FF7 Run [locked]

2005-04-24 05:50:05 pm

Yeah, I said it.

My run isn't going at all. I'm losing interest in this game. I haven't lost interest completely, I'm just losing it. The game can't be completed in seven hours or less, which is the original rule; I hate segmented runs, and like you, I wanted as few segments as possible, if any; and I guess I'm starting to realize how silly it is to speed through a Final Fantasy game.

So my run may or may not be completed. It depends on the mood I'm in. Just go ahead with your run, and if you complete and submit one, I won't bother with it.

Mr._Haggis

2005-04-24 09:26:44 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Saying the run is silly in a single segment isn't that encouraging, sir! Nevertheless, I have tried at it. Today at my friend's house I got out of Midgar in 2hrs31mins, a very pitiful time compared to my last one. I made uncountable mistakes and had a lot more battles than the last run. But I recorded it anyway, just so I can look through it to revise things.

I picked up some new ideas to help with the run in terms of textbox choices and will use them in the next attempt. It turns out I can record the speedrun right here but I just need to find my AV box and software discs to set it all up. If anyone wants a copy of the failure run in 2 segments (the first being very good and the latter being very pants) they are welcome to it once it's compressed.

Lucid Faia

2005-04-25 12:12:00 am

Yeah, I said it.

You were probably just distracted. I tried speeding through a part of FF7 while hanging with friends once. It's hard to focus, because you're talking to them, etc.

Mr._Haggis

2005-04-25 08:41:57 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Okay, I got 1hr58mn52secs leaving Midgar this time. I apologize greatly i think I got 1hr59 before not 1hr49. I only fast paced the menu and shut down the PS2 and it was after 4am haha. You probably could beat 1hr58 by a minute but it would have to be very very close to the mark. That run I only got caught on prerendered scenery a couple of times and had next to no random encounters (again) for most sections.

The part that I will be able to run substantially better than the GameFAQ's runners is the rest of the 1st continent. A tip: Don't pick up Choco/Mog summon for "Stop" status on bosses. If you have battles on fast you won't notice much difference and it reduces enemy turns thus reduces building up your limit breaks. Again, use Lucid's trick or the marsh save trick and head straight to Junon.

For anyone also attempting the run, please keep on at it. I won't be able to record for 3 weeks. I'm going to use this week to practice and next week I'm on vacation for nearly a fortnight! I'm so sorry :(. I also have to order a new TV card, seems I lost the external tuner for my current one which was essential for recording.

Okay, I got 1hr58mn52secs leaving Midgar this time. I apologize greatly i think I got 1hr59 before not 1hr49. I only fast paced the menu and shut down the PS2 and it was after 4am haha. You probably could beat 1hr58 by a minute but it would have to be very very close to the mark. That run I only got caught on prerendered scenery a couple of times and had next to no random encounters (again) for most sections.

The part that I will be able to run substantially better than the GameFAQ's runners is the rest of the 1st continent. A tip: Don't pick up Choco/Mog summon for "Stop" status on bosses. If you have battles on fast you won't notice much difference and it reduces enemy turns thus reduces building up your limit breaks. Again, use Lucid's trick or the marsh save trick and head straight to Junon.

For anyone also attempting the run, please keep on at it. I won't be able to record for 3 weeks. I'm going to use this week to practice and next week I'm on vacation for nearly a fortnight! I'm so sorry :(. I also have to order a new TV card, seems I lost the external tuner for my current one which was essential for recording.

k-nib

2005-04-28 03:21:54 pm

I was going to write something like don't give up if the run gets too long! But then i realized how wrong that sounds... What I mean is don't give up just because it gets too long for SDA. If it doesn't fit here it can always be hosted somewhere else, or spread via p2p/BT

Bp_

2005-04-28 03:39:19 pm

yeah men, dont give up Smiley

that like one of the game that I would really want to see to be speed runned .

Acryte

Edit history:

Acryte: 2005-04-28 07:06:32 pm

2005-04-28 07:05:54 pm

Zelda Scientist®

Quote:

that like one of the game that I would really want to see to be speed runned .

sweet. I take back all those insults I threw at the french, that sentence was sweet. (well, maybe half)
roflicious

Bp_

2005-04-28 08:22:54 pm

does my sentence was that much horrible Huh?

Zenn3k

2005-04-28 08:41:32 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Well, I'm new around here, took an interest in speed runs recently. I've always loved FF7, and I'd be willing to give a speed run a shot. I have to dig up my old PS1 copy of the game, and figure out how to actually record it, but until such time, I suppose I'll practice.

First time I beat FF7, I missed a lot of stuff, and skipped a lot of stuff (on accident, heh), my time was about 13 hours, I'm sure if I rush hard, I can get into that 7-8 hour range.

On another note, which is the NTSC and which is the PAL version? I'm very confused on this subject.

Acryte

2005-04-28 08:45:37 pm

Zelda Scientist®

nah man, it was awesome. I have a japanese friend who speaks terrible english so I'm used to crazy sentences.

NTG

2005-04-28 09:15:52 pm

I'm indifferent towards YaBB 1G - SP1!

Quote:

On another note, which is the NTSC and which is the PAL version? I'm very confused on this subject.

If you're in America/Canada/Japan you'll probably be NTSC, and elsewhere, probably PAL. In case of further doubt, my copy says "PAL" on the spine of the case, so check there.

On a general note again, I went up to leaving Midgar just now, just under 2 hours in one segment. On the face of it, I think a better time can be achieved breaking it up, so I'll probably split my segments as the FAQ does when I get round to recording.

Zenn3k

2005-04-29 01:50:27 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Well, first attempt at speed, failed pretty bad, I completely forgot which barrels to use for Aeris, heh, that cost some time. Arrived at Wall Market at 1:07 (NTFS). Getting hit with tons of random battles.

My time after the first reactor boss was about 12 minutes, no clue how you guys got 7-8. Anyway, I suppose I'll start over and see if I can beat my old time, might just take it all the way till I get outside Midgar though, so I remember everything I have to do.

saxman52

2005-04-29 02:16:33 am

It's great to hear more of you guys are participating in the run (wink at Zenn). I've been under the radar lately because of the wonderful gift of Life. In other words, school and a job. I haven't given up on the run, but I'm not doing near as well as all of you guys are :-/ Lately I've been toying with a Deus Ex - Invisible War speed run. After seeing thrull's impressive one of the original, I felt inspired to provide a successor. Apart from that, I still continue my quest to slay the scourge of Sephiroth and his meteor aptly named "Meteor."

Let's keep up the speed! Grin

NTG

2005-04-29 07:57:37 am

I'm indifferent towards YaBB 1G - SP1!

Quote:

My time after the first reactor boss was about 12 minutes, no clue how you guys got 7-8. Anyway, I suppose I'll start over and see if I can beat my old time, might just take it all the way till I get outside Midgar though, so I remember everything I have to do.

I think it's times before the first boss, otherwise I'll be well off the pace as well. Wink

Mr._Haggis

2005-04-29 04:58:21 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Okay, before I fly off tomorrow I'll post a runthrough of how I perfected my "trial runs" of Midgar. if you do the same you can beat that section in under 2hrs!:-

**No encounters up to first boss and Cloud use Bolt and Braver, Barret attack and Big Shot unless critical (use potions then. Do not pick up the potions at the beginning to cut a couple of seconds).
**Maybe 1 encounter leaving the reactor. Best time I got leaving the reactor was 8m03s remaining on the timer of 10m0s. Overall I was at about 11-12mins gametime leaving the reactor.
**First option text for Aeris and run southeast.
**Run from the soldiers before boarding the train.
**In Sector 7 first option text only in 7th Heaven except for Barret asking about materia (select "You wouldn't understand").
**A couple of encounters before setting the bomb in Reactor 04/05? Do not pick up additional items here either.
**Get the synchronized button press right the first time. Beat Air Buster with only physical attacks.
**When about to fall choose "I don't think I can hold on much longer" and after talking to Aeris 3 times run up to Tseng then run back and talk to Aeris again. First time tell her to run, 2nd time "Hold on a minute!" and throw the uppermost barrel in the corner. Then tell her to run again.
**No encounters running up to Aeris house and hold northeast on the d-pad while running to quickly enter. Always run around the left side of the table in her house to avoid getting stuck.
**1 encounter max running up to the Wall Market. Check the Honey Bee Inn (red guy) ask for Tifa then go to Don Corneo's, the dressmaker and then the bar, pick the top options and go back to the dressmaker. After you find you need a wig go to the boxing ring, avoid practice squats and actual squats to get basic wig. Change at dressmaker's again and go to Don's.
**1 encounter max after Rapps boss. 2 encounters max at Train Graveyard. By now you should finish this section in an hour.
**1 encounter for the pillar and then the boss battle.
**Dash to Aeris house and back (1 encounter each way max) go to the item store just before the route to Shinra HQ and get the batteries. Use only the 2 you need.
**If you have limits barge on in its quicker. Some sets of 10 floors you can skip as sometimes you dont get fights but random employees that panic and close the lift (floor 29 is one floor someone should write a floor FAQ).
**After you sneak past the guards on floor 60 get the essential keycard by going "..." to the guy on floor 61 south. Go to floor 62, get Keycard 65 by guessing from top to bottom answers. Skip floors 63 and 64. No errors in collecting pieces on floor 65 and placing them. No battles either.
**Beat the first boss by keeping Red XIII in your party. Quickly give Ice to Barret and Restore to Cloud before this whole sequence. With luck you should only need to use potions now and again from battles unavoided or going up to this point. Use magic on the boss only, ignore the other enemies.
**After "arrested" see how Aeris is doing, then sleep. When following the blood only 2 encounters max.
**Keep materia the same before lift boss battle. Aeris can heal anyway. If need be get a hero drink from the machine before entering the lift. use materia combo until you leave Midgar.
**When you are on the sands of Midgar just run to the edge and say "Let's go!" then put Barret and Tifa in your party. This will cut some dialogue off as Red and Aeris say nothing and walk off.

Please note I didn't use shops once bar for batteries, or save points, didn't get stuck in backdrops, did the battles as fast and luckily as possible. You won't need to use shops for healing items because you pick them up as you go and in Midgar there are several times where your health is restored to full for free as part of the plot.

Okay, before I fly off tomorrow I'll post a runthrough of how I perfected my "trial runs" of Midgar. if you do the same you can beat that section in under 2hrs!:-

**No encounters up to first boss and Cloud use Bolt and Braver, Barret attack and Big Shot unless critical (use potions then. Do not pick up the potions at the beginning to cut a couple of seconds).
**Maybe 1 encounter leaving the reactor. Best time I got leaving the reactor was 8m03s remaining on the timer of 10m0s. Overall I was at about 11-12mins gametime leaving the reactor.
**First option text for Aeris and run southeast.
**Run from the soldiers before boarding the train.
**In Sector 7 first option text only in 7th Heaven except for Barret asking about materia (select "You wouldn't understand").
**A couple of encounters before setting the bomb in Reactor 04/05? Do not pick up additional items here either.
**Get the synchronized button press right the first time. Beat Air Buster with only physical attacks.
**When about to fall choose "I don't think I can hold on much longer" and after talking to Aeris 3 times run up to Tseng then run back and talk to Aeris again. First time tell her to run, 2nd time "Hold on a minute!" and throw the uppermost barrel in the corner. Then tell her to run again.
**No encounters running up to Aeris house and hold northeast on the d-pad while running to quickly enter. Always run around the left side of the table in her house to avoid getting stuck.
**1 encounter max running up to the Wall Market. Check the Honey Bee Inn (red guy) ask for Tifa then go to Don Corneo's, the dressmaker and then the bar, pick the top options and go back to the dressmaker. After you find you need a wig go to the boxing ring, avoid practice squats and actual squats to get basic wig. Change at dressmaker's again and go to Don's.
**1 encounter max after Rapps boss.  2 encounters max at Train Graveyard. By now you should finish this section in an hour.
**1 encounter for the pillar and then the boss battle.
**Dash to Aeris house and back (1 encounter each way max) go to the item store just before the route to Shinra HQ and get the batteries. Use only the 2 you need.
**If you have limits barge on in its quicker. Some sets of 10 floors you can skip as sometimes you dont get fights but random employees that panic and close the lift (floor 29 is one floor someone should write a floor FAQ).
**After you sneak past the guards on floor 60 get the essential keycard by going "..." to the guy on floor 61 south. Go to floor 62, get Keycard 65 by guessing from top to bottom answers. Skip floors 63 and 64. No errors in collecting pieces on floor 65 and placing them. No battles either.
**Beat the first boss by keeping Red XIII in your party. Quickly give Ice to Barret and Restore to Cloud before this whole sequence. With luck you should only need to use potions now and again from battles unavoided or going up to this point. Use magic on the boss only, ignore the other enemies.
**After "arrested" see how Aeris is doing, then sleep. When following the blood only 2 encounters max.
**Keep materia the same before lift boss battle. Aeris can heal anyway. If need be get a hero drink from the machine before entering the lift. use materia combo until you leave Midgar.
**When you are on the sands of Midgar just run to the edge and say "Let's go!" then put Barret and Tifa in your party. This will cut some dialogue off as Red and Aeris say nothing and walk off.

Please note I didn't use shops once bar for batteries, or save points, didn't get stuck in backdrops, did the battles as fast and luckily as possible. You won't need to use shops for healing items because you pick them up as you go and in Midgar there are several times where your health is restored to full for free as part of the plot.

NTG

2005-04-29 07:00:17 pm

I'm indifferent towards YaBB 1G - SP1!

Are you saying you got no random encounters before the first boss? And only one encounter leaving the reactor?
Every time I've ever played I've had an encounter on the second screen inside the reactor (the T-junction), how do you go about getting no random encounters? If you have a repeatable method for avoiding random encounters I would imagine the time saved over the whole of the game would be quite large.

Zenn3k

2005-04-29 07:20:58 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Honestly, for a "filmed" version of this, I think it has to be a straight sitting, with no "save restarts" for perfect fights and what not. I know there are a LOT of random things that can affect time, but restarting on every minor mistake seems like cheating to me.

Anyway, I can't believe you got 1 random battle in the entire first reactor, I get at least 4 on the way down, and 3 on the way up pretty consistantly.

I wonder if there are some CD tricks you can do to avoid battles. Maybe I'll fiddle with it this weekend.

zell99

2005-04-29 07:58:34 pm

Do'h! Homer'D!

I don't understand either how he gets only 1 encounter in the whole first reactor. The guy that wrote the FAQ at GameFAQs said the random encounters were fixed after a set number of steps (at least on the world map... maybe it's not like that in Midgar?)

Quote:

restarting on every minor mistake seems like cheating to me.

How can you consider segmenting a run is cheating? Maybe half the runs on this site are segmented (random number) so you would consider all those runs to be using cheats? Segmenting a run is not cheating, it's perfectionism, and it will give us a higher quality run.

NTG

2005-04-29 08:06:50 pm

I'm indifferent towards YaBB 1G - SP1!

Quote:

I don't understand either how he gets only 1 encounter in the whole first reactor. The guy that wrote the FAQ at GameFAQs said the random encounters were fixed after a set number of steps (at least on the world map... maybe it's not like that in Midgar?)

I must have missed that infomation reading the FAQ, but that seems the most likely thing to me. It would explain why I never get an encounter on the first screen in the reactor, and always get one on the second screen.

I'm pretty sure CD tricks (I'm assuming you mean taking the CD out of the drive) aren't allowed by SDA, so if Mr._Haggis is using that it wouldn't be allowed in the run.

zell99

2005-04-29 08:20:06 pm

Do'h! Homer'D!

Taken directly from the FAQ:

If you're fast, saving takes less time than battles in any cases. The battles aren't random in this game, and they will come after a certain time no matter what you do. Just take a run through the first reactor a couple of times, and you'll understand what I mean. In many cases, saving will prevent the next battle from coming, so we have to save a lot of times even though we just saved. Just note that you have to reload the file first. On the world map, we rather save than getting into battles. Also, make sure you use a memory card with no other FFVII files. The more files, the longer time it takes to load. Again, don't worry, as I'll tell you exactly when to save in the walkthrough.

Zenn3k

2005-04-29 09:17:11 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

I wasn't refering to segmenting, cause I understand thats a required thing. But if you video is you saving every 2 feet, restarting the system, and loading the game again...I don't have interest in watching it, lol.

I ment more of a "straight shot" as in, just play the game, segment when needed either for personal breaks and/or file size restrictions. I would expect rather large segments for a game like this, maybe 8 1-hour segments or something.

Anyway, again, I was refering more to what the FAQ guy did on his run, which to me, means he beat the game in 3-6 times his time, because of how many times it wasn't "perfect" and he did it again.

Ya catch what I'm saying?

Trevor

2005-04-29 09:29:12 pm

everybody has a different idea on what makes a good run. some feel as though using segments (or too many) decreases the difficulty too much, making the run less watchable. on the other hand, yes, it can help make "perfection" more possible. depends on the person.

Zenn3k

2005-04-29 09:32:25 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Well, I think in order to have a true "contest" for this, we need an established set of rules and guidelines (if these already exist, point me in the right direction, ty).

I personally disagree with the FAQ's method for avoiding battles, to me it simply makes a movie unwatchable, hence not enjoyable. Also the video would be nearly 5 times long in having to simply watch restarts of the system alone.

NTG

2005-04-29 09:36:04 pm

I'm indifferent towards YaBB 1G - SP1!

Do you mean you wouldn't expect people to redo segments more than once to get a better result? Huh?

Can't understand why you'd object to that, it'll mean a better end result.

Also restarting and loading the game would probably take longer than escaping from a random encounter (I haven't played on the world map part to test this though), so I don't imagine that would get done either.

saxman52

2005-04-29 09:40:38 pm

I'm feeling what Zenn is saying. When I read through the FAQ, a part of me was saying "I have to save and reload every few seconds? I'd get tired of seeing that. Might as well not even have any world map sequences in the vid."

I think a run not so confined by what the FAQ states, i.e. just running through and seeing what "card you're dealt," would be way more interesting.

If a few of us try this I think it would be interesting to compare our final times so we could see just how much the random factors affect the run.