Hello friends,

I was looking into running this fine game but was perplexed as to why NES and FC were different categories, I could understand FDS but was curious.

Also, off topic but if any of you know where some guides for 1st and 2nd quest are, please let me know, I could only find 1st quest guides.

The community separated them because FC saves 18-21s on text. I agree with you and I personally never understood splitting categories like this when text is the only difference because it doesn’t make sense to me to intentionally play on a slower version, but the community has their reasons for preferring English (some people wouldn’t like the idea of someone getting WR on text alone instead of actually beating the WR skill wise, which is valid). So in the end, they made the choice to split.

2Q isn’t as widely run so idk of any guides or tutorials, so unless someone else knows one you’re better off studying top runs to learn it.

Nah, text isn't the issue, Timmi.

Text can be accounted for perfectly. As soon as Speedrun.com added support for a text-adjustment field I was going to put it in.

HOWEVER, there is a huge difference between the NES release and the FC re-release that cannot be cleanly accounted for. That difference is lag. When Nintendo ported the NES version back to Japan, they fixed bugs, and reduced lag substantially. That saves time over the run. A lot. That can't be cleanly subtracted out of an NES run.

Oh yeah I always forget about the lag reduction. My opinion is still the same but you’re right that that makes it impossible to adjust for.

So is the 18-21s specifically on the route? I remember seeing PresJPolk talk in another thread about just modifying the times, but if they're context specific then that would be poopy.

So, the bugs have been fixed, and lag reduced. That's pretty interesting. I bought the FC version because I have an AV Famicom (my NES is PAL) but I had no idea. Are any glitches different?

Yeah I know 2Q is a meme, but I'm all up for memes. Though, that being said, I actually think it's a pretty legitimate category.

The FC version works 99% the same. It has slight enemy differences, different text, and a lot less lag.

If you want to run it, go ahead. There's no reason not to. It's just for fun. Only reason to get an NES cart is if you want to compete with others. Your experience running the game will be the same on FC, as it is on NES, except you have less time waiting for text, some missing keese in one room, and less lag in key rooms.

2Q is definitely a different beast of a run than 1Q. Much more about movement and less about combat (compared to 1Q). Also, the new Roocorder Glitch can be utilized to great effect in 2Q compared to 1Q.

I think fewer people run it because it's considered "harder" and there is less competition.

I don't run it because I consider 2Q to be a bad romhack. :)

I wouldn't consider 2q a meme, it's just another quest.

It’s only a meme when you run ACE.

Fact is no runners should ever care what someone else is pejoratively calling a 'meme.' It's one of the most meaningless tags to put on a category.

We should also just not refer to any categories pejoratively. Shaming people for playing a game the way they want to play it just hurts the community.