FraserQuest's Turok 3: SoO Joseph Any% SpeedRun Notes (updating)
6 years ago
United States

+Background:

I began speedrunning Joseph any% in the beginning of March 2017 and casually played Turok 3: SoO when it released in 2000. Since having a familiar background on it I decided to pick it up as my first speedrun game. I also noticed at first that this game doesn't have much of a responsive community or hasn't in a while. Finding out about this absence made me want to pave the way for this game's community. After resets, optimizing, re-routing, watching the TAS bot Danielle any% run for boss strategies, and implementing my own Joseph any% strategies I have created these notes to ensure myself and most importantly everyone else a finished run!

All of my strategies are up to date as of March 3rd, 2018. Review my run posted on the Turok 3 speedrun leaderboard for definite detail on these notes. Comment if you have any questions!

(If you run on emulator here is the emulator version/rom I've used: -Project64 version 2.3.0.210 -Turok 3 - Shadow of Oblivion (USA) [Europe should be fine. I haven't touched the Beta rom though...whatever it is...] I still have the original Turok 3 cartidge as well, but I run on emulator for specific reasons. I also run on controller. Haven't tried M/K yet.)

+Overall tempo hypothesis as of July 15th, 2017 (for beginners):

-CH. 1 = 8 minutes (>8:00) -CH. 2 = 8 minutes (>16:00) -CH. 3 = 10:>15 seconds (>26:xx) -CH. 4 = >12 minutes (>38:xx)¤ ¤¤ -CH. 5 = >15 minutes -Σ = >53 minutes¤¤¤ ¤¤¤¤

¤The objective is sub 38 before CH. 5! (If you want to PB and you know you do.) ¤¤[September 24th, 2017 note: I have achieved sub 37 before CH.5] ¤¤¤[October 4th, 2017 note: I have achieved sub 51!] ¤¤¤¤[October 13th, 2017 note: A perfect run will now result in a sub 50!!!! My time trials below confirm!] [*****March 3rd, 2017 note: Sub 47 can now be achieved.]

+Review (For beginners):

-CH. 1 & CH. 2 should be done in 16 minutes or less. >16:04 is okay. -CH. 3 is 10 minutes average. -CH. 4 should take less than 12 minutes. -CH. 5 really boils down to a great Oblivion fight and you can't waste more than 2 minutes to it. 3 minutes is pushing it. You should be at the Oblivion fight in less than 11 minutes.

+Footnotes:

^^^If you don't kill the first enemy when entering some areas (ex.running past them) the rest of the enemies will not spawn. This saves health, time, and ammo!

^^^Know the areas that require north-west & north-east directional inputs! [NW/NE DI]

^^You can jump through elevator/keycard doors. Right before they open immediately jump (or spam the jump button) and you'll be able to skip through the door without having to wait for it to open. The timing is simple once practiced.

^^You can clip into railings.

^Jumping in the middle of going up certain slopes will result in a boosted jump forward.

^Jumping underwater will make you rise quicker.

---> Chapter 1: The Breach (Joseph jumps the shark!) <---<

1.[March 3rd, 2018 note] New route saves 6 to 8 seconds. Calculating time is pretty nice. 0.538 seconds between old/new route after night vision googles and 0.857 seconds between old/new route at the optional 2 health packs. 0.54/0.86=0.628 at average. So 6-8 seconds overall. Maybe even more with optimal movement. [Refer to PB run posted here] ~ (¤BTW The dog before entering the 2 minute mark elevator can do up to 65 damage. Be cautious of your health or try your best to dodge!)

  1. Once reaching the top of the 2 minute mark elevator you can easily do an angled "Turok jump" onto the following stair platform. (If you run any Turok game you should know how to do these types of jumps. Watch run for detail.)

  2. The CH.1 train sequence skip can be done by strafing. It's an easy time save and once you get the motion right you won't reset every time. (Watch run for detail.)

  3. The CH. 1 Boss's weak spot is right above it's body. It's almost like hitting it at the bottom of it's spine. Should take 3-4 shotgun hits. Also if you want to be safe jump on the ledge behind you as soon as the fight starts. The boss will fly to the other side of the map and you won't have trouble hitting it's sweet spot since the boss is in front of you at a better angle.. This strategy makes it so the fight takes 9-11 seconds. Even though it could be less this is a safe strategy. (Watch run for detail.)

---> Chapter 2: The Military Base (feat. Mutated Mutations) <---<

  1. RUN fast (northeast DI) and don't kill enemies when entering the Dark Hangar in CH.2 and the enemy spawn frame drop glitch won't happen! Run fast in general.

  2. Xiphias...and it's eye can be dealt with as soon as it cries from being hit. You would want to run in front of Xiphias as soon as entering it's dungeon so as soon as you shoot it will cry and then you load arrows into it's eye. It's also best to move back and forward to activate it's tentacle fellatio move animation for the hit box readjustment. Shoot and repeat. Usually takes 1 or 2 crying cycles. ~ -It is known that Xiphias may draw you right into the the water underneath it's eye after doing it's first tentacle fellatio move (If you're not close enough to the wall behind you when entering the fight on the left side). IF Xiphias DOES bring you forward in this fashion then you can get a quick precise eye kill by loading arrows into it's eye. Just make sure to poke it's eye out fast enough before those time loss beams start flying. (6/10) OR -Run in it's face and take some of it's jabs. These jabs will push you back against the wall, but you can still aim at it's eye and pluck it out. SInce Xiphias is occupied jabbing at you it won't perform it's other moves JUST as long as you stand right in it's face, position yourself, and shoot. This happens every once in a while. (5/10) OR -Walk into Xiphias' arena on left side against the back wall. Delay your first Storm Bow shot until it does the tentacle fellatio rng move at you (right before it pulls you in). Then unload arrows into it's eye and keep doing so while it's doing it's crying animation. The crying animation is exactly what you want so you can do the most damage and carry on. On a good fight you can defeat Xiphias and swim to Ch.3 in less than 45 seconds! (7/10) ~ [2018 note/strategy! : When you enter Xiphias' area move onto the left side of the arena. Xiphias will go for it's tentacle fellatio move. The first [tentacle] should swing all the way to the right (passing through you) in order for this strategy to work. If it doesn't go through you in this fashion then compensate and hope for the best rng. ONCE its tentacle goes swinging through you start shooting, but make sure you are slightly moving back and forward [and/or stay within a decent distance so you're not pulled in] in order to have Xiphias reset position and want to either: 1.) Go underwater and quickly rise again. 2.) Do the tentacle fellatio. 3.) Move towards you. 4.) Put it's hands over it's face. 5.) Or shoot beams...which is not the best option, but you can still shoot it's eye. Slightly move in order to hit the eyes hitbox.]

(9/10 if executed correctly) ^ "Glad I found a way into manipulating this boss and recognizing its patterns. Losing a run to boss rng 15 minutes is not okay. Neither is 9 hours."

~ ***Xiphias' moves and weapon weakness: --->Beams = bad rng. Tentacle fellatio and jabs = good rng. --->The Storm Bow is the best weapon for this fight.

["Since Xiphias moves over onto the left side of the stage after it's eye explodes you can actually swim onto the other side where the ladder is by being parallel with it. Then go up, flip the switch, and you're out. Found this out after running all the way around on the platform for so long. Swimming from one side of the map to the other is faster in this case."]

---> Chapter 3: The Junkyard (Dinosaurs, etc.) <---<

  1. There is a way to skip down through elevators. This can be done best in CH. 3. (I'm still trying to find the best way to explain this skip to someone who wants to learn this run, but until then I show the skips in my most recent PB run [49:12] posted on here. The elevator skip is showcased at 19:07. This elevator skip saves 8 seconds which can be crucial towards a PB.] <-Watch for detail.)

  2. It's possible to have a max health up before reaching the CH. 3 boss Opisthor. At least by CH. 4 you should have 100 yellow life force tokens for the max health up.

  3. The Shotgun, Shredder, Sniper Rifle, and Storm Bow kill the Opisthor. Very nice. [October 13th, 2017 note: I've optimized this boss fight and the Shotgun/Storm Bow are the best weapons for it. These weapons save 20-30 seconds. My next PB will showcase this strategy.]

---> Chapter 4: The Lost Land (with skips!) <---<

  1. The CH. 4 water gate skips should take less than 15 seconds each. Reset if over... Go in through each gate differently. You can skip through the 1st, 3rd, and 4th. Position yourself to save time. (Watch run for detail.)

  2. HOLY PHUCK THIS SKIP. So as you know you can skip through the CH. 4 water gates. Skip through the last water gate orifice. And then on the other side. Fall down on the left side of the waterfall, but before doing that pay attention to going out of bounds on the left side wall before diving. (The out-of-bounds sweet spot is right before the waterfall. You will notice a piece of the wall sticking out. SW/NW DI yourself into the wall!) ~ HOLD BACK into the wall! And fall out of bounds. Then plunge back in bounds immediately after passing the water's surface or clip into the edge where the water begins. Fall close, but not too far and this will ensure a safe dive. Position yourself accordingly and move on. This skip saves health and time. (Watch run for detail.)

  3. The CH.4 boss has two interesting parts to it. A time save cut scene trick and an OHKO. The cut scene trick can be done by shooting the rock that alters the ground right before the Alpha Fireborn intro cut scene begins. Doing this trick will make the ground alter while the cut scene is playing. The Alpha Fireborn can then be dealt with in one shot. Throw the razorwind at an angle so the blade comes from behind it. The Fireborn will be OHKO'd. (Watch run for detail.)

  4. THAT PHUCKING UNDERWATER PASSAGE OF PHUCK AFTER ALPHA FIREBORN. Just jump in and DON'T move at all!...or you'll glitch into the wall...and reset...

---> Chapter 5: Oblivion (Ω) <---<

  1. Right after the auto-scroll in CH.5 there is an important jump. You can perform this lava jump once reaching the top of the elevator in any way you find comfortable, but jump and perfect it...or you'll have to reset 40 minutes in...

  2. There is also a wall ride you can do in the section right after the lava jump.)(<-Watch run for detail¤.) ~ (¤Jump on the rock at an angle. Walk towards the horseshoe indent in the wall - Pause my run on the leaderboard at 42:10 for detail - then short jump and walk along the wall at an angle. There's also a ballsy jump if you want, but the wall walk is safest. And on your way back climb up the ladder then jump back on the rock and dip out because dropping down those ladders can cause unexpected injuries...)

  3. Oblivion and Joshua Allegory Oblivion should take about 4 minutes. Almost 2 minutes for Oblivion and about 2 minutes for Joshua Allegory Oblivion.

  4. When fighting OBLIVION pay attention the square on the floor. Use that square as a marker so you can position critical razorwind hits. Think of it as an equation since OBLIVION will turn to any degree you are facing. Just move around and keep Oblivion within the square. 90° + 90° + 90° + 90° = 360° -> Trapped ~ ***Oblivion's moves and weapon weakness:

When the Oblivion fight begins Oblivion will need to jab three (3) times in order to begin it's rng moves. Also Oblivion's orange beams and double shot are what you don't want = bad rng. What you do want is the ground stomp, it's blue buster shot, or the chest charge shot in which you can do the most damage = good rng. ~ AND FOR some reason I find it's best to hit Oblivion on it's right shoulder (The arm with the blue orb on it) immediately before or after it does a good rng moves. Oblivion's hit box is questionable, but after practicing you can finish this boss fight easily. Set your X and Y sensitivity at any percent you like, but just make sure you can hit that hit box with the razorwind. And yes, the razorwind is the best/fastest weapon for this fight!

  1. Found out that it's best to crouch and shoot as soon as the Joshua Allegory Oblivion fight starts. Joshua will run towards you and start shooting at the slope in front of you. Just aim at his head and fire. This strategy is the safest and works out with the razorwind/sniper rifle strategies.¤ That one hit razorwind head shot though. ¤ - I have tested all of the advanced weapons that would be best for defeating Joshua Allegory Oblivion and here are my time results for those weapons: ~Razorwind = 1-7 seconds ~Sniper Rifle = 4-7 seconds ~PSG = 7 seconds ~Storm Bow = 7-9 seconds ~Grenade/Napalm = ???

--->(It is noted that if Joshua does a barrel roll as soon as the fight starts it is bad rng. That is why I note 2-3 more seconds if he does one. A OHKO head shot with the razorwind will result in a one second finish, but if you don't get it perfect the fight will take about 7 seconds or less...if you don't miss. I find the sniper rifle to be the best for this fight. It's as easy as crouching, zooming in on his head, and firing two shots. Only takes four seconds.)(<-Watch run for the sniper detail.)

+Question:

How fast can you go from Α to Ω?

+My personal best for each chapter (Chapter Time Trials):

-CH. 1 = 7:16 (as of March 19th, 2018. Previous PB was 7:17) -CH. 2 = 6:37 (as of June 28th, 2018. Previous PB was 7:25) -CH. 3 = 9:01 (as of April 13th, 2018. Previous PB was 9:10) -CH. 4 = 8:27 (as of June 24th, 2018. Previous PB was 8:33) -CH. 5 = 13:06 (as of March 29th, 2018. Previous PB was 13:11) ~ -CH. 1 = 7:16 -CH. 2 = 6:37 -CH. 3 = 9:01 -CH. 4 = 8:27 -CH. 5 = 13:06 -Σ = 44:27!*

Edited by the author 5 years ago
tycholith likes this
United States

Do you use a controller or keyboard when running? If you do use keyboard and mouse, is it better to adjust look sensitivity in game or in the emulator settings?

Taylord likes this
United States

I run on controller tycholith, but I know that there will be a mouse/keyboard speedrunner for this game someday (as a majority of Turok speedrunners use mouse/keyboard) so this question will be troubleshot soon.

tycholith likes this
New York, USA

Hey tycho I use mouse and keyboard and I found that in game sens adjustments work better for me