Armored Core (PS1)

peril1337

Edit history:

peril1337: 2011-04-12 06:51:43 pm

peril1337: 2008-05-22 10:21:10 pm

2008-01-12 06:02:26 am

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

I'm working on a single-segment deathless run. My mission path and what I've figured out are a few posts below.

Thread title:

ZenicReverie

2008-01-13 05:37:34 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

I say go for it. I only played the first Armored Core on the PS2, but the PS1 version might be fun to watch.

mikwuyma

2008-01-14 12:26:33 am

My feelings on The Demon Rush

I don't remember this game too well, but I remember having a save file where I collected every single part. IIRC, the four-legged leg parts are really good because they're fairly fast, have good boost, and let you fire your shoulder weapons while in the air.

It's been so long since I've last played the game that is all I can remember.

peril1337

2008-01-14 04:08:28 am

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

Right now quad legs and lightweight biped legs look like the best ways to go. I'll test more in a couple days.

peril1337

2008-05-22 10:19:12 pm

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

Update: I completely forgot about this game for months. Sorry about that!

Anyway, now that I'm more familiar with the game (By running through it again) I'll start searching for the fastest missions to do and which parts to use after I'm done with my Pokemon Yellow run.. I'm definitely going with quad legs, but the big problem is energy. If I use quad legs really early my energy will suck really bad, so it's something to get after I get a new generator, booster and of course weapon. Right now it seems like getting a chain gun is a good idea.

Also, what about multiple categories? I'd imagine there would be a normal any% run and 100% run. What about a Human Plus category though? You could go through the game and when you have the needed parts, you get the Human Plus abilities. Would the initial part of getting the parts then Human Plus have to be recorded with the actual run? It's something to think about.

Norrin_Radd

2008-05-24 12:08:48 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

I have very fond memories of the first game. I remember being blown away by it actually. I would really look forward to seeing a run of it, and wish you luck! Especially on the last level.

Remember that Mission where that HUGE mech is flying around that mine shaft (Or something similar)?

I seem to recall guns with super fast firing rates will get you through a lot of levels quite rapidly. Use two of those and you'll blast away any bossess.

Norrin_Radd

2008-05-24 03:06:49 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Give'em hell bro! I can't wait.

skychase2rebirth

2010-09-06 03:14:11 pm

Socially awkward ;P

Hi, I'm planning a AC speedrun, but I have some question and I need help. First, for an any% run, I tried a single segment yesterday (I don't know if i'll do a single or multiple segment run), lots of mistakes, 1 mission failure, 2 hours. What are your best times ?

It seems like some missions can be skipped and some don't (like Exterminate Organisms, Secret Factory Recon, Attack Urban Center). If you know some of them. ^^

I'll be using a 2-leg type AC, no backweapon, no sword (for at least 2/3 of the game).

1st - WIP

Sell - WM-S40/1 +18700C
RXA-01WE +12100C
WG-RF35 +11400C
LS-2001 +11500C

Buy - WG-MG500 - 28400C (before Karasawa)

Overall: 25300C

Eliminate Strikers ±9000C

Overall: 34300C

Sell - WR-L24 +29460C
LN-1001-PX-0 +25000C
GPS-VVA +19500C
B-P320 +10800C
COMDEX-C7 +11100C

Buy - LN-501 -71800C
GRD-RX5 -23300C
B-P350 -13700C
QX-21 -20300C

Overall: ~1060C

Good speed, good weapon... I'll give some news later.

Hi, I'm planning a AC speedrun, but I have some question and I need help. First, for an any% run, I tried a single segment yesterday (I don't know if i'll do a single or multiple segment run), lots of mistakes, 1 mission failure, 2 hours. What are your best times ?

It seems like some missions can be skipped and some don't (like Exterminate Organisms, Secret Factory Recon, Attack Urban Center). If you know some of them. ^^

I'll be using a 2-leg type AC, no backweapon, no sword (for at least 2/3 of the game).
 
1st - WIP

Sell - WM-S40/1                    +18700C
         RXA-01WE                    +12100C
         WG-RF35                     +11400C
         LS-2001                       +11500C

Buy - WG-MG500                   - 28400C (before Karasawa)

Overall:  25300C

Eliminate Strikers                  ±9000C

Overall: 34300C

Sell - WR-L24                         +29460C
         LN-1001-PX-0               +25000C
         GPS-VVA                       +19500C
         B-P320                         +10800C
         COMDEX-C7                 +11100C

Buy - LN-501                          -71800C
         GRD-RX5                       -23300C
         B-P350                         -13700C
        QX-21                            -20300C

Overall: ~1060C

Good speed, good weapon... I'll give some news later.

PEACHES_

Edit history:

PEACHES_: 2010-09-06 03:46:02 pm

2010-09-06 03:44:23 pm

I'm just trying to impress you.

I was causally running AC2 a while back and found the manual aimed rocket launchers to be incredible for many of the missions. Tons of damage, cheap, next to zero energy usage, no lock on delay, and you can fire them while moving. If you're running the game segmented, you should be good enough to hit every shot. I found that every mission with a lot of small targets was much faster with those manual rockets than with any arm weapon. Not sure if they're as good in the ps1 AC's, last one I played was MoA in like 2000 and that was before I ever played games for speed, but that's my suggestion.

skychase2rebirth

2010-09-06 04:09:52 pm

Socially awkward ;P

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Eliminate Squatters ±9800C

Stop Security MTs ±11000C

Sell - GRD-RX5 +23300C

Buy - GBG-10000 -43500C

Overall: 1660C

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Reclaim Oil Facility ± 16000

Rescue Transport Truck ±11000

Remove Gun Emplacement -3000C

Sell - AN-201 +15300C
LN-SSVT +44000C
B-P350 +13700C

Buy - AN-K1 -49000C
B-VR-33 -48500C
,
Overall: ~600C

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fastest legs, best boosters, light-weight arm, best buyable generator, my fav FCS, 6 sorties.

skychase2rebirth

2010-09-09 08:38:49 pm

Socially awkward ;P

Stop Terrorist Threat ± 11000C (didn't care about blue MTs and damages)

Worker Robot Removal ± 9500C (ammos)

Rescue Survey Team ± 23000C

Sell - XCA-00 +61500C
Buy - XCL-01 - 88000C
LS-2001 -11500C (bought it back finally)

Overall: 12423C

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terrorist Pursuit ±11900C

Destroy Fuel Depot ±20000C

Sell - WG-MG500 + 28400C
LS-2001 +11500C
HD-GRY-NX +14700C

Buy - HD-06-RADAR -51800C
LS-3303 -37200C

Overall: 10878C

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attack Urban Center ±22800C

Sell - HD-06-RADAR +51800C

Buy - HD-ONE -68100C

Last shop visit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prototype MT test

Guard Freight Train

Secret Factory Recon +32000 (PEEEEEEEEEEERFECT)

Guard Wharf Warehouse Breach of contract

...

Stop Terrorist Threat           ± 11000C (didn't care about blue MTs and damages)

Worker Robot Removal       ± 9500C (ammos)

Rescue Survey Team         ±  23000C

Sell - XCA-00                    +61500C
Buy - XCL-01                    - 88000C
         LS-2001                  -11500C (bought it back finally)

Overall: 12423C

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Terrorist Pursuit       ±11900C

Destroy Fuel Depot  ±20000C

Sell - WG-MG500                    + 28400C 
         LS-2001                         +11500C 
         HD-GRY-NX                    +14700C

Buy - HD-06-RADAR                 -51800C
         LS-3303                          -37200C

Overall: 10878C

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Attack Urban Center         ±22800C

Sell - HD-06-RADAR        +51800C

Buy - HD-ONE                  -68100C

Last shop visit

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Prototype MT test

Guard Freight Train

Secret Factory Recon       +32000 (PEEEEEEEEEEERFECT)

Guard Wharf Warehouse    Breach of contract

...

peril1337

2011-04-04 11:42:50 pm

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

I feel like it's time to return to this. Can't believe it's taken me so long. I haven't begun figuring out which missions are the fastest, but I've been experimenting with which boosters are the best. At a glance P351 seems the way to go, but the VR-33 is hardly any slower and it has far less charge drain. I'll have to see how the high credits cost goes with the mission route.

On another note, my tests have revealed that leg weight only affects how fast you fall; you boost no slower with heavier legs, horizontally or vertically. Due to this, I may stick with the starting legs. Turning speed should be tested.

peril1337

2011-04-11 07:27:47 pm

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

Alright, over the past week I've been planning my path and I think I've got it figured out. First, mission timetables. The number is the order in which the missions appear. If multiple missions are at the same number, then they appear at the same time. I started timing when I press X on Launch Sortie, and stopped when the screen completely faded to black, so the time taken to go through the text wasn't taken into account. With how fast it goes, I doubt it makes a difference.

1. Eliminate Squatters 1 - 55s (Can be skipped)
Eliminate Strikers - 48s
2. Destroy Unknown MTs - 45s (Can be skipped)
Reclaim Oil Facility - 39s
3. Stop Security MTs - 44s
4. Rescue Transport Truck - 57s (Cannot be skipped)
5. Remove Gun Emplacement - 39s
Eliminate Squatters 2 - 50s
6. Stop Terrorist Threat - 1m 55s (Can be skipped)
Worker Robot Removal - 1m 18s
7. Rescue Survey Team - 1m 23s
8. Terrorist Pursuit - 44s
9. Destroy Fuel Depot - 1m 40s
Attack Urban Center - 3m 16s
10. Guard Freight Train - 2m 57s
11. Prototype MT Test 1 - 39s
12. Secret Factory Recon - 54s
Guard Factory Entrance - 1m 5s (Either mission can be skipped)
13. Guard Wharf Warehouse - 58s
Stop Gang, "Dark Soul" - 47s
Stop Security MT - 2m 20s~ (Can be skipped)
14. Exterminate Organisms 1 - 1m 5s
Repulse Enemy Attack - 2m~ (Can be skipped)
Destroy Plus Escapee - 38s (With the generator grabbed)
15. Recover Capsules - 1m 38s (Cannot be skipped)
16. Prototype MT Test 2 - 58s
Destroy Plane Computer - 1m 30s~
17. Guard Airplane - 1m 25s
Destroy Base Computer - 2m 50s (Cannot be skipped)
18. AC Battle - 41s
Kill "Struggle" Leader - 2m 5s
19. Remove Base Occupants - crap (Can be skipped)
20. Stop Gas Exposure - 4m~ (Cannot be skipped)
21. Exterminate Organisms 2 - 2m 2s
Destroy Space Catapult - 1m 8s (Cannot be skipped, every mission after this has to be beaten)
22. Capture Space Station - 2m 22s
23. Destroy Base Generator - 2m 35s
24. Destroy "Justice" - 50s
25. Mop Up Chrome Remnants - 2m 6s
26. Destroy Floating Mines - 4m 50s

Mission Path

Sell various things, buy and equip the machine gun arms
Eliminate Strikers (get the rocket)
Sell more things, buy and equip the RX5 generator and VR-33 booster

Reclaim Oil Facility
Stop Security MTs
Rescue Transport Truck

Remove Gun Emplacement
Eliminate Squatters 2
Worker Robot Removal
Rescue Survey Team
Terrorist Pursuit
Destroy Fuel Depot (get the Karasawa?)
Guard Freight Train
Attack Urban Center
Prototype MT Test 1

Secret Factory Recon
Guard Wharf Warehouse
Stop Gang, "Dark Soul"
Destroy Plus Escapee (get the generator, equip after mission)
Exterminate Organisms 1
Recover Capsule
Prototype MT Test 2
Guard Airplane
Destroy Plane Computer
Destroy Base Computer

AC Battle
Kill "Struggle" Leader
Stop Gas Exposure
Exterminate Organisms 2
Destroy Space Catapult
Capture Space Station
Destroy Base Generator
Destroy "Justice"
Mop Up Chrome Remnants
Buy K1 arms (third from the top), equip Karasawa
Destroy Floating Mines

Some notes:

A death run should be a different category; Guard Wharf Warehouse, for example, is probably the fastest mission in the game if you fail the mission on purpose.
Attack Urban Center has a unique OoB glitch involving the subways. It doesn't save any time, but it's pretty cool.
On Prototype MT Test 2, the second MT spawns depending on your location. The best location to be is the farthest corner from where you spawn of the long, brown building that's in the center of the level.
Destroy Plane Computer is very annoying. There are 5 tiny MTs that take quite a beating, then you have to fight a tank AC right after. The machine gun arms barely have enough ammo. I've found that if you stay on where you spawn and look over the ledge, some of them will stand still while you kill them. You have to hope the others don't fly around, else you have to be very careful to not run out of ammo.
I only tested Remove Base Occupants a couple times, but I'm 99% sure it's far slower than Exterminate Organisms 2.
Mop Up Chrome Remnants has a large shaft at the beginning that drops you to the bottom floor. This is about 20s faster than going through normally.
The final mission cannot be done with the machine gun arms, not nearly enough ammo. The cube shaft is very scary, one fall will waste a lot of time. Admittedly, I didn't test it much, but I'll get better at it. I should try using a laser blade.

Alright, over the past week I've been planning my path and I think I've got it figured out. First, [u]mission timetables[/u]. The number is the order in which the missions appear. If multiple missions are at the same number, then they appear at the same time. I started timing when I press X on Launch Sortie, and stopped when the screen completely faded to black, so the time taken to go through the text wasn't taken into account. With how fast it goes, I doubt it makes a difference.

1. Eliminate Squatters 1 - 55s (Can be skipped)
    Eliminate Strikers - 48s
2. Destroy Unknown MTs - 45s (Can be skipped)
    Reclaim Oil Facility - 39s
3. Stop Security MTs - 44s
4. Rescue Transport Truck - 57s (Cannot be skipped)
5. Remove Gun Emplacement - 39s
    Eliminate Squatters 2 - 50s
6. Stop Terrorist Threat - 1m 55s (Can be skipped)
    Worker Robot Removal - 1m 18s
7. Rescue Survey Team - 1m 23s
8. Terrorist Pursuit - 44s
9. Destroy Fuel Depot - 1m 40s
    Attack Urban Center - 3m 16s
10. Guard Freight Train - 2m 57s
11. Prototype MT Test 1 - 39s
12. Secret Factory Recon - 54s
      Guard Factory Entrance - 1m 5s (Either mission can be skipped)
13. Guard Wharf Warehouse - 58s
      Stop Gang, "Dark Soul" - 47s
      Stop Security MT - 2m 20s~ (Can be skipped)
14. Exterminate Organisms 1 - 1m 5s
      Repulse Enemy Attack - 2m~ (Can be skipped)
      Destroy Plus Escapee - 38s (With the generator grabbed)
15. Recover Capsules - 1m 38s (Cannot be skipped)
16. Prototype MT Test 2 - 58s
      Destroy Plane Computer - 1m 30s~
17. Guard Airplane - 1m 25s
      Destroy Base Computer - 2m 50s (Cannot be skipped)
18. AC Battle - 41s
      Kill "Struggle" Leader - 2m 5s
19. Remove Base Occupants - crap (Can be skipped)
20. Stop Gas Exposure - 4m~ (Cannot be skipped)
21. Exterminate Organisms 2 - 2m 2s
      Destroy Space Catapult - 1m 8s (Cannot be skipped, every mission after this has to be beaten)
22. Capture Space Station - 2m 22s
23. Destroy Base Generator - 2m 35s
24. Destroy "Justice" - 50s
25. Mop Up Chrome Remnants - 2m 6s
26. Destroy Floating Mines - 4m 50s

[u]Mission Path[/u]

Sell various things, buy and equip the machine gun arms
Eliminate Strikers (get the rocket)
Sell more things, buy and equip the RX5 generator and VR-33 booster

Reclaim Oil Facility
Stop Security MTs
Rescue Transport Truck

Remove Gun Emplacement
Eliminate Squatters 2
Worker Robot Removal
Rescue Survey Team
Terrorist Pursuit
Destroy Fuel Depot (get the Karasawa?)
Guard Freight Train
Attack Urban Center
Prototype MT Test 1

Secret Factory Recon
Guard Wharf Warehouse
Stop Gang, "Dark Soul"
Destroy Plus Escapee (get the generator, equip after mission)
Exterminate Organisms 1
Recover Capsule
Prototype MT Test 2
Guard Airplane
Destroy Plane Computer
Destroy Base Computer

AC Battle
Kill "Struggle" Leader
Stop Gas Exposure
Exterminate Organisms 2
Destroy Space Catapult
Capture Space Station
Destroy Base Generator
Destroy "Justice"
Mop Up Chrome Remnants
Buy K1 arms (third from the top), equip Karasawa
Destroy Floating Mines

Some notes:

A death run should be a different category; Guard Wharf Warehouse, for example, is probably the fastest mission in the game if you fail the mission on purpose.
Attack Urban Center has a unique OoB glitch involving the subways. It doesn't save any time, but it's pretty cool.
On Prototype MT Test 2, the second MT spawns depending on your location. The best location to be is the farthest corner from where you spawn of the long, brown building that's in the center of the level.
Destroy Plane Computer is very annoying. There are 5 tiny MTs that take quite a beating, then you have to fight a tank AC right after. The machine gun arms barely have enough ammo. I've found that if you stay on where you spawn and look over the ledge, some of them will stand still while you kill them. You have to hope the others don't fly around, else you have to be very careful to not run out of ammo.
I only tested Remove Base Occupants a couple times, but I'm 99% sure it's far slower than Exterminate Organisms 2.
Mop Up Chrome Remnants has a large shaft at the beginning that drops you to the bottom floor. This is about 20s faster than going through normally.
The final mission cannot be done with the machine gun arms, not nearly enough ammo. The cube shaft is very scary, one fall will waste a lot of time. Admittedly, I didn't test it much, but I'll get better at it. I should try using a laser blade.

skychase2rebirth

2011-04-12 02:23:04 pm

Socially awkward ;P

With the equipment I said earlier (before I gave up -_-) The "cube shaft" can be done really easily. Fly, stop on one cube (the choice is yours ^^), fly to the exit. (you can fly directly to the exit with Human Plus :P)
The Karasawa is pretty useful too, it's free and in Destroy Plane computer, 2 shots for each MTs (if I remember correctly), enough ammo. My last route plan ended on Destroy Base Generator.

I can wait for your WIP ^^.

peril1337

2011-04-12 07:25:44 pm

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

I think my setup gets to the top in a couple leaps too, but it's still scary D=
I do pick up the Karasawa (what's it doing in a fuel depot anyway?), but I only use it in the final mission. It takes time to shop for equipment and change stuff in the garage, so using it in 1 or 2 missions where it's faster isn't worth it. The large weight and energy drain add up in the missions where you do a lot of traveling. I'm gonna try gatling gun arms in the final mission, they're basically weaker machine gun arms with more ammo.

skychase2rebirth

2011-04-12 09:33:55 pm

Socially awkward ;P

I tested some missions on ePSXe, and your times are seriously impressive (really better than mines ^^) but I managed to beat your time on "Destroy Floating Mines" using Karasawa.

What AC parts are you using ?

I'd be happy to help if you want. But are you doing a Single-segment or Multiple-segment ?

peril1337

2011-04-16 12:36:44 am

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

Single-segment, which is why I'll use a laser blade with the Karasawa, like you did. Ammo's pretty tight without it. Anyway, other than the weapons, booster and generator, I stick with the starting parts. Leg weight doesn't matter, and I don't think buying a lightweight core will offset the time it takes to buy it in the shop. I'll have to do more testing on that.

The time on my first attempt was a very lucky 1:08:34. Beat two missions on my last shot. I think I can get around 1:06, mainly because I was going through the menus slowly and I took the wrong path in a couple missions.

peril1337

2011-04-18 09:53:27 pm

I'm a thinker, I could break it down

My latest time: 1:04:45. This may be submittable. Got some bad luck on some enemies flying over my head and generally being a nuisance, and a couple missions didn't go too well, so I think sub 1:03 is possible.

PEACHES_

2011-06-28 08:41:47 pm

I'm just trying to impress you.

I just picked up the game and started casually routing it yesterday. I hit 53:56 on my first actual playthrough.

I'm disappointed you guys didn't take my advice Sad

skychase2rebirth

Edit history:

skychase2rebirth: 2011-06-28 08:56:56 pm

2011-06-28 08:56:27 pm

Socially awkward ;P

I'm such a n00b with the launcher I guess I can miss a wall 3 ft before me ;P (that's why XD). (and I don't have any real recording material, sadly)

Edit: and 53min is AWESOME !

PEACHES_

2011-06-28 09:27:49 pm

I'm just trying to impress you.

well if you're speedrunning it you have no excuse Smiley

I'll try to take it more seriously and see what I can get. I'm pretty unfamiliar with the mechanics but here's what I found:
Heavier legs = slower vertical gain.
More weight = Slower vertical gain and slower turning. "Turning Speed" under Performance is so very minor and seems to represent some kind of useless relationship between Speed and Stability of legs.
Lateral boost speed seems constant within legtypes

sky, what does your final build look like?

PEACHES_

Edit history:

PEACHES_: 2011-06-29 01:06:30 pm

PEACHES_: 2011-06-29 01:03:24 pm

2011-06-29 01:02:44 pm

I'm just trying to impress you.

after brief testing, I'm not convinced the machine gun arms are better than the Karasawa (Destroy Floating Mines is possible with them, but brutal). I was definitely sleeping on em though.. they sure as hell beat out my strat in the first few missions, from a consistency standpoint. Unfortunately it messes with money balance and throws off weight values, so I'll have to look closer to see how, or if, they could work into my route.

edit: its probably worth pointing out that my run is not deathless

skychase2rebirth

2011-06-29 05:37:20 pm

Socially awkward ;P

I posted a youtube link few posts above, doing Destroy Floating mines if you want to see my AC.

Here:

Fastest legs
Very light arms
Last boosters
Karasawa...

PEACHES_

2011-06-29 07:44:26 pm

I'm just trying to impress you.

Made a few changes to my line. Entered Floating Mines at 45:00 even, with a fair amount of mistakes (before one mission I shifted my hand position and started tapping O instead of X and backed out of a bunch of menus, lol). Couldn't tell you final time as my computer blue screened halfway through. But it must have been a low 49. Sub 45 final time might be possible with my route; that's my tentative goal.

PEACHES_

2011-06-30 10:42:21 pm

I'm just trying to impress you.

48:08 with plenty of mistakes. 46:xx is probably the best my line can do. 45 or lower would require exploits/route changes that I don't feel like finding, so I'll just grind out a solid sub-47 run with this route and call it a day.