KotOR speedrun in just over 2 hours -- Knights of the Old Republic Done Quick

abr_alex

2008-08-06 02:12:48 am

Great run. Also video is very smooth. What is your PC specs? Wink

Thinkshooter

2008-08-06 04:34:40 am

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

About Kotor II. Although I've played the game, I never really appreciated the abrupt and incomplete story line due to the game having been rushed out the door. I felt cheated, so I'm reluctant to support this quality with investing my time in a speedrun. I would hesitate to only run a game just because it's called "KotOR II".

I *am* working on two other things though: the blooper reel I mentioned in my opening post, and another game.

About the game difficulty. It's normal (default), just as the other speedruns. The observed efficiency of the fights comes from two factors:
1) High strength. I set the initial STR as high as possible, and then pretty much invest all I have into STR and other fight enhancing items. That's why it takes no more than 4 rounds to bring down any single opponent throughout the run.
2) Luck. I think this is what they call "luck manipulation" on SDA: if I could defeat an opponent a round or two faster, I retook that segment. Sometimes this required many retakes.

My computer is a Core 2 Duo with an nVidia 8400 for now.

About Kotor II. Although I've played the game, I never really appreciated the abrupt and incomplete story line due to the game having been rushed out the door. I felt cheated, so I'm reluctant to support this quality with investing my time in a speedrun. I would hesitate to only run a game just because it's called "KotOR II".

I *am* working on two other things though: the blooper reel I mentioned in my opening post, and another game.

About the game difficulty. It's normal (default), just as the other speedruns. The observed efficiency of the fights comes from two factors:
1) High strength. I set the initial STR as high as possible, and then pretty much invest all I have into STR and other fight enhancing items. That's why it takes no more than 4 rounds to bring down any single opponent throughout the run.
2) Luck. I think this is what they call "luck manipulation" on SDA: if I could defeat an opponent a round or two faster, I retook that segment. Sometimes this required many retakes.

My computer is a Core 2 Duo with an nVidia 8400 for now.

Caos2

2008-08-06 05:07:20 pm

Lurkin' and watching!

Is it really necessary to have different runs for both sides of the force?
Even though the plot changes alot I really can't recall much gameplay between them.

-C2

Maglok

2008-08-08 02:46:45 am

Dum die dum

They are indeed different. And SDA seems to say 'yes it's neccesary', since there are two categories up at the moment. Still the light-side run atm is definately superior to the dark-side run in awesomeness.

Squirrelfanatic

2008-08-08 12:03:18 pm

Very nice run, loved how you used enemies as small "teleporters". Did you always pick choice #1 when talking to people, or does the game just light up the first choice (meaning that you are using just the hotkeys for the different answers)?

shorelinetrance

2008-08-08 03:13:05 pm

boo light side, only overly moralistic people are moral in a video game Grin

nice run though, very enjoyable to watch.

tycho102

2008-08-08 09:17:17 pm

Some people think they can outsmart me.

Quote from Squirrelfanatic:

Very nice run, loved how you used enemies as small "teleporters". Did you always pick choice #1 when talking to people, or does the game just light up the first choice (meaning that you are using just the hotkeys for the different answers)?

Starting with Neverwinter Nights, you can just press the number keys to pick your dialogue response. Each dialogue can be pre-recorded with a specific number sequence, and when you get to it, just hammer out the sequence on the numeric keypad.

Thinkshooter

Edit history:

Thinkshooter: 2008-08-10 05:49:43 pm

2008-08-09 09:53:07 am

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Quote from tycho102:

Quote from Squirrelfanatic:

Very nice run, loved how you used enemies as small "teleporters". Did you always pick choice #1 when talking to people, or does the game just light up the first choice (meaning that you are using just the hotkeys for the different answers)?

Starting with Neverwinter Nights, you can just press the number keys to pick your dialogue response. Each dialogue can be pre-recorded with a specific number sequence, and when you get to it, just hammer out the sequence on the numeric keypad.

Whenever you see a really fast conversation, that usually involved frantically hitting the "1" key (first converstaion option) and mouse click (to interrupt the answer) repeatedly. If this slows down a bit, that means I had to memorize a certain sequence of numbers as hitting 1, 1, 1,... was no good or would have been slower. Eg. at Part 4 29:34, the sequence I use to save Bastila on the Star Forge after the 2nd round is 2, 1, fight, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 3, and then 1s, with mouse clicks in between all along. Then there are lots of unskippable dialogs throughout the game.

When I talk to NPCs, by default only the 1st conversation option is highlighted. Sometimes the mouse pointer wanders into the dialog options area, and it highlights a different sentence. But my reply is independent from what is highlighted.

Again, thanks for the compliments, guys Smiley

I dreaded the thought that after investing all that time into the run, people may not care or wouldn't find it interesting. I'm glad you liked it, and I appreciate all your feedback!

[quote="tycho102"]
[quote="Squirrelfanatic"]
Very nice run, loved how you used enemies as small "teleporters". Did you always pick choice #1 when talking to people, or does the game just light up the first choice (meaning that you are using just the hotkeys for the different answers)?[/quote]

Starting with Neverwinter Nights, you can just press the number keys to pick your dialogue response. Each dialogue can be pre-recorded with a specific number sequence, and when you get to it, just hammer out the sequence on the numeric keypad.
[/quote]

Whenever you see a really fast conversation, that usually involved frantically hitting the "1" key (first converstaion option) and mouse click (to interrupt the answer) repeatedly. If this slows down a bit, that means I had to memorize a certain sequence of numbers as hitting 1, 1, 1,... was no good or would have been slower. Eg. at Part 4 29:34, the sequence I use to save Bastila on the Star Forge after the 2nd round is 2, 1, fight, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 3, and then 1s, with mouse clicks in between all along. Then there are lots of unskippable dialogs throughout the game.

When I talk to NPCs, by default only the 1st conversation option is highlighted. Sometimes the mouse pointer wanders into the dialog options area, and it highlights a different sentence. But my reply is independent from what is highlighted.

Again, thanks for the compliments, guys :) I dreaded the thought that after investing all that time into the run, people may not care or wouldn't find it interesting. I'm glad you liked it, and I appreciate all your feedback!

Maglok

2008-08-11 03:43:38 am

Dum die dum

Are you kidding? I loved it. Smiley

And on the note of only moralistic people caring for light side in videogames... Turns out that most games that allow a good/bad side (Star Wars, Fable, etc.) people pick the good side a LOT more. Smiley

ForteGS

2008-08-12 01:56:05 am

Bring me the flaming voodoo canonball!

DS would eventually be faster in KotOR 2, since Force Storm can insta-kill if you built your character well.
(wished Force Storm was more powerfull in KotOR 1)

zgred_2

2008-08-12 01:21:23 pm

Hey, I love the run, it's spectacular Cheesy

I love how Karath thinks Calo is dead even though you totally ignored him Tongue

I only wanted to ask: what did you use to capture your run?

Thinkshooter

Edit history:

Thinkshooter: 2008-08-13 02:52:17 pm

2008-08-13 02:35:32 pm

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Quote from ForteGS:

DS would eventually be faster in KotOR 2, since Force Storm can insta-kill if you built your character well.
(wished Force Storm was more powerfull in KotOR 1)

Yes, I am impressed by Wolfe's KotOR2 run in that regard. He certainly built a powerful caster.

zgred: I used fraps like probably everyone else submitting a PC run. I tested other capturing software as well but those couldn't cope with this OpenGL game.

I didn't totally ignore Calo. I used him and his team as force jump hooks Smiley

With all these foes popping up and trying to mess around, I say the least they can do is serve as force jump targets Grin

Thinkshooter

2008-09-20 02:53:30 pm

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Hi all. Thought you'd like to know that I finished editing the blooper reel and I'm seeding it to Nate now. I don't think blooper videos need to be *verified* Smiley

so this means you get to see it soon if you're interested!

Cheers,
TS.

Thinkshooter

2008-09-28 11:23:46 pm

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

The KotOR Blooper Reel, a nearly 10-minute high quality video, is finally out!

It's linked on the game page, but here are two direct links to archive.org and SDA. Enjoy!

A blooper reel is supposed to be funny, but I can tell you from first hand experience that I wasn't always laughing when I hit those glitches and goofs while running the game Smiley

This video represents just about 1% of all those failed attempts.

Enhasa says he'll mention it in one of the next rounds of front page announcements.

abr_alex

2008-09-30 02:16:35 am

Funniest thing was when 2 banthas blocked the player Grin

Thinkshooter

2008-09-30 04:17:25 am

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Quote from abr_alex:

Funniest thing was when 2 banthas blocked the player Grin

That one I could actually laugh about, right when it happened Smiley

When my team got stuck in various places for the 1000th time at the end of a long and complicated segment, not so much.

One of my favourites is the Amazing Indestructible Gizka (tm)! The game does lots of weird things like that when you speedrun it, as you can see in the blooper video...

tekknej

2008-09-30 09:04:45 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

haven't seen a speedrun yet, but wanna thank you for an additional effort of making a blooper reel ) i hope more people would do that.

Thinkshooter

Edit history:

Thinkshooter: 2008-12-18 05:42:22 am

2008-10-11 05:39:51 am

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Just to let you know that I've submitted the other speedrun I mentioned before. See the Hidden and Dangerous 2 forum topic. The speedrun is completed and is being verfied right now.

grav0x

2008-10-11 03:28:34 pm

internet catchphrase lol

So next stop KOTOR 2 then? (come on man, do it for the boys)

Thinkshooter

Edit history:

Thinkshooter: 2008-10-18 05:10:29 am

2008-10-17 03:18:56 pm

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Quote from grav0x:

So next stop KOTOR 2 then? (come on man, do it for the boys)

I totally understand your zest for entertainment in the form of speedruns (and I have even supported it with my two humble runs), but as you can read in my earlier comments, KotOR 2 is not near the top of my list.

For me to speedrun a game, it's gotta be entertaining to *me* too. Right now, KotOR 2 is not such a game. But I'll let you know if that changes, ok? Smiley

ForteGS

2008-10-27 12:14:31 am

Bring me the flaming voodoo canonball!

Quote from Thinkshooter:

Quote from grav0x:

So next stop KOTOR 2 then? (come on man, do it for the boys)

I totally understand your zest for entertainment in the form of speedruns (and I have even supported it with my two humble runs), but as you can read in my earlier comments, KotOR 2 is not near the top of my list.

For me to speedrun a game, it's gotta be entertaining to *me* too. Right now, KotOR 2 is not such a game. But I'll let you know if that changes, ok? Smiley

Maybe the soon to be released restoration patch by Team Gizka will put it higher on your list Wink

Thinkshooter

2008-10-28 06:42:56 pm

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Quote from ForteGS:

Maybe the soon to be released restoration patch by Team Gizka will put it higher on your list Wink

I really like what those guys are doing, trying to put back some sense into the game and all! On the other hand, as far as I understand the SDA rules page, custom game mods are not SDA material. Correct me if I'm wrong, but if you modify a game -- other than with an official patch or compatibility fix --, you can't submit that run since you're not playing on a level ground with others any more.

Hm. What you're suggesting would make a nice GameRestorationDemosArchive.com submission Smiley

Thinkshooter

Edit history:

Thinkshooter: 2008-11-11 01:15:03 pm

2008-11-11 10:46:56 am

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Since many of you expressed that you liked this run, you may be interested my new X-Wing Alliance project. Hope to see you there.

kotorfan

2008-12-27 01:00:15 pm

just watched the run - amazin stuff, wow!

i have a question. in part 2 around 26:48, before you step out of the ebon hawk on manaan, you pick bastila in your team. then a few seconds later, you send her back and continue alone. then this happens again around 28:35, so it must have been on purpose. whats the logic? why pick someone in your team and not use her in any way?

Thinkshooter

Edit history:

Thinkshooter: 2008-12-27 08:49:57 pm

2008-12-27 07:17:51 pm

Runs: FCP, FC3, XWA, HD1-2, KotOR1-2

Excellent question. Actually there are a number of shortcuts like this which I found by accident. But then nobody asked (until you did) so I thought they were common knowledge or something Smiley

In this case, I noticed that if I go through the hangar gate on Manaan *alone*, the announcer will say "Entering Ahto city, cameras activated" (in Selkath / Manaanese). This announcement wastes around 7 or 8 seconds. However if I go through the gate *with* company, there's no such announcement. So by taking Bastila these two times, I save around 14-16 seconds, minus the time it takes to select and then kick her.

Unfortunately this trick only works on the way into Ahto city. When I leave the city at 29:11, whether accompanied or not, the announcement is there.