Dr. Mario 64

Essentia

Edit history:

Essentia: 2007-08-27 03:44:03 am

2006-10-14 01:46:22 am

Everything's better with Magitek

So I needed a break from my FFIX run, and got out Dr. Mario for the N64 to play for fun. As I was playing, I started thinking about speedrunning this game. I've always been pretty good at this game (in fact, no one will ever play it against me because I always win...except my husband, because he's nice!), and so it's something I could very possibly do. A possible way to run it would be to play on classic mode from level 0 up to level 21 (when it shows the end credits). I tried it out just for fun, and I got a time of 43:23 with some mistakes (lost twice on level 20), so it could be better.

So does anyone think a run like this would be accepted?

Thread title:

Hitaro

2006-10-14 02:12:39 am

Are the viruses all placed at a default position? Or is it all randomly generated? Or are there a certain number of possibilities that it might chose randomly?

'cause if it's random, luck manipulation WILL be ftw.

AquaTiger

2006-10-14 02:42:24 am

Never give up!

There's also a story mode that I think might be moderately speedrunnable....

Nevertheless, this ought to be an interesting watch. Who knows, maybe I'll show the relatives this one too - a number of them are crazy about the Dr. Mario series.

Just one thing: Do you think you can attempt some of the weirder maneuvers, like clearing viruses from different directions other than above? It'd make this more interesting.

Essentia

Edit history:

Essentia: 2006-10-14 04:07:11 am

2006-10-14 04:06:37 am

Everything's better with Magitek

Quote:

Are the viruses all placed at a default position? Or is it all randomly generated? Or are there a certain number of possibilities that it might chose randomly?

'cause if it's random, luck manipulation WILL be ftw.

It's completely random, but I'm not sure how you could use luck manipulation for 22 different levels in a row. It'll take a few tries for sure.

Quote:

There's also a story mode that I think might be moderately speedrunnable....

That's true, but I don't like story mode as much. It's a lot more random, since you're playing against the computer and they like to drop a lot on you, especially on the harder difficulties. This would take a whole lot of luck on super hard mode, but easy would be...well...easy.

Quote:

Just one thing: Do you think you can attempt some of the weirder maneuvers, like clearing viruses from different directions other than above? It'd make this more interesting.

I already do those things quite regularly when I play, so yes, definitely Wink

[quote]Are the viruses all placed at a default position? Or is it all randomly generated? Or are there a certain number of possibilities that it might chose randomly?

'cause if it's random, luck manipulation WILL be ftw.[/quote]
It's completely random, but I'm not sure how you could use luck manipulation for 22 different levels in a row. It'll take a few tries for sure.

[quote]There's also a story mode that I think might be moderately speedrunnable....
[/quote]
That's true, but I don't like story mode as much.  It's a lot more random, since you're playing against the computer and they like to drop a lot on you, especially on the harder difficulties.  This would take a [i]whole[/i] lot of luck on super hard mode, but easy would be...well...easy.

[quote]Just one thing:  Do you think you can attempt some of the weirder maneuvers, like clearing viruses from different directions other than above?  It'd make this more interesting.[/quote]
I already do those things quite regularly when I play, so yes, definitely  ;)

X9

2006-10-14 04:34:12 am

hai yah

Not a bad idea, I think a story mode run would be more interesting(On Normal mode, MAYBE hard, super hard is just insane) but a classic mode run sounds cool as well, so whatever works best for you, i'd watch either of them since it's a a fun game that no one plays anymore.

Essentia

2006-10-14 03:08:32 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

Maybe I could do two runs then: one on classic and one on story mode. They'd require a little bit different strategies. The fastest way to do story mode would be to drop so much stuff on the computer player that they pile up and lose on their own. I remember on one of the story modes I got that to happen quite frequently. I'll have to see which one that was.

DRybes

2006-10-15 08:31:14 am

O Zlda?

Would luck manipulation of this scope even be possible on a console? I would think you would need to do a TAS to actually have any control over this. Then again, I'm not sure how the viruses are placed or the next pill is chosen. Perhaps anyone who's ever done a Tetris speed run would know... otherwise, you're just going to want to play a lot and record it all, and wait for a fast run.

At under 40 minutes though, it'd be interesting to watch. I love this game and well I haven't heard anyone mention it in a long time :p

Essentia

Edit history:

Essentia: 2006-10-15 07:05:52 pm

2006-10-15 07:04:48 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

As far as I can tell, virus placement and the pills are completely random. I don't think luck manipulation is really possible unless you did each level separately, which isn't what I want to do.

I've got some tricks I use to save time, though. I limit the amount of time that I wait for blocks to fall after I kill viruses; I try not to have blocks of the wrong color on top of viruses; I clear as many viruses as I can at the same time; and I set the speed to high. I think this run will mainly require skill and some luck on the last few levels (they can really be ruined if you don't get the right colors at the beginning). I really think I could get below 40 minutes on classic, but it mainly depends on how well the last levels go.

X9

2006-10-15 09:22:29 pm

hai yah

Yeah, speed set to high would definitely be the best, but also the last level and some near it your screwed before you even start from bad virus placement. But on the plus side would make for a great speedrun, because if you blink once to many times on L20 Hi you'll lose.

Essentia

2006-10-16 05:52:05 am

Everything's better with Magitek

On the last levels, it's not the virus placement that causes problems so much as the pills it gives you. I usually slow down a bit on those levels until I get the higher viruses cleared, then it's no problem. I haven't started recording yet (need to get some VHS tapes first), but I did another run on classic just to see how it went, and my time was 42:41. I didn't lose on any of the levels, but I did lose my head for a little while on a couple levels and made some stupid mistakes that cost time. Getting closer to under 40 minutes...

Essentia

2006-10-25 06:38:34 am

Everything's better with Magitek

Well, I finally got some runs recorded. Here are the times:

16:53 Story Mode, Normal
24:27 Story Mode, Hard
40:48 Classic Mode, levels 0 - 21

I didn't lose at all on the story mode runs. On the classic mode run, I lost once on level 19 (only lost about one or two seconds), so it's not perfect. However, that's the best time I'm ever gotten after doing the run many, many times. Do you think I should submit this one, or submit one where I don't lose at all, even if the time is slower?

DRybes

2006-10-26 05:11:15 am

O Zlda?

i would hold on to that run and try a bit more. but speed is always the main desire in a speed run. the time matters most.

Sorcerer88

Edit history:

Sorcerer88: 2006-10-29 05:04:04 am

2006-10-29 04:51:51 am

I have no solution, but i admire the problem.

Quote:

i would hold on to that run and try a bit more.

He said that he did many attempts with this being the best time, and these runs are long, so it would be a pain to try to get an even better time.

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I didn't lose at all on the story mode runs. On the classic mode run, I lost once on level 19 (only lost about one or two seconds)

This and especially the bracket shows how good the runs are.

Quote:

speed is always the main desire in a speed run

Agreed.

Quote:

Do you think I should submit this one, or submit one where I don't lose at all, even if the time is slower?

Submit them if you think other skilled players would have a hard time improving your times and if you aren't able to improve the times by 5-10% without spending days and days of attempts.

I'm really looking forward to seeing (another?`) run of a game where your speed mainly relies on dexterity-based skill.

Did you read all the FAQs and rules? For example, you shouldn't rewind VHS tapes all the time loosing quality, that you need to start recording from the main menu of the game, that if you set the difficulty of the game in the options menu, you have to record that menu before you start the game etc.

[quote] i would hold on to that run and try a bit more.[/quote]
He said that he did many attempts with this being the best time, and these runs are long, so it would be a pain to try to get an even better time. 
[quote] I didn't lose at all on the story mode runs.  On the classic mode run, I lost once on level 19 (only lost about one or two seconds)[/quote]
This and especially the bracket shows how good the runs are.
[quote]
speed is always the main desire in a speed run[/quote]
Agreed.
[quote]Do you think I should submit this one, or submit one where I don't lose at all, even if the time is slower?[/quote]
Submit them if you think other skilled players would have a hard time improving your times and if you aren't able to improve the times by 5-10% without spending days and days of attempts.

I'm really looking forward to seeing (another?`) run of a game where your speed mainly relies on dexterity-based skill.

Did you read all the FAQs and rules? For example, you shouldn't rewind VHS tapes all the time loosing quality, that you need to start recording from the main menu of the game, that if you set the difficulty of the game in the options menu, you have to record that menu before you start the game etc.

Essentia

Edit history:

Essentia: 2006-10-29 06:08:00 am

2006-10-29 05:41:49 am

Everything's better with Magitek

Well, I thought I'd try today a couple more times to improve my time, and I was able to improve the classic run by about 40 seconds! Again, though, I lost once, and my playing quality wasn't really the best on this run, so I might be able to improve it even more. Of course, a lot of it depends on luck as well (especially the higher levels). I'll probably try a couple more times to improve it, and we'll see what happens...

Quote:

Did you read all the FAQs and rules? For example, you shouldn't rewind VHS tapes all the time loosing quality, that you need to start recording from the main menu of the game, that if you set the difficulty of the game in the options menu, you have to record that menu before you start the game etc.

Yes, I've read all the rules. I start recording before I even turn the game on, so setting the difficulty and all that is there on tape. I'm doing everything that they said to do with VHS tapes.

Also, I'd just like to point out that I'm a "she" Wink

I'm glad to hear that people are looking forward to this run--I was starting to think that I'm the only one who plays this game anymore.

Well, I thought I'd try today a couple more times to improve my time, and I was able to improve the classic run by about 40 seconds!  Again, though, I lost once, and my playing quality wasn't really the best on this run, so I might be able to improve it even more.  Of course, a lot of it depends on luck as well (especially the higher levels).  I'll probably try a couple more times to improve it, and we'll see what happens...

[quote]Did you read all the FAQs and rules? For example, you shouldn't rewind VHS tapes all the time loosing quality, that you need to start recording from the main menu of the game, that if you set the difficulty of the game in the options menu, you have to record that menu before you start the game etc.[/quote]
Yes, I've read all the rules.  I start recording before I even turn the game on, so setting the difficulty and all that is there on tape.  I'm doing everything that they said to do with VHS tapes.

Also, I'd just like to point out that I'm a "she" ;)

I'm glad to hear that people are looking forward to this run--I was starting to think that I'm the only one who plays this game anymore.

X9

2006-10-30 01:02:59 am

hai yah

I play it occasionally, I can barely beat Story mode on Hard but it's still fun. (Damn that Vampire wario, took me 10 tries!)

not sure exactly how good those times would be considered, but I look forward to watching it when it's finished.

Essentia

2006-10-30 06:29:31 am

Everything's better with Magitek

Yes!! I finally beat 40 minutes on classic mode. My time was 38:50, with losing once on level 21 (oh well). This will most likely be the one I send in. Now I'm gonna see if I can improve the story run times at all.

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I play it occasionally, I can barely beat Story mode on Hard but it's still fun. (Damn that Vampire wario, took me 10 tries!)

Yeah, he was hard for me at first, but now I usually have no problem beating him on Hard. You should try him on Super Hard--that's a lot of fun. Wink

X9

2006-10-30 09:32:06 pm

hai yah

38 sounds pretty impressive, especially doing it without losing once on 1-20.

I remember back when I played the original on NES and finally beat L20 on Hi, I was thinking theres no way someone could do all the levels in a row without losing, but now it's been done(21 doesn't really count to me) amazing!

Vampire Wario on super hard? hah, I don't even think I can beat the second or third one on S-Hard, maybe one day i'll practice more.

Essentia

2006-10-31 12:38:13 am

Everything's better with Magitek

If I were playing this on the original NES, level 21 wouldn't count for me either. But for some reason, on the N64 version it shows the credits and congratulations screen after level 21, so that's why I'm counting it.

SnapDragon

2006-10-31 06:40:08 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Even though this game doesn't seem like a great fit for speed-running, it's _Dr. Mario_, so I'm totally in favour of it. Smiley

Way to go!

If you want to do an S-Hard run without dying, a strategy I recommend for the last few guys is forming "umbrellas" on the left and right sides that catch the pills they drop on you. It can slow you down a little, since you have to work sideways more, but keeps you safe from their constant bombardment.

Essentia

Edit history:

Essentia: 2006-11-03 06:08:12 pm

2006-11-03 05:48:29 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

Well, I'm finished and just sent in my comments. This game is on the verifier list now, so if you want to verify go ahead and let them know, but please don't post about it here! (since the verifiers are supposed to be anonymous)

Quote:

If you want to do an S-Hard run without dying, a strategy I recommend for the last few guys is forming "umbrellas" on the left and right sides that catch the pills they drop on you. It can slow you down a little, since you have to work sideways more, but keeps you safe from their constant bombardment.

I wasn't really planning to do a run on Super Hard, mainly because I don't always make it through without losing, and the battles tend to be long and drawn out. My strategy is usually to clear the high stuff first and hope I'm lucky that I don't get piled up too bad. But thanks for the tip--I haven't ever tried doing that on purpose, and I'll keep it in mind if I decide to attempt this in the future.

Psonar

2006-11-03 06:22:43 pm

Long live SF64!

Hey our runs are on the verifier list together!

Sounds like an awesome run, and I look forward to seeing it! By the responses from other people here, it looks like you have some atypically good skills at the game!

Always good to see games run that aren't typically considered great for speedrunning - awesome work Essentia! I hope your run moves quickly through the submission process!

c4p7ain c0mp0s7

2006-11-03 06:32:16 pm

Food goes in here

This just might be the very first puzzle game to have a speedrun on this site. It's like a new frontier.:) Ofcourse, I could be wrong. Anyway, good job I'll be sure to check these out when they're up.

Psonar

2006-11-03 06:40:18 pm

Long live SF64!

It might be a new frontier, but it's still not...

Space...

...the final frontier

Yeah, I'm still waiting for a Star Trek run at some point. I don't know which mediocre Star Trek game would work best, maybe one of the ancient point and click adventures, but with all the new frontiers and odd games on the site, one of those Star Trek games needs running... hmm... maybe I should head over to the request thread later....

Sorry for going so off topic! Yay for Essentia's Dr. Mario 64 run!

Essentia

2006-11-03 09:32:04 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

Thanks guys! Yeah, Psonar, I noticed that we're both on the verifier list--I was going to say something about it, but you beat me to it!

I didn't realize that I was forging through a new frontier though...wow Wink

MetalMario

2006-11-28 10:11:23 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Here's a little added challenge: I completed Story Mode/Standard in 15:20. I'm probably too lazy to ever try to get it verified, but maybe it will give some motivation Smiley