Sorry, Raikou, not actually sure where to put this one! There's no way I see to respond to your comments on a submitted run. I would personally be all up for a new category for non-Shaq runs but figured getting other people's thoughts on it would be good too!

For those who run across this: There's actually a way to play story mode as a non-Shaq character, via a code in the option menu. Nothing else changes, but this could be an interesting category to see if people can find any unique strats in the game (ie. Colonel is kind of broken! Diesel too, if not for his forward kick having less frames than Shaq's) I still think the current Shaq-only story mode run should the "main" run, definitely.

Any thoughts?

its difficult to put forward, cause if we did we'd need a category for each character to have accurate comparisons, i feel that would flood in empty categories on what is an already quiet leaderboard.

Theyd probably just keep the category together, that being said, nobody said you couldn't run with other characters. Just do a run with whoever you want, I mean if its faster than its faster right? no ones really bothered to test it is all, this game is still in the meme stages with minimal strat, however I'm fairly sure shaq is fastest in the genesis version, as his spam kicks do the most damage, which ends fights fast.

Rules even state any setting is allowed & all you do to change character is go into sound test settings. Says it in the manual so its not a cheat, SNES runs use whoever they want as well. Give it a go and see if you get a good time. I'd personally like to see a speed innovation of any kind, however I'd prefer if a island skip-clip was discovered.

Fair, nobody said you couldn't, so i've corrected the rules to state "in-game cheats" are not allowed.

Claiming it isn't a cheat is false, if it wasn't an in-game cheat, it would be a clearly defined selectable option, not something you activate with sound test inputs.

also correcting that the SNES version allows it, actually it doesn't, they have a seperate category of "No Restrictions", which actually has some runners, there is none for the Genesis version therefore it doesn't warrant the category, i'm a strong believer that if you want a leaderboard, 2 runs minimum from 2 different runners must be ready to place on the new leaderboard otherwise setting it up is a waste of time

I personally believe cheat codes involve start screen inputs &/or something that drastically enhances gameplay, like double damage or extra life type stuff.. not something involving a hidden character change. There are several fighting games, and racing games for that matter with hidden cars & characters where you press a specific button on a specific screen to select them, I don't believe thats cheating at all, I just believe its a hidden option. Most speedrun games allow this as well, Cruisn USA allows the Jeep, Cop Car, & School bus, mortal Kombats allows hidden characters, same with street fighter, fairly confident soul caliber allows hidden characters as well however I haven't fact checked that. Also DKR allows the TTWizard. Its not really a cheat, more or less a hidden form of character selection.

But I see your point so ill stand down. Guess any run with the blood cheat activated will also have to be removed, ill go through all the runs and post the runs below which utilized the blood cheat.

Ill update as soon as I get the time, I plan on running this game again soon so I wouldn't want anyone utilizing blood cheats if its not allowed.

you dont need to stress yourself with that, if a run is already on the board prior to me updating the rules, its deemed "grandfathered" and will remain on the boards, rule change will only effect new submissions