For such a short game that doesn't have an ending nor any glitches that anyone is aware of, I propose just change the category name to 1-Loop. It's as close to a "finish the game/run as fast possible" category when Any% isn't possible. In the rules, you may continue to specify no cheat codes allowed.

I notice quite a few high score runs getting accepted but they don't show the whole attempt; they just show the end result. The rules state no screenshot but without seeing the whole attempt, you miss a lot of how it got to that point - even if it's just the gnome floating in the space. I think VODs/records should show the whole attempt.

I would assume this is widely known by now but I never intentionally tested it. Yes, you can wrap the tongue to the other side and it will be effective to eat/attack.

Unfortunately on the final foot, even though you can wrap the tongue from the left side to the right side, the foot doesn't take damage until it's engaged.

In stage 8 it could help a little bit in some of the pools (I tested a few positions for eating) but nothing consistent or extremely useful.

So far I haven't found any major timesaves but I figured I'd put it out there in case anyone has ideas for stages outside of Any%.

Since running the game I've only seen Any% but have been considering the idea of a Warpless category. If anyone else is interested and/or has already completed a run without using warps, let us know here.

As of 5/17/21, rules have been updated to include timing for runs.

The starting frame is on control of Bonk after the crying animation. This should be ~21 seconds after pressing start at the title screen. Note; there is a brief window where inputs do register before that animation so you could inadvertently delay the start.

The ending frame is when the Drool-mobile explodes (screen will stop scrolling and there is a visible explosion). Previous runs have been grandfathered in as there were slight differences in the end frame (Bluebomberino's WR of 25:35 would still be accurate regardless).

I am starting to learn this game but noticed the Low% category should actually be Any%, correct? As I see in the rules it only states all stages.

Based on current known route/strats, I found the JP version is faster than the US version due to the Smiley Navel fight in Memory Cave - this boss takes one less hit/cycle saving ~15 seconds.

Runners rejoice! Osteoclave has been volunteering time not only to bring us a randomizer for Professional Mode but now a practice patch too!

The randomizer can be found here:

https://github.com/Osteoclave/actraiser-randomizer

The patch for practice can be found in the discord along with many resources for anyone looking to run this game or existing runners who want to improve further!

Huge thank you to Osteoclave for the hard work continuing to provide exciting things for the ActRaiser community.

Heads up mods, @AdoptionPapers submitted a run and tagged me in it - I have no part of it. I have never run a game with this user nor do I even know what this game is or why the submission happened.

I am not sure if it's spam but would suggest against reviewing it and not click any link; I am deleting the submission.

Thanks for recent moderation/verification.

Just wanted to offer a suggestion for Categories (since SRC moderation rules discourage use of % for things besides Any%, Low% and 100%).

Perhaps have "Easy-Hard (Any% - Mouse)" and "Easy-Hard (Any% - Controller)

Or just "Easy-Hard (Controller)" and "Easy-Hard (Mouse)" since Any% isn't required.

Since there were no rules on submissions prior, I am going through runs now and looks like player control (when the 1 appears above the player) was timing used for starting. Time then ending on goals displaying 10.

I'll re-time the existing runs so they all coincide - from what I've went through so far it won't matter for leaderboard positions but could affect the final result times of a few runs by +/- a second. In fact, my time was completely off since I started timer on pressing start. So just a heads up if you see a change.

The timing will also be added to the rules so it's clear.

Black Box Challenge is a homebrew game and was made available by the developer here: https://slydogstudios.org/

There are graphic issues due to mapper compatibility for 4-screen configuration but there is a fixed version of fceux emulator available here: https://ci.appveyor.com/project/zeromus/fceux/build/artifacts

With that said, I don't believe any flash cart OS supports it properly, either - hence the need to play it on emulator.

The game is still playable in it's entirety with those graphic issues but the title screen is definitely hard to navigate since it's mixed together. Also screen transitions look strange.

By watching runs I couldn't understand what was happening in Phase 4 to get the 3200 points - but then I looked up the gamefaq on prizebombs where it explains the golden hammer and the formula.

I'm able to reproduce this now and get the golden hammer although it's still interesting how the prizebomb is manipulated so that it is considered to be blown up 3rd even though it is hit second? I'm assuming the extra swing taken at the 1st bomb is considered another bomb hit?

Looks like there is a potential limit to "landing" for a high score.

So In the 3K there is the mud, in 4K there is just grass but in 5K there is the blue where nothing is drawn (that you see in anti-high score) HOWEVER, I fell right through it.

I was doing attempts offline so don't have the moment of falling through - just the aftermath.

Basically it's infinity at this point; game continues, boost is ineffective, gnome spins but never lands and eventually stops trailing forward.

So now is high score attempts seem a bit strange - not sure if you can land anything in or past 5K.

Was holding start to immediately skip cutscene and got this glitch. Game continued but it was strange. If anything it cost time but thought it was interesting.

As of writing this, I believe current Easy WR is 12:48 although not on leaderboard. Definitely a good time to try to beat.

There's really good information on the mechanics of this game here:

http://newchallenger.net/w/index.php?title=ClayFighter_Tournament_Edition

I saw a ? about adding Dr. Mario categories in misc on this board but there is already a separate board for running Dr. Mario SNES https://www.speedrun.com/drmariosnes

Not sure which came first, but seems this game fell into the Tetris series only and I don't see Tetris (SNES).

So probably wouldn't make sense to add the Dr. Mario categories here.

Ghost teleport glitch - I've seen this happen while dying on top of a ghost - I was able to set up on a hit:

Setup for LS jump on 7th Road - I use this instead of trying to time ghosts between platforms:

And this glorious soft lock:

I was looking into the categories and trying to understand what beating this game would be and how the rules match up.

I believe there are 5 shops, so a full run of this game would be shops 0-5, Levels 0-9. Ending would be Shop 59, Hats 00

Right now Any% (Shop 0) is OK, but maybe the 100% category would be Any% (All Shops)? And the rules would change to align to Shop 59, Hats 00?

Example for Any% (All Shops):

-Complete Levels 0-9 of Shops 0-5. -Time starts with the input starting the game (after selecting music on or off). -Time ends when "Shop 59 Hats 0" appears on the screen on Shop 5.

And Example for Any% (Shop 0):

-Complete Levels 0-9 of Shop 0. -Time starts with the input starting the game (after selecting music on or off). -Time ends when "Shop 09 Hats 0" appears on the screen.