Rules re: forcing a game over
1 year ago
California, USA

I posted this question in the discord server, but it seems rather sleepy there so I figured I'd ask here too. It occurred to me that in the src rules for this game, nowhere does it state that you are not allowed to do "up+a" (in this case pressing select) to force the continue/retry/save screen. It would certainly save time over doing the death warps, especially for the 100% category. Is this something that should be added into the rules, or would using select be allowed?

Nevada, USA

Honestly I have no problem allowing an "up+a" IF (and ONLY if) it's a feature the original BS Zelda has. I honestly was unaware of select = death (or up+A) so if that's a feature the OG game has, I would vote to add it.

California, USA

How would we verify if the feature was in the original?

I suppose a separate category could be created that would allow it, if anyone felt so inclined (personally I don't think that's necessary).

Nevada, USA

There are dumps of the original files. I actually had them on a repro until about a month ago (I just sold it). I never knew there was a way to do that. Perhaps Ice or J? could chime in?

Nevada, USA

KiddoCabbusses would be a wonderful person to ask as well.

Nevada, USA

OK I asked Kiddo and he graciously checked on the actual BS Zelda dump. It actually brings up a secondary subscreen (which I do recall seeing on mine now that I think about it).

That said, the patch does change a LOT of things as it is. I dunno, BS Zelda is such a strange case... would be an intriguing thing to discuss. Definitely would like to hear more takes on it.

Louisiana, USA

When I tried using Up+A, it doesn't work as intended. For starters, I started back at start, and it forced me back into Wood Sword cave.

So the time save doesn't seem viable tbh.

Nevada, USA

Upon further discussions, the mods and I have decided that the select feature (which is the equivalent of up+a in NES Zelda 1/2) is not to be allowed in speedruns going forward. It will be added to the rules as an outlawed strategy. Any runs that use select going forward will not be verified.

The reason behind our decision is simple = the real BS Zelda game does not use this feature. In the actual Satellaview game, select brings up a special submenu, and does not allow you to save or quit.

Since this was NOT explicitly in the ruleset before now, if any runs on the board have this feature utilized, they will be grandfathered in.

jquestionmark and vanni_van like this
California, USA

Thanks for doing the research on this JSR. I'm glad that you have a source that knows how the original BS versions worked.