Final Fantasy IX Speedrun

spikevegeta

2010-03-28 11:08:48 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

oh my god, conrats. Best Wishes!

spikevegeta

2010-04-02 11:26:37 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Well, I've decided to try out this in a single segment. I think I can beat the Ultima Garden time of 10:28, possibly getting Sub-10 Hours.

I've been practicing the first two discs, and am just now starting an attempt of those together. i'll tell you guys about it when I'm done. Shooting for Sub-6:00.

spikevegeta

2010-04-02 04:26:42 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Well, I pulled off a 2:34:33 at the end of Disc 1.

I died the first time to Sealion, then took a break and then did the 2:34:33. I was probably on pase for around 5:35 or so after two discs, judging from the pracitce I've put in the past week. More updates later.

MrGuest

2010-04-02 08:01:35 pm

@spikevegeta

Dear Sir, by the power vested in me by prudent, wishful thinking I hereby award you 1000 Internets for an excellent single segment run on FFIX, something i was waiting a long time for.

EDIT: Streaming it on ustream would be icing on the cake.

spikevegeta

2010-04-03 11:42:49 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Final Fantasy IX Discs 1 & 2: 5:41:39 Single Segment.

I practically have these discs memorized now, and I got through with 47 Random Battles overall. (17 Disc One, 30 Disc 2).

I'll start work on Disc 3 now, but there is one problem I've realized with the Ultima Garden strategy. To pull off the run, you need the Rebirth Ring from the Treno Card tournament. From what I can tell, he just saves at the nearby moogle after completing the first two rounds(you can try those over and over again until you win) then just resets if he loses to Cid. If I did that would the run be accepted? I would think time would just be added for the resets.

It would be great if that were the case, since that would be about 6 hours into the run for it to all be pissed away because the card game didn't cooperate.

nokia3311

2010-04-04 10:43:11 am

I don't think they will allow this.

ZenicReverie

2010-04-04 11:02:05 am

Waiting hurts my soul...

Quote from spikevegeta:

Final Fantasy IX Discs 1 & 2: 5:41:39 Single Segment.

I practically have these discs memorized now, and I got through with 47 Random Battles overall. (17 Disc One, 30 Disc 2).

I'll start work on Disc 3 now, but there is one problem I've realized with the Ultima Garden strategy. To pull off the run, you need the Rebirth Ring from the Treno Card tournament. From what I can tell, he just saves at the nearby moogle after completing the first two rounds(you can try those over and over again until you win) then just resets if he loses to Cid. If I did that would the run be accepted? I would think time would just be added for the resets.

It would be great if that were the case, since that would be about 6 hours into the run for it to all be pissed away because the card game didn't cooperate.

There's no RTA category for SDA; exceptions made out of necessity only. Necessity being that it's impossible to complete the game in a single segment otherwise, mostly applies to 100% completion. Single-segment means no resetting.

[quote="spikevegeta"]
Final Fantasy IX Discs 1 & 2: 5:41:39 Single Segment.

I practically have these discs memorized now, and I got through with 47 Random Battles overall. (17 Disc One, 30 Disc 2).

I'll start work on Disc 3 now, but there is one problem I've realized with the Ultima Garden strategy. To pull off the run, you need the Rebirth Ring from the Treno Card tournament. From what I can tell, he just saves at the nearby moogle after completing the first two rounds(you can try those over and over again until you win) then just resets if he loses to Cid. If I did that would the run be accepted? I would think time would just be added for the resets.

It would be great if that were the case, since that would be about 6 hours into the run for it to all be pissed away because the card game didn't cooperate.
[/quote]
There's no RTA category for SDA; exceptions made out of necessity only. Necessity being that it's impossible to complete the game in a single segment otherwise, mostly applies to 100% completion. Single-segment means no resetting.

Essentia

2010-04-04 01:18:48 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

It seems like a while back there was a discussion about allowing the RTA category on SDA, and it was decided that it wasn't different enough from the SS category. That card game really is a pain, and it would be really annoying to have to rely on something so random so far into the run. I wonder if it would be possible to continue the run without the Rebirth Ring, by using Quina's Auto-Life blue magic or something.

spikevegeta

2010-04-04 02:16:52 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Yeah, that is problematic, again it's 6 hours 3 minutes into the run with my current save before I can try. I "don't lose" about 60% of the attempts, that includes times that I tie 1-2 times before I win. Well, I still have that save, so I'll probably go on with the run seeing how well I can do without it. I don't know if it's possible, but we will see.

The problem with Learning Reraise is that I would have to have Quina in the party, something that would slow down the run considerably.

The new problem I've run into is that the Ultima Garden strategy isn't death-proof, I just ran into the Ark, who can be a prick and keep using Boomerang and WhirlWind to do heavy damage to all characters. 2-3 of those kills me without a doubt, since I won't have time to Revive/heal everyone. Hopefully this won't be the case, but this might mean I would need to save/possibly die a few times throughout the run.
So I hate to say it, but unless I find a more concrete strategy I need to be able to allow deaths in the run.
I might be able to go without the Rebirth Ring, but I probably need to have acces to continuing after dying, and just adding the time to my in-game timer.

Yeah, that is problematic, again it's 6 hours 3 minutes into the run with my current save before I can try. I "don't lose" about 60% of the attempts, that includes times that I tie 1-2 times before I win. Well, I still have that save, so I'll probably go on with the run seeing how well I can do without it. I don't know if it's possible, but we will see.

The problem with Learning Reraise is that I would have to have Quina in the party, something that would slow down the run considerably.

The new problem I've run into is that the Ultima Garden strategy isn't death-proof, I just ran into the Ark, who can be a prick and keep using Boomerang and WhirlWind to do heavy damage to all characters. 2-3 of those kills me without a doubt, since I won't have time to Revive/heal everyone. Hopefully this won't be the case, but this might mean I would need to save/possibly die a few times throughout the run. 
So I hate to say it, but unless I find a more concrete strategy I need to be able to allow deaths in the run. 
I might be able to go without the Rebirth Ring, but I probably need to have acces to continuing after dying, and just adding the time to my in-game timer.

spikevegeta

2010-04-04 02:19:27 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Sorry for the double post,

I could consider bringing Eiko with me instead of Garnett, since she knows Cura and could actually heal me after I use a Phoenix Down on her. Well, I'll play around and let you guys know, I don't want to give up on the run, but if it gets to where I'm having to sacrifice so much that it makes my run close to 11 hours, I probably won't go through with it.

Lag.Com

2010-04-05 02:52:14 am

sda loyalist

You could try using a Phoenix Pinion once in the run, just for that extra random 'saves your life' buffer. Smiley

spikevegeta

2010-04-06 11:35:57 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Well, looky what I found:

http://www.youtube.com/user/handsomelives#p/c/DB047A02629AA5F9/65/9xmxED759-M

mrguest

2010-04-10 01:51:39 pm

I request an update and in return i offer testing (via epsxe+rom). Maybe Ill even register an account, since i somehow long more grip to the community after lurking for 8 years. Damn, now i feel old.

spikevegeta

2010-04-15 01:54:28 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Ok, well I went through the whole game with the strategies from the handsomelives playlist. I translated everything he does so I know what to do if I do the run.

There is is some good news and some bad news.

Good news is that the run is beatable without the Rebirth Ring, it just gets easier. So as long as I can get through the first two card games(not easy, but doable and you can try again if you lose) then I could lose to Cid and still go on with the game. I can just use Amarant's Aura ability in certain battles to be safe such as the first boss in Memoria(malaris or whatever).

Bad news. The strategies are all realatively safe until you reach Deathguise/Trance Kuja/Necron, where upon Deathguise and Trance Kuja can spam the shit out of their attack-all's, and Necron can cast death on my party(No defense against that as far as I know). I got to them, when I died 4 times and had to go back to the last save point, before I could finish my practice run. 2 times to deathguise, 1 time to trance kuja, then a final time to necron, in which he cast death on Steiner, slowing down the damage output considerably, therby leading to another round of Neutorn Ring(death).

I watched hansomeevil's run again, and all I can tell is that he got extremely lucky with the final battles, as none of that happened. Anybody got any ideas?

Ok, well I went through the whole game with the strategies from the handsomelives playlist. I translated everything he does so I know what to do if I do the run.

There is is some good news and some bad news.

Good news is that the run is beatable without the Rebirth Ring, it just gets easier. So as long as I can get through the first two card games(not easy, but doable and you can try again if you lose) then I could lose to Cid and still go on with the game. I can just use Amarant's Aura ability in certain battles to be safe such as the first boss in Memoria(malaris or whatever).

Bad news. The strategies are all realatively safe until you reach Deathguise/Trance Kuja/Necron, where upon Deathguise and Trance Kuja can spam the shit out of their attack-all's, and Necron can cast death on my party(No defense against that as far as I know). I got to them, when I died 4 times and had to go back to the last save point, before I could finish my practice run. 2 times to deathguise, 1 time to trance kuja, then a final time to necron, in which he cast death on Steiner, slowing down the damage output considerably, therby leading to another round of Neutorn Ring(death).

I watched hansomeevil's run again, and all I can tell is that he got extremely lucky with the final battles, as none of that happened. Anybody got any ideas?

Essentia

2010-04-15 03:02:07 pm

Everything's better with Magitek

I'd say he got very lucky in those last battles: Deathguise never used Spin, Kuja started out with Reflect and only used Flarestar once, and Necron's Grand Cross wasn't very bad. I don't really know how to help with Deathguise - that battle is so random, and it was definitely the hardest boss in my speedrun. The only thing I can think of to protect against death from Necron would be to put Quina in the party for that battle and use his cast Auto-Life. This would reduce your damage output, of course, but you'd be able to put Auto-Life on someone who's already died.

BTW, how are you planning to survive Neutron Ring without the Rebirth Ring?

spikevegeta

2010-04-15 09:39:24 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

I use Handsomelives's strategy, using Amarant's Aura ability on both him and Steiner, while having Freya and Zidane suicide. An aura'd character gets Auto-Life and Auto-Regen cast on them. After Neutron Ring, Amarant and Steiner come back, Amarant phoenix down's Zidane, while Steiner uses Charge! to have them all attack, then Amarant uses another phoenix down on Freya, while Steiner uses one final Charge! which should kill him.

spikevegeta

2010-04-16 05:21:53 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

Anybody up for watching the world record segmented run?

http://www.youtube.com/user/rpgsquaredotde#p/u/4/zIyWEDVD0jw

Brossentia

2010-04-29 09:41:29 pm

No pain, no gain

Quote from spikevegeta:

Anybody up for watching the world record segmented run?

http://www.youtube.com/user/rpgsquaredotde#p/u/4/zIyWEDVD0jw

Looks like it uses hardware manipulation. While it may be a world record, it wouldn't qualify for this site. However, it might have a few good points for certain battles.

Kenshiro

2011-06-09 07:57:33 am

I saw both EssentiaFour and rpgsquaredotde runs on Youtube and I have a question: why nobody stole the Holy Lance from Ark? The Valia Pira and Meltigemini battle could have been faster

I have no name

2011-06-20 12:16:52 pm

Quote from Kenshiro:

I saw both EssentiaFour and rpgsquaredotde runs on Youtube and I have a question: why nobody stole the Holy Lance from Ark? The Valia Pira and Meltigemini battle could have been faster

Probably too much luck involved in stealing it for not enough gain. Also, IIRC Essentia brought Freya to Oielvert, meaning the lance wouldn't help with the Valia Pira. So lengthening one battle to (maybe) speed up one other battle later is probably slower overall.

short answer: too much luck/actually slower overall since it wastes a turn in an already luck based battle

BZero

2012-04-18 01:51:47 pm

I've been thinking about doing a speedrun of this game for a while. Just did segment 1 in 8:15 (with the Mage Masher). Saved 20 seconds on Essentia's run by killing my party members in the first battle instead of killing Baku. But I haven't read this topic or anything else for tips and tricks and such, so I should probably do that now, before continuing/restarting.

GarlandG

2012-04-19 12:13:36 am

I will knock you all down!

Good luck with your run, my fellow Hedmarking!

BZero

2012-04-19 06:03:56 am

Thank you! BTW, I saw you finally got past Palmer. Congrats on that! That must have felt good, to finally put that segment behind.

Anyway, I guess I should say that I'm playing on a PAL PS2 with Matrix Infinity v1.93 installed. I checked the rules before buying this PS2 to make sure it's allowed, but it would be nice if someone confirmed it. Please don't tell me those rules are outdated and I need to buy myself an NTSC PS2. BTW, I carefully compared my video to Essentia's first segment video, and the game moves at the correct speed and everything, except I think her game loaded faster every now and then, but I think that has to do with a trick involving the pause button (haven't finished reading this topic) that I didn't use.

Essentia

2012-04-19 09:53:33 am

Everything's better with Magitek

I didn't use the pause trick at all in my run, so that wouldn't be causing the loading differences. I don't know if your PS2 would be allowed or not; if you want to be sure, make a post in the SDA Discussion forum and ask about it.

By the way, I would love to see an improvement to FFIX! Good luck if you go forward with this!

BZero

2012-04-19 10:14:27 am

Well, according to this section of the rules...

"Hardware modification: Players may not modify their consoles, with a few exceptions. The only extra or modified hardware allowed are mod chips and boot disks used for playing imports, audio/video mods to allow old systems to output in higher quality, and official add-ons, such as the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak."

...mod chips are allowed. Either way, getting the run accepted by SDA is not the most important thing, I just want to run this game. For comparison's sake, though, I'm going to follow the same rules you did, and not skip FMVs, and I'm playing on a PS2 with "fast and smooth" settings. If SDA doesn't want to accept it because I play on a chipped PAL console, then it's not a really big deal to me.

I'm going to do some frame-by-frame comparisons now, to see if your game did indeed load faster at times. I'm not really sure. I'll edit this post with my findings unless someone else has posted again by then.

BTW, did you ever figure out exactly how the pause trick works?

Well, according to this section of the rules...

"Hardware modification: Players may not modify their consoles, with a few exceptions. The only extra or modified hardware allowed are [b]mod chips and boot disks used for playing imports[/b], audio/video mods to allow old systems to output in higher quality, and official add-ons, such as the Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak."

...mod chips are allowed. Either way, getting the run accepted by SDA is not the most important thing, I just want to run this game. For comparison's sake, though, I'm going to follow the same rules you did, and not skip FMVs, and I'm playing on a PS2 with "fast and smooth" settings. If SDA doesn't want to accept it because I play on a chipped PAL console, then it's not a really big deal to me.

I'm going to do some frame-by-frame comparisons now, to see if your game did indeed load faster at times. I'm not really sure. I'll edit this post with my findings unless someone else has posted again by then.

BTW, did you ever figure out exactly how the pause trick works?