from here on out.

Also, I believe there are options for recording audio in OBS from selected sources using third-party software. Voicemeeter is a virtual audio mixer that is often recommended, though I haven't tried using it. If you have tried and can't get it working, let me know. It may be something I test out in the future.

1. As it stands now, time starts as soon as the dialogue screen with the hotel clerk pops up and ends when the dialogue screen with Licourtrix pops up. This method was used for my time as it appears on the leaderboard now. The time posted on my YouTube video may be different (my original timing was from Press Start to when Licourtrix first appears); I don't remember if I ever changed it.

2. My general rule (for any game) is for sound to be present on all runs. I do understand that it is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to record game audio while listening to something else you don't want recorded. This is something I also struggle with when recording runs, but IMO, game sound makes for a better presentation from a viewer's perspective and of course helps avoid the questions about fake runs you mentioned. Commentary or chatting over gameplay is always acceptable as long as game audio is present.

3. I feel it wouldn't be out of line to ask for a hard reset before starting a run. I don't think there's any issue as long you're starting a run from "New Game" instead of "Load Game". I'm 90% sure soft reset wouldn't be a problem, but using "Load Game" on any slot not saved to in the current game should be explicitly disallowed. I highly doubt there any way Save Game abuse would make for a faster run (unless working from a previous save slot), but loading a previously saved game should never be allowed in any run.

It takes a lot of attempts before it even gives you a chance. So, you just have to be ready. I use emulator, so I would make a savestate for practice -- save a slot when you cast your ninpo, and if he doesn't give you the right pattern, reload a state and try again. Practice is the key.

In my shuriken run, I was using a timing method. After the first hit, watch the Wheel's flashing animation. I don't remember exactly the cue I was using. 2nd white flash or something -- you need to adjust based on YOUR timing. And it seems to work better if I double tap the shurikens.

In my NoseB run, I'm using a rhythm method, so I'm working more by sound. Like a song. Hit #1) Shoot it when it stops. Not too early, tho. ;) Hit #2) Its a slightly delayed triple-shot, a quick 3-in-a-row. Hit #3) I listen for the sound of the shuriken hitting the wall before shooting, to avoid rushing it. Hit #4) If you have the rhythm, you can single shot the last one. I was silly close in my 12:09 NoseB run. xD

Most importantly: Practice a lot and do what works for you. That advice pretty much covers the whole game. It's a pain at first (lots of misses), but you will eventually start to hit more if you focus.

Lag is no problem. Just mash a lot. ;) But, you probably have a 5 second advantage from load times alone on PSP. You can use that extra time to skip some risky moves that only save 0.5 seconds each. You do crazy things in rounds 4 and 5, can't be easy. But, very entertaining!

Which version of BizHawk should I use to beat your run, Panda?