Actually, the biggest reason it was rejected was because I used the M3 to host the game on. It's not emulation, but simply a multi-game boot loader. Hence there was no cheating (like the verifiers noted) but apparantly that's not good enough.
He's already sent it, it's being verified watched in awe by people whose jaws will drop and tell everybody that Sir VG is the greatest speedrunner ever.
It's incredible that it's been over a year since I touched the game after completing v9. I picked up the game again a few days ago after the other thread appeared, and a couple people commented wondering why v9 was rejected.
I practiced up a couple sections thanks to some new tricks people pointed out, and I sat down this morning and did my run.
And completely p0wned the game.
My practice run yesterday was 58:00, which was quite impressive given the timespan I've been away from this title...that in a few days I went from not having seen the game for a year, to being within 3 seconds of my old record.
Today, I stand before you confident that this run is THE ONE. If SDA staff rejects this, then they have no idea what a good speed run is.
Kind of a mix. I'm sure the new strategies in 7-2 and 7-Boss played a part, but I'm sure most of it came from just playing like I was free. I think only once I was down to 1 health, and that was at 6-Boss (Metaknight).
Just for giggles, I've tried a Boss Endurance run. The fastest time I've run across for it is 4:23 and my current best is 4:33.
In the 4:23 run, I see a couple things that can be improved. One is dependent on luck (getting Thunder on the first painting at Paint Roller. The other is skill - better fighting in Nightmare (orb) by fighting closer.
His DeDeDe fight (and Nightmare King) are fricken awesome fights. ^^
Yeah, you should fight close to the Nightmare Orb & even take a few hits to land more shots. But I think the author was going for no-damage.
Also, needs more luck on Whispy Woods -- 2 multi-shots and a normal will do him in.
Given the rediculously small number of invincibility frames for bosses in this version, as well as the buffing High Jump received, I don't think mixing for UFO with the Sun's stars will be worth it (like it would be on the NES). It will probably still save to get Ball from Paint Roller's first drawing.
It's possible to beat Wispy Woods in 15 seconds (I based that on the time that the timer appears after I beat him). I've had that 3 times in running, but I either screw up somewhere else, or get bad luck on Paint Roller, since you really need him to draw Thunder on the first time for the best run.
And Ball on Paint Roller would technically be possible, but it's way too risky. Thunder is a better choice, plus it's great for Mr. Shine & Mr. Bright.