My feelings on The Demon Rush
Game Page: Doesn't exist yet
'ktwo's PAL run
Verifier Responses
I asked the first verifier about the trick after I told him about it and this is what he said:
Decision: Accept
Reason: Another tight run of an underrated NES game from ktwo!
'ktwo's PAL run
Verifier Responses
Quote:
ktwo is quickly becoming one of my favorite runners. It's a real delight to see such optimized and well-planned runs for all those obscure NES games
Also, I love how I always write down a couple of questions regarding possible improvements as I'm watching his runs for the first time, and every single time I find out he's already answered all of them in his comments, heh. Stop being so thoughtful you magnificent bastard!
Accept
Also, I love how I always write down a couple of questions regarding possible improvements as I'm watching his runs for the first time, and every single time I find out he's already answered all of them in his comments, heh. Stop being so thoughtful you magnificent bastard!
Accept
Quote:
This run is well played and well planned, but there's one major flaw. After watching this run, I watched the TAS for comparison. The TAS uses wall jumps, most notably in level 5 as seen 11 minutes into this video:
I wondered how feasible this trick was on a console, so I tried it out and I managed to do it after maybe 2 minutes. After a few more minutes of practice, I could do it on a regular basis. Not every time, but usually within 10-15 seconds. It shouldn't be too hard to master. You have to jump through the last block (normally you would hit your head), and when your foot is right in the corner, press left and jump.
This can cut out a large portion of level 5. Playing normally, it takes a while to walk all the way around. If the runner had used this trick, even if it took 15 seconds to do, it would still save around 90 seconds. I have to reject it because of that.
Also, I wonder if picking up the power suit in level 4 as in the TAS would save any time? It only takes a couple of seconds. I guess it might be hard to not get hit since taking damage saves time a lot in this game.
Decision: reject
I wondered how feasible this trick was on a console, so I tried it out and I managed to do it after maybe 2 minutes. After a few more minutes of practice, I could do it on a regular basis. Not every time, but usually within 10-15 seconds. It shouldn't be too hard to master. You have to jump through the last block (normally you would hit your head), and when your foot is right in the corner, press left and jump.
This can cut out a large portion of level 5. Playing normally, it takes a while to walk all the way around. If the runner had used this trick, even if it took 15 seconds to do, it would still save around 90 seconds. I have to reject it because of that.
Also, I wonder if picking up the power suit in level 4 as in the TAS would save any time? It only takes a couple of seconds. I guess it might be hard to not get hit since taking damage saves time a lot in this game.
Decision: reject
I asked the first verifier about the trick after I told him about it and this is what he said:
Quote:
Verifier: alright, I just messed around with that trick in power blade, it can be done more reliably than I thought at first and it does save about a minute and a half
Verifier: I'm still willing to accept it since it's a really good run otherwise
me: pal version too?
Verifier: yup, just tried it
Verifier: I'm still willing to accept it since it's a really good run otherwise
me: pal version too?
Verifier: yup, just tried it
Quote:
Power Blade (NES) Expert Run Verification
Both audio and video quality pass, and there is no cheating.
Sector 1
Only minor execution mistakes in this sector, like not jump-canceling the attack animation here and there.
Also, cool (unintentional?) damage boost at 1:07.
Sector 6
Solid run through the sector, with some good damage boosting.
Here is one of the bosses that actually have to be fought, and he goes down fast enough.
Sector 5
About the grenade usage at 8:52. Wtf. Item manipulation maybe? You did get another one right afterward, which means the one I'm mentioning could have been used more optimally elsewhere? Or it didn't make any difference?
Putting that and some random missed boomerang throws aside (the latter accounting for very little time lost anyway), execution is fine throughout.
Sector 4
"TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS! EVERYDAY!". Seriously though, sector well done.
In particular, the runner breezes through the moving platform part, and I know how much of a pain it can be to do so without stopping like that.
Sector 3
Good sector, good execution, again.
No complaints on the boss strategy either. It is true that this boss fight is luck reliant, and with some better luck it could have been done faster.
Sector 2
Easily the sector where the most time is lost in the run. Other than the obvious burger-jump mistake (which is not major), precious seconds are lost in the crusher part, due to poor damage boosting.
Sector 7
Other than the mistake with the frog and 1 or 2 hiccups, I'm pleased with how the last sector is taken care of.
Following the TAS route exactly would mean starting with sectors 2-3, getting power blade suit in sector 4 and keeping it all the way to the end. Doing this would clearly yield improvements in the bosses of sectors 6 and 7, but not getting more than 2 damage (since you lose the power blade suit with 3 damage) from the middle of sector 4 on does sound like a stretch to me.
So, in general (for all sectors), I agree with the planning: it's more or less the TAS route and I think the adjustments made (regarding which enemies to take out where) minimize time lost to the TAS.
Therefore, I find that both the good planning and execution outweigh the bad in this run, so it's an accept vote from me.
Both audio and video quality pass, and there is no cheating.
Sector 1
Only minor execution mistakes in this sector, like not jump-canceling the attack animation here and there.
Also, cool (unintentional?) damage boost at 1:07.
Sector 6
Solid run through the sector, with some good damage boosting.
Here is one of the bosses that actually have to be fought, and he goes down fast enough.
Sector 5
About the grenade usage at 8:52. Wtf. Item manipulation maybe? You did get another one right afterward, which means the one I'm mentioning could have been used more optimally elsewhere? Or it didn't make any difference?
Putting that and some random missed boomerang throws aside (the latter accounting for very little time lost anyway), execution is fine throughout.
Sector 4
"TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS! EVERYDAY!". Seriously though, sector well done.
In particular, the runner breezes through the moving platform part, and I know how much of a pain it can be to do so without stopping like that.
Sector 3
Good sector, good execution, again.
No complaints on the boss strategy either. It is true that this boss fight is luck reliant, and with some better luck it could have been done faster.
Sector 2
Easily the sector where the most time is lost in the run. Other than the obvious burger-jump mistake (which is not major), precious seconds are lost in the crusher part, due to poor damage boosting.
Sector 7
Other than the mistake with the frog and 1 or 2 hiccups, I'm pleased with how the last sector is taken care of.
Following the TAS route exactly would mean starting with sectors 2-3, getting power blade suit in sector 4 and keeping it all the way to the end. Doing this would clearly yield improvements in the bosses of sectors 6 and 7, but not getting more than 2 damage (since you lose the power blade suit with 3 damage) from the middle of sector 4 on does sound like a stretch to me.
So, in general (for all sectors), I agree with the planning: it's more or less the TAS route and I think the adjustments made (regarding which enemies to take out where) minimize time lost to the TAS.
Therefore, I find that both the good planning and execution outweigh the bad in this run, so it's an accept vote from me.
Decision: Accept
Reason: Another tight run of an underrated NES game from ktwo!
Thread title:
