UPDATE (08/28/14): Recording complete, though I may attempt to improve the last segment. The next steps are to record the run on DVD and send it to SDA!
UPDATE (9/27/10): Final route complete. Recording will being once I obtain a DVD recorder.
UPDATE (9/09/14): Recording complete.
UPDATE (12/01/14): Run submitted to SDA.
ORIGINAL POST:
Hey Everyone. I've been a fan of SDA for several years now and continue to be amazed with all the dedication that is put into making such awesome runs. Now that I'm home for the summer, I plan on running a game that has been missing from the SDA list for a long time: Final Fantasy 1. So far, I've spent about 50 hours planning, testing, timing, and analyzing my own work to try to perfect a game that I thought couldn't be completed in less than 10 hours. My last run timed in at 3 hours and 13 minutes (193 minutes) but I think with the help of this community and a little more perseverance, I can bring it down to less than 3 hours.
NOTES:
1) I am running the game on the original cartridge for the NES using the American version. The PS1 (the game's remake) would probably be fast but I don't really care because I think there is a bigger fan base for this one and it is much more fun. In this way, the TAS, the thread on the Single-Segment run, and Red Scarlet’s run were of very little help to me. I’ve come up with this route on my own completely.
2) I use three fighters and a red mage for this run, and I am 99% certain that this is the fastest group for the type of run I'm doing. The fighters can push through most parts of the game at extremely low levels and can use the best weapons and armor. The red mage complements them perfectly by being able to learn all of the basic spells that are essential for this run (Cure, Fire 2, Warp, etc).
3) I use the so called "Peninsula of Power" or PoP quite frequently to gain massive amounts of experience and gold early on in the game. For those of you not aware of what this is, it is a small segment of land by the second town that has enemies that aren't supposed to be fought until the end of the game. I use it to gain full levels in one or two fights.
4) My other massive segment of leveling comes in the ice cave by fighting the EYE repeatedly. After I get the airship and 4 Pro-rings, I am completely invincible to his attacks, and he is the most "cost-effective" enemy to kill in the game by factoring in XP, Gold, HP, and the miniscule amount of time it takes to defeat him. I can run into him every step by walking over the square next to the Floater and I do not need to segment every fight. At the end of this power-leveling segment, I have all the gold and XP I need to beat the game.
5) If you have a good understanding of this game, please read my next post and really analyze it to find spots where I can improve even the smallest things. I'm open to any suggestions on how to make this run truly perfect.
USEFUL WEBSITES:
http://collector.5gigs.com/index.html
(Great overview of the game with detailed info on enemies and maps)
http://blake.prohosting.com/coleco/goodies/techfaq.txt
(A mathematical analysis of the game's programming)
http://www.ffnemesis.com/ff1/
(Good info on weapons and armor)
UPDATE (9/27/10): Final route complete. Recording will being once I obtain a DVD recorder.
UPDATE (9/09/14): Recording complete.
UPDATE (12/01/14): Run submitted to SDA.
ORIGINAL POST:
Hey Everyone. I've been a fan of SDA for several years now and continue to be amazed with all the dedication that is put into making such awesome runs. Now that I'm home for the summer, I plan on running a game that has been missing from the SDA list for a long time: Final Fantasy 1. So far, I've spent about 50 hours planning, testing, timing, and analyzing my own work to try to perfect a game that I thought couldn't be completed in less than 10 hours. My last run timed in at 3 hours and 13 minutes (193 minutes) but I think with the help of this community and a little more perseverance, I can bring it down to less than 3 hours.
NOTES:
1) I am running the game on the original cartridge for the NES using the American version. The PS1 (the game's remake) would probably be fast but I don't really care because I think there is a bigger fan base for this one and it is much more fun. In this way, the TAS, the thread on the Single-Segment run, and Red Scarlet’s run were of very little help to me. I’ve come up with this route on my own completely.
2) I use three fighters and a red mage for this run, and I am 99% certain that this is the fastest group for the type of run I'm doing. The fighters can push through most parts of the game at extremely low levels and can use the best weapons and armor. The red mage complements them perfectly by being able to learn all of the basic spells that are essential for this run (Cure, Fire 2, Warp, etc).
3) I use the so called "Peninsula of Power" or PoP quite frequently to gain massive amounts of experience and gold early on in the game. For those of you not aware of what this is, it is a small segment of land by the second town that has enemies that aren't supposed to be fought until the end of the game. I use it to gain full levels in one or two fights.
4) My other massive segment of leveling comes in the ice cave by fighting the EYE repeatedly. After I get the airship and 4 Pro-rings, I am completely invincible to his attacks, and he is the most "cost-effective" enemy to kill in the game by factoring in XP, Gold, HP, and the miniscule amount of time it takes to defeat him. I can run into him every step by walking over the square next to the Floater and I do not need to segment every fight. At the end of this power-leveling segment, I have all the gold and XP I need to beat the game.
5) If you have a good understanding of this game, please read my next post and really analyze it to find spots where I can improve even the smallest things. I'm open to any suggestions on how to make this run truly perfect.
USEFUL WEBSITES:
http://collector.5gigs.com/index.html
(Great overview of the game with detailed info on enemies and maps)
http://blake.prohosting.com/coleco/goodies/techfaq.txt
(A mathematical analysis of the game's programming)
http://www.ffnemesis.com/ff1/
(Good info on weapons and armor)
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