Hot Wheels Turbo Racing (N64 version)

2014-02-20 12:23:00 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

So, I've been casually running this game, hope to get it serious when my splitters arrive in the mail here in the next week or so. Anyways, I find it a fun game to casually run if you're into racing because of two words: "Abort Race".

To win the game, there are two cups and a final challenge. First cup is 6 races, second is 2 races, the final challenge is a single race. Pause during any race, and you can select abort race. Instead of making you try that race over or anything, you simply get last place and are immediately advanced to the next race.
Each race takes approximately 6 minutes (they are all 6 lap races, about a minute per lap. Last race of the game is possible to get a 5 minute time, other races are doing great if you get 5:30-5:45 from what I can tell).

If you get 1st place in a race, you get 12 points towards the cup. Last place gets zero points.
SO, with that in mind, 2cd place in the first cup will ALWAYS get between 44-48 points. So, to speedrun the game, during the first cup, you only need 48 points total to win the cup and advance to the second cup.

Due to that, this means that getting first place in four races and last place in two other races will get you 48 points. You win the first cup every time, no RNG about it. So, to go through the first cup the quickest, one simply clicks "Abort Race" out of their two slowest tracks and win the other four races. You will win the tournament. I have been cutting out two tracks from the first tournament, "Command Center" and "Snake River Mine".

Anyways, using that strategy (and other smaller ones in each race) I have gotten my personal best to 42:32 (unrecorded, until I get my splitters). I'm hoping to find someone else to work on the game to lower that time once I get my equipment with livestreams/videos and make it a friendly competition. Also, if anyone is curious, I'll talk about the small strats in each level.

Thread title:

So, I've been casually running this game, hope to get it serious when my splitters arrive in the mail here in the next week or so.  Anyways, I find it a fun game to casually run if you're into racing because of two words: "Abort Race".

To win the game, there are two cups and a final challenge.  First cup is 6 races, second is 2 races, the final challenge is a single race.  Pause during any race, and you can select abort race.  Instead of making you try that race over or anything, you simply get last place and are immediately advanced to the next race.
Each race takes approximately 6 minutes (they are all 6 lap races, about a minute per lap.  Last race of the game is possible to get a 5 minute time, other races are doing great if you get 5:30-5:45 from what I can tell).

If you get 1st place in a race, you get 12 points towards the cup.  Last place gets zero points.
SO, with that in mind, 2cd place in the first cup will ALWAYS get between 44-48 points.  So, to speedrun the game, during the first cup, you only need 48 points total to win the cup and advance to the second cup.

Due to that, this means that getting first place in four races and last place in two other races will get you 48 points.  You win the first cup every time, no RNG about it.  So, to go through the first cup the quickest, one simply clicks "Abort Race" out of their two slowest tracks and win the other four races.  You will win the tournament.  I have been cutting out two tracks from the first tournament, "Command Center" and "Snake River Mine".

Anyways, using that strategy (and other smaller ones in each race) I have gotten my personal best to 42:32 (unrecorded, until I get my splitters).  I'm hoping to find someone else to work on the game to lower that time once I get my equipment with livestreams/videos and make it a friendly competition.  Also, if anyone is curious, I'll talk about the small strats in each level.

bangerra

2014-02-21 02:24:59 am

I've run this for fun before (though on PAL) just because I like the game. One of my favorite N64 racers. Are you starting from new game, or do you start with all the cars unlocked? Because not starting with Twinmill I/II could make it very interesting in what car to pick.

CosmykTheDolfyn

Edit history:

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-02-21 05:53:28 am

2014-02-21 05:39:26 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

I start with nothing unlocked. First race at Dawn Encounter I use the Red Baron. Your best time at Dawn Encounter will be with a four wheel drive; the shortcuts are too good. I've been getting around a 5:30 race at Dawn Encounter with Red Baron each time.

Every other track, I use the Double Vision (beside the Twinmill challenge, it would be insanity to use anything other than Twinmill I/II for that). It has the highest Top Speed and Trick stat of your starting cars. Top speed of 170+lots of turbos=fastest time with a any of the 2x4 vehicles I've ever gotten on any of the tracks. I haven't tested this very thoroughly yet though.
Edit: Although, I have to say one thing. The more I've ran this, the more rubber-banding has become my friend. Losing power ups to a guy in front of you who you're technically about to overlap is a real pain.

CosmykTheDolfyn

Edit history:

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-02-21 04:21:48 pm

2014-02-21 04:16:07 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

So, I know I posted all about cars this morning... But it's already changed. I had no work today (I start a new job next week, nothing going on right now however), so I spent a few hours toying around with this and timing changes.

Basically, I stated that you should always use Double Vision on all tracks except Dawn Encounter. That is now simply not true. Sweet 16 II is taking over the spot as top car.

It's top speed is not as high as Double Vision (164 vs. 170) but that will take off mere microseconds of a difference. It has nearly identical Stunt stat, so you can pull off the same tricks and get the same amount of turbos. It loses less speed on turns than Double Vision due to it's better control, allowing it to make up the time lost due to lower top speed and then gain some. Also, for some odd reason, once in air, Double Vision falls like a rock. Sweet 16 II glides much farther off each ramp. This makes some shortcuts much easier (most notably the first cut in the "Road To Rustwell" course, which if failed, results in a loss of 6-7 seconds, and the cut in Helicrash where you jump clean over the beginning platform, which is near impossible with Double Vision). Due to this, Sweet 16 II has shaven off 4-10 seconds per race, which adds up to around a minute over the run. My biggest change however, is switching to the Deora for R.M. Test Track. I found that a 4WD saves time due to the two paths at the end of the track. Also, since Deora is a short car, it doesn't flip upside down in the Split Loop, which is a rare (but massive time waster) occurance with the Double Vision at the same track. Red Baron is the better 4WD at most tracks, but it also has problems with the split loop, making Deora the better choice.

Also, I figured out a solution to the rubber-banding issue. Like I said earlier, rubber banding is actually good in this run. You still need to win the races, but overlapping other cars slows your time due to it causing dropped frames and overlapped cars steal your power ups. However, turning up the difficulty to as high as possible increases the rubber banding greatly. This means an end to overlapping other racers, and a better time (in real time).
Due to all this, I really think I can get a sub 40 minute run. I really can't wait for my splitters to get here... But, when they do get here, I'll do two videos - one with commentary on every strat and one to submit to site.
Edit: I also added a "panic warp" to the Helicrash course which saves around 4 seconds per lap. The panic button in game instantly explodes your car and resets you to a checkpoint. However, Helicrash makes you race to a checkpoint, turn around and race back to the starting line. Hit the panic button immediately after the first checkpoint, and you warp back to the starting line. It's incredibly simple, and I didn't know why I didn't think of it earlier. It might be the first death warp that I know of in a racing game that you pull mid race multiple times?

So, I know I posted all about cars this morning...  But it's already changed.  I had no work today (I start a new job next week, nothing going on right now however), so I spent a few hours toying around with this and timing changes.

Basically, I stated that you should always use Double Vision on all tracks except Dawn Encounter.  That is now simply not true.  Sweet 16 II is taking over the spot as top car.

It's top speed is not as high as Double Vision (164 vs. 170) but that will take off mere microseconds of a difference.  It has nearly identical Stunt stat, so you can pull off the same tricks and get the same amount of turbos.  It loses less speed on turns than Double Vision due to it's better control, allowing it to make up the time lost due to lower top speed and then gain some.  Also, for some odd reason, once in air, Double Vision falls like a rock.  Sweet 16 II glides much farther off each ramp.  This makes some shortcuts much easier (most notably  the first cut in the "Road To Rustwell" course, which if failed, results in a loss of 6-7 seconds, and the cut in Helicrash where you jump clean over the beginning platform, which is near impossible with Double Vision).  Due to this, Sweet 16 II has shaven off 4-10 seconds per race, which adds up to around a minute over the run.  My biggest change however, is switching to the Deora for R.M. Test Track.  I found that a 4WD saves time due to the two paths at the end of the track.  Also, since Deora is a short car, it doesn't flip upside down in the Split Loop, which is a rare (but massive time waster) occurance with the Double Vision at the same track.  Red Baron is the better 4WD at most tracks, but it also has problems with the split loop, making Deora the better choice.

Also, I figured out a solution to the rubber-banding issue.  Like I said earlier, rubber banding is actually good in this run.  You still need to win the races, but overlapping other cars slows your time due to it causing dropped frames and overlapped cars steal your power ups.  However, turning up the difficulty to as high as possible increases the rubber banding greatly.  This means an end to overlapping other racers, and a better time (in real time).
Due to all this, I really think I can get a sub 40 minute run.  I really can't wait for my splitters to get here...  But, when they do get here, I'll do two videos - one with commentary on every strat and one to submit to site.
Edit: I also added a "panic warp" to the Helicrash course which saves around 4 seconds per lap.  The panic button in game instantly explodes your car and resets you to a checkpoint.  However, Helicrash makes you race to a checkpoint, turn around and race back to the starting line.  Hit the panic button immediately after the first checkpoint, and you warp back to the starting line.  It's incredibly simple, and I didn't know why I didn't think of it earlier.  It might be the first death warp that I know of in a racing game that you pull mid race multiple times?

bangerra

2014-02-21 05:11:33 pm

I was gonna say something about the helicrash death warp, but seems you already figured it out yourself Smiley

it saves up to 20s each lap.

CosmykTheDolfyn

Edit history:

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-02-24 10:07:08 am

2014-02-24 06:41:38 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

Found another thing that's a massive time-saver they I simply didn't think about before. Playing with the memory card in and autosaving. Sounds counter-intuitive, but it won't spit out that code for you to remember your progress that takes 5 seconds to get past after every single race. Only problem is that I now have to delete the save before I want to run again every time.
Edit: And I just got my first sub 40 time. I so can not wait for my stupid splitters to get here.

bangerra

2014-02-24 02:30:23 pm

I wish I could do some runs, but I'm on PAL. So my times would be pretty much useless anyway.

CosmykTheDolfyn

Edit history:

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-03-03 07:42:13 am

2014-03-03 07:31:40 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

Haven't posted anything here in a while, but I have changed the route again. I now pick up the car Rock Buster in the Road To Rustwell race. Getting it perfectly takes around 5 seconds. However, it can save 3-10 seconds on every race beyond that, and gets great times on the R.M. Test Track (slowest race of the run). A good race with it allows for a sub 5 minute time of Cold Fusion and Helicrash also.
Edit: Also, quick question. I've always started my timer for this run when I first click "Enter Race" at the start of the first cup. Would the time technically actually start at the beginning of the first race when I gain control of the car in the first race? There is about an 11 second difference between the two.

M16AMachinegun

2014-03-03 09:37:45 am

If you're not taking the time taken to race through each track and adding them together (which wouldn't make sense since...what would you do with the tracks you skip?), the customary thing for speedrunning is starting time when you hit "Start" and ending time at the last point in time where you lose control (i.e. crossing the finish line on your last race). Menu Manipulation is included in this

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-03-03 09:52:03 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

Ok, thank you. I was curious, but that makes sense and is what I've been doing. I guess I'll continue the same way.

bangerra

2014-03-03 11:45:28 am

SDA timing starts when you gain control, So that would be at the exact frame the first race starts. It ends at the last frame you have control, so the frame you pass the finish line on the final track.

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-03-04 10:47:26 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

A run of this game with commentary. The time wasn't great (around 39 minutes), but it wasn't dreadful either. But, it does show generally all the strats I am currently using.

[video=youtube]

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-03-27 06:08:22 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

So, I was messing around today and found another (very slight timesaver). I had stated that you can make a movement input while a screen is black and it will appear on the next menu you come to. I have found that in some very certain frames (unsure exactly where yet) the game will accept an input from the A button and simply bypass the menu altogether, meaning that one can go from the results of one race directly into the next race without messing with the menu in between.

Since it's extremely difficult to trigger, simply mash A if you don't have anything needed in the next menu and hope you get it. It save around a tenth of a second.

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-03-27 07:21:52 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

Also, if I were to be attempting to get a run to submit to the site (which I plan on doing sometime in the future), would I need a webcam video to go along with the run to prove I'm using a standard N64 controller without turbo since mashing is now part of the run? Really curious about that, as I'm not sure if my current computer has the power to encode two video sources at once.

bangerra

2014-03-28 03:24:26 am

No, all you need is the game footage in acceptable quality, played on original hardware.

MoarPsyk

2014-03-28 06:43:23 am

39 Minutes is still great, I wouldn't mind going on a casual run on this game. Played it over and over and over again when I was a kid. Loved the soundtrack and everything.
A few of the tips and tricks I still remember - but the lag in the game can be pretty horrific at times. But if you can get past that - it's a great game.
The Twinmill II Cheesy

Well done to you though!

CosmykTheDolfyn

Edit history:

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-03-28 12:41:45 pm

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-03-28 12:40:30 pm

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-03-28 12:39:04 pm

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-03-28 12:38:37 pm

2014-03-28 12:38:05 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

Thanks dude, although I'm honestly hoping to get a sub 38 minute run. I am getting closer to that goal, and it should be any day now.

In practicing my run earlier today, I got a perfect Grover's Mill Clip. It does not save any in game time, but it does save some real time as it reduces lag on the first lap. It's very difficult to do as it's only a few pixels wide and, if done incorrectly, sets you up wrong upon landing.

CosmykTheDolfyn

Edit history:

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-05-05 06:38:24 am

2014-05-05 06:28:21 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

So, I have been messing around with RNG manipulation in this game in the first tournament, and it seems possible to now skip 3 races instead of two under very correct circumstances. Note that this testing is done through emulation, not console, and seems to have a very low success rate.

You can manipulate how many points other players receive, however. Keep the difficulty on normal. Start the first race, Dawn Encounter, with Way-2-Fast, and get first (obviously).
You next go to Command Center race, but take notice of which racer earned second at Dawn Encounter and choose that vehicle for the race. Use the abort race skip. Note that by choosing 2cd place's vehicle, 2cd place will substitute in a different vehicle. Often, this sub vehicle will get 4th or 5th place instead of 2cd or 3rd in that race, causing a different car to take second place in the standings, but with a lower overall score than normal.
Continue to Road to Rustwell. Use the normal Sweet 16 II vehicle and strats here. Note at the end of the race which vehicle is in 2cd in standings.
Select that vehicle for the Cold Fusion race, and abort race skip this track, as you did at Command Center.
Race Helicrash, using normal strats with Rock Buster. Note who is second in overall standings at end of race.
Choose second place's car, and then abort race skip Snake River Mine.

If you have any luck, either Snake or Cat-a-pult will now be in second overall with 41 points, and you will have first overall with 42 points. This method has only been tested in emulation and seems to have around a 1 in 20 success rate. Due to the fact we have now skipped 3 races instead of 2, we have saved around 4-5 minutes of real time. I am unsure if this will work on console, and with it's very low success rate, I would call this a WR strat only.

So, I have been messing around with RNG manipulation in this game in the first tournament, and it seems possible to now skip 3 races instead of two under very correct circumstances.  Note that this testing is done through emulation, not console, and seems to have a very low success rate.

You can manipulate how many points other players receive, however.  Keep the difficulty on normal.  Start the first race, Dawn Encounter, with Way-2-Fast, and get first (obviously).
You next go to Command Center race, but take notice of which racer earned second at Dawn Encounter and choose that vehicle for the race.  Use the abort race skip.  Note that by choosing 2cd place's vehicle, 2cd place will substitute in a different vehicle.  Often, this sub vehicle will get 4th or 5th place instead of 2cd or 3rd in that race, causing a different car to take second place in the standings, but with a lower overall score than normal.
Continue to Road to Rustwell.  Use the normal  Sweet 16 II vehicle and strats here.  Note at the end of the race which vehicle is in 2cd in standings.
Select that vehicle for the Cold Fusion race, and abort race skip this track, as you did at Command Center.
Race Helicrash, using normal strats with Rock Buster.  Note who is second in overall standings at end of race.
Choose second place's car, and then abort race skip Snake River Mine.

If you have any luck, either Snake or Cat-a-pult will now be in second overall with 41 points, and you will have first overall with 42 points.  This method has only been tested in emulation and seems to have around a 1 in 20 success rate.  Due to the fact we have now skipped 3 races instead of 2, we have saved around 4-5 minutes of real time.  [b]I am unsure if this will work on console, and with it's very low success rate, I would call this a WR strat only.[/b]

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-05-05 03:15:34 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

Likelihood of pulling this off in real time vs. emulation seems greatly lower. Through analysis of my past runs, Splittin' Image II often get high points, even often in second place overall. The other issue is that the sub vehicle for Splittin' Image II (the Stealth) actually will place better than SI2 will. This issue does not occur for me in emulation.
Essentially, even with the RNG manipulation, SI2 is thrashing me in overall score. I have had some close calls, but I have been trying this for hours straight now. I know that isn't very runner like, but it is not working in Real time the way it does in emulation. I have some other ideas to try, but still unsure. A 3 race skip may be impossible.

bangerra

2014-05-06 03:20:51 am

Are your opponents always the same? I thought they could be anything you unlocked.

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-05-06 04:56:48 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

They can be, but since during the first cup I only unlock the Rock Buster, I get the same opponents. If I use one of the opponent's vehicles, it replaces it with another car that usually does very poorly.
Except in the case of SI2... I've got a few more ideas, though. We'll just have to see.

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-05-08 09:25:34 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

Well, I submitted a run for SDA to pick apart. It is a two race skip, not a three race. At this point, with a three race seeming to be impossible on console. It's one of my best runs (check that, the best run and PB) I've ever achieved working on this game. I'm pretty sure the only way I'll beat it is some insanely good RNG with the two race skip or actually achieving a three race skip. Both are theoretically possible at this point, but unlikely. Time will tell.

CosmykTheDolfyn

Edit history:

CosmykTheDolfyn: 2014-05-10 06:31:08 am

2014-05-10 06:30:45 am

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

This is a video of my best run yet at the T.M. Test Track. This race went insanely well and is also a test of the video quality of the run I (hope) to submit for verification to this game

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-05-23 03:17:12 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

So, I've found a slightly faster strat for one track and outline the new tracks target times and routes below for a good Single Segment run:
Dawn Encounter:
Vehicle: Red Baron, Target Time 5:25:00 or below

Command Center: Abort Race

Road To Rustwell
New Strat: Car: Power Pipes, Target Time 3:45:00 or below Old Strat: Car: Sweet 16 II Target Time: 3:50:00 or below
Still unlock the hidden car Rock Buster

Cold Fusion:
Car: Rock Buster, Target Time 5:00:00 or below

Helicrash
Car: Rock Buster, Target Time 4:50:00 or below

Snake River Mine: Abort Race

R.M. Sludgeworks (Race 1)
Car: Rock Buster, Target Time 5:40:00 or below

R.M. Test Track
Car: Rock Buster, Target Time 5:45:00 or below

R.M. Sludgeworks (Race 2)
Car: Twinmill I, Target Time:5:30:00 or below

Alexdg

2015-09-28 10:19:43 am

Quote from CosmykTheDolfyn:

So, I've been casually running this game, hope to get it serious when my splitters arrive in the mail here in the next week or so. Anyways, I find it a fun game to casually run if you're into racing because of two words: "Abort Race".

To win the game, there are two cups and a final challenge. First cup is 6 races, second is 2 races, the final challenge is a single race. Pause during any race, and you can select abort race. Instead of making you try that race over or anything, you simply get last place and are immediately advanced to the next race.
Each race takes approximately 6 minutes (they are all 6 lap races, about a minute per lap. Last race of the game is possible to get a 5 minute time, other races are doing great if you get 5:30-5:45 from what I can tell).

If you get 1st place in a race, you get 12 points towards the cup. Last place gets zero points.
SO, with that in mind, 2cd place in the first cup will ALWAYS get between 44-48 points. So, to speedrun the game, during the first cup, you only need 48 points total to win the cup and advance to the second cup.

Due to that, this means that getting first place in four races and last place in two other races will get you 48 points. You win the first cup every time, no RNG about it. So, to go through the first cup the quickest, one simply clicks "Abort Race" out of their two slowest tracks and win the other four races. You will win the tournament. I have been cutting out two tracks from the first tournament, "Command Center" and "Snake River Mine".

Anyways, using that strategy (and other smaller ones in each race) I have gotten my personal best to 42:32 (unrecorded, until I get my splitters). I'm hoping to find someone else to work on the game to lower that time once I get my equipment with livestreams/videos and make it a friendly competition. Also, if anyone is curious, I'll talk about the small strats in each level.

How do I get the last 3 tracks after the secret cup is beat

[quote="CosmykTheDolfyn"]So, I've been casually running this game, hope to get it serious when my splitters arrive in the mail here in the next week or so.  Anyways, I find it a fun game to casually run if you're into racing because of two words: "Abort Race".

To win the game, there are two cups and a final challenge.  First cup is 6 races, second is 2 races, the final challenge is a single race.  Pause during any race, and you can select abort race.  Instead of making you try that race over or anything, you simply get last place and are immediately advanced to the next race.
Each race takes approximately 6 minutes (they are all 6 lap races, about a minute per lap.  Last race of the game is possible to get a 5 minute time, other races are doing great if you get 5:30-5:45 from what I can tell).

If you get 1st place in a race, you get 12 points towards the cup.  Last place gets zero points.
SO, with that in mind, 2cd place in the first cup will ALWAYS get between 44-48 points.  So, to speedrun the game, during the first cup, you only need 48 points total to win the cup and advance to the second cup.

Due to that, this means that getting first place in four races and last place in two other races will get you 48 points.  You win the first cup every time, no RNG about it.  So, to go through the first cup the quickest, one simply clicks "Abort Race" out of their two slowest tracks and win the other four races.  You will win the tournament.  I have been cutting out two tracks from the first tournament, "Command Center" and "Snake River Mine".

Anyways, using that strategy (and other smaller ones in each race) I have gotten my personal best to 42:32 (unrecorded, until I get my splitters).  I'm hoping to find someone else to work on the game to lower that time once I get my equipment with livestreams/videos and make it a friendly competition.  Also, if anyone is curious, I'll talk about the small strats in each level.[/quote]
How do I get the last 3 tracks after the secret cup is beat