MK - Shaolin Monks

2005-10-17 01:13:07 pm

Never give up!

Liu Kang's throw isn't high enough on its own to get the enemies onto the hooks, I'm afraid.

In any event, I finished the main Foundry area and got to the last save point. My total time to this point is 1:29:34 - a total of ten minutes saved compared to my last run.

This is where my last run ended, so I have a dilemma now. Do I:

1) go after Kano and then fight Shang Tsung? or
2) skip Kano altogether and go right for Shang Tsung?

The Kano fight would be an extra three or maybe four minutes onto the run, and if I did it I might even give it its own segment so I can heal in between. The thing is, I get a life upgrade from fighting him, plus I can get another health powerup at some point during the final three fights, increasing my chances of surviving through to the end.

Thoughts?

LazyKenny

2005-10-17 07:26:11 pm

Go for option 2. This is a segmented run so you have as many attempts as you need.

AquaTiger

2005-10-17 08:05:21 pm

Never give up!

Right. Your opinion is noted.

In any event, I finally managed to beat the three boss battles without doing the Kano fight. My final time would have been about 1:38:30, but I botched the first fatality input against Shao Kahn. I went through the whole second phase of the Shao Kahn fight (including after the botched fatality) without getting hit once, thankfully. It turns out that as long as I can save about half my health during the Shang Tsung fight (I'm reckless in that fight and thus I tend to take loads of damage) I'm fine for both Kintaro and Shao Kahn.

I discovered another valuable combo for use on certain bosses (Scorpion and Shang Tsung are who I actually used it on this time). It's actually one you have to purchase for 5000 exp - Triangle, Circle, then any other attack button (I use Circle as the followup). Very powerful combo, and just to add insult to injury I usually uppercut them while they're knocked down (timing is precise) and follow with a flying kick. I actually did not find the bicycle kick very useful to me during this run (I used the barrel roll, which is Liu Kang's running launch attack, and double uppercuts more often on big bosses), so I shall skip it next time.

I'm going to start another playthrough later tonight, and I've changed plans slightly. If I can get below 1:30, I'll start recording immediately, but if I can only get below 1:35 I'll do just one more try and then start recording. In either case my segmenting for this run is finalized at this time.

This version will be done on Normal mode - I may do a Hard mode run later, but since this is my first speedrun for this game, and there are presently no other times available, I'm holding off on that idea. I figured I'd start on Normal.

I should note that the beginning of this thread was one of the shortest durations I've seen between a game's release and the first notion of speedrunning it.

Right.  Your opinion is noted.

In any event, I finally managed to beat the three boss battles without doing the Kano fight.  My final time would have been about 1:38:30, but I botched the first fatality input against Shao Kahn.  I went through the whole second phase of the Shao Kahn fight (including after the botched fatality) without getting hit once, thankfully.  It turns out that as long as I can save about half my health during the Shang Tsung fight (I'm reckless in that fight and thus I tend to take loads of damage) I'm fine for both Kintaro and Shao Kahn.

I discovered another valuable combo for use on certain bosses (Scorpion and Shang Tsung are who I actually used it on this time).  It's actually one you have to purchase for 5000 exp - Triangle, Circle, then any other attack button (I use Circle as the followup).  Very powerful combo, and just to add insult to injury I usually uppercut them while they're knocked down (timing is precise) and follow with a flying kick.  I actually did not find the bicycle kick very useful to me during this run (I used the barrel roll, which is Liu Kang's running launch attack, and double uppercuts more often on big bosses), so I shall skip it next time.

I'm going to start another playthrough later tonight, and I've changed plans slightly.  If I can get below 1:30, I'll start recording immediately, but if I can only get below 1:35 I'll do just one more try and then start recording.  In either case my segmenting for this run is finalized at this time.

This version will be done on Normal mode - I may do a Hard mode run later, but since this is my first speedrun for this game, and there are presently no other times available, I'm holding off on that idea.  I figured I'd start on Normal.

I should note that the beginning of this thread was one of the shortest durations I've seen between a game's release and the first notion of speedrunning it.

StrangenessDSS

2005-10-17 08:51:24 pm

Sleeping Terror

Quote:

I should note that the beginning of this thread was one of the shortest durations I've seen between a game's release and the first notion of speedrunning it.

You haven't seen this thread, have you?

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-10-18 12:46:49 am

2005-10-17 11:24:26 pm

Never give up!

Quote:

You haven't seen this thread, have you?

Not until you said it, no. Granted, I didn't join this board until at least a week after the last post in that thread, and I don't backlog through posts unless I want to run a game and make sure no one else has said anything yet. Regardless, I hope he sticks to his plan despite the delay.

Anyway, just so this post has some update on runs of MK Shaolin Monks, I shall be beginning my next prelim attempt within the hour, and I should have an update after I complete two segments of it. They will be updates to this post, though, unless someone speaks up between when I start and when I intend to update.

Update 1: Yes, I've already done the first two segments. The times pan out like this:
=Segment 1 - to first save in game - 4:11
=Segment 2 - to end of Wu Shi Academy - 13:11

I think my biggest improvements in Segment 1 are doing early environment kills more quickly and using the flying kick to get around (I think it's at least minimally faster until you get the long jump). The biggest improvement I found in Segment 2, though, is what I thought was the true SDA favorite - less fighting and more running. (Not very proper to a run of an MK game, I know, but I gotta cut time where I can.) I didn't think I could shave off half a minute, let alone more than a minute and a half, from my time to this point, which shows me that I had been overlooking minor things.

Update: Two MORE segments completed.
=Segment 3 - to save point before Kitana - 18:19
=Segment 4 - to second Living Forest save point - 27:11

I'm not quite sure how I managed to improve by a full minute on Segment 3, honestly. On Segment 4, though, I will say that the collision detection in the 'feed the serpents' puzzle seemed to be a bit off, and I probably lost 20+ seconds on that alone. Yet I still got another full minute of improvement. I hope this trend continues, even if I have to retry a segment a dozen times.

(Can't you tell this is my first segmented run ever?)

[quote]

You haven't seen [url=http://speeddemosarchive.com/yabb/YaBB.pl?board=consoles_newer;action=display;num=1120713836;start=0]this[/url] thread, have you?[/quote]

Not until you said it, no.  Granted, I didn't join this board until at least a week after the last post in that thread, and I don't backlog through posts unless I want to run a game and make sure no one else has said anything yet.  Regardless, I hope he sticks to his plan despite the delay.

Anyway, just so this post has some update on runs of MK Shaolin Monks, I shall be beginning my next prelim attempt within the hour, and I should have an update after I complete two segments of it.  They will be updates to this post, though, unless someone speaks up between when I start and when I intend to update.

Update 1: Yes, I've already done the first two segments.  The times pan out like this:
=Segment 1 - to first save in game - 4:11
=Segment 2 - to end of Wu Shi Academy - 13:11

I think my biggest improvements in Segment 1 are doing early environment kills more quickly and using the flying kick to get around (I think it's at least minimally faster until you get the long jump).  The biggest improvement I found in Segment 2, though, is what I thought was the true SDA favorite - less fighting and more running.  (Not very proper to a run of an MK game, I know, but I gotta cut time where I can.)  I didn't think I could shave off half a minute, let alone more than a minute and a half, from my time to this point, which shows me that I had been overlooking minor things.

Update: Two MORE segments completed.
=Segment 3 - to save point before Kitana - 18:19
=Segment 4 - to second Living Forest save point - 27:11

I'm not quite sure how I managed to improve by a full minute on Segment 3, honestly.  On Segment 4, though, I will say that the collision detection in the 'feed the serpents' puzzle seemed to be a bit off, and I probably lost 20+ seconds on that alone.  Yet I still got another full minute of improvement.  I hope this trend continues, even if I have to retry a segment a dozen times.

(Can't you tell this is my first segmented run ever?)

Tetsuo9999

2005-10-18 12:50:58 am

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

If the maxed out kicks didn't work for you on Kintaro, you can also uses the barrel roll attack to do even more damage. However, the positioning is really anal and you'll have to roll through Kintaro in order to be safe from his attacks. It might not be worth the risk if you weren't efficient on the Shang Tsung fight, but I figured it might help you out a bit Huh?

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-10-19 02:12:40 am

2005-10-19 01:35:03 am

Never give up!

The roll attack you mentioned and probably the double uppercut (as much as I dissed the latter before) are what I'm interested in using on big bosses... well, maybe not Shao Kahn, but the OTHER big bosses.

Anyway, sorry for the delay, but I have two more segments complete:
=Segment 5 - to first Soul Tombs save - 35:41
=Segment 6 - to right before Baraka - 44:31

I seem to have improved nearly another seven minutes total. The only improvement I could have seen in Segment 5 is not goofing up as much during the fights with Reptile and his pet. The nearly full minute I shaved off of Segment 6, however, is something I think came from better jumping on the green side, better timing of the gate-dropping in the outdoor part of the red side (still missed the last one once though), and a better Hellbeast strategy (I bought the double uppercut here, and if I'd recorded it you might think I bought the move on impulse).

I plan on doing at least two more segments of this practice run tonight, putting me right before Goro. At this point, though, I'm reaching the part of the game where I think optimization and luck are my only hopes of shaving time. We shall see, of course.

Update: Two more segments yet again:
=Segment 7 - to Wastelands save before Sub-Zero - 52:56
=Segment 8 - to right before Goro - 1:01:24

During Segment 7 I somehow gained a lot of time. I'm not sure if it was better long jumping or a better Baraka fight, but I'm very sure it's not the fight with the Elemental Knights. I thought for a bit that I'd lost time on Segment 8, probably due to bad defense of him when he's freezing the blood waterfall, but it turns out I still gained a good 10 seconds or slightly more on that.

At the current rate, 1:30 might be an easy goal. I may have to watch out a little though - I can just feel it.

The roll attack you mentioned and probably the double uppercut (as much as I dissed the latter before) are what I'm interested in using on big bosses... well, maybe not Shao Kahn, but the OTHER big bosses.

Anyway, sorry for the delay, but I have two more segments complete:
=Segment 5 - to first Soul Tombs save - 35:41
=Segment 6 - to right before Baraka - 44:31

I seem to have improved nearly another seven minutes total.  The only improvement I could have seen in Segment 5 is not goofing up as much during the fights with Reptile and his pet.  The nearly full minute I shaved off of Segment 6, however, is something I think came from better jumping on the green side, better timing of the gate-dropping in the outdoor part of the red side (still missed the last one once though), and a better Hellbeast strategy (I bought the double uppercut here, and if I'd recorded it you might think I bought the move on impulse).

I plan on doing at least two more segments of this practice run tonight, putting me right before Goro.  At this point, though, I'm reaching the part of the game where I think optimization and luck are my only hopes of shaving time.  We shall see, of course.

Update: Two more segments yet again:
=Segment 7 - to Wastelands save before Sub-Zero - 52:56
=Segment 8 - to right before Goro - 1:01:24

During Segment 7 I somehow gained a lot of time.  I'm not sure if it was better long jumping or a better Baraka fight, but I'm very sure it's not the fight with the Elemental Knights.  I thought for a bit that I'd lost time on Segment 8, probably due to bad defense of him when he's freezing the blood waterfall, but it turns out I still gained a good 10 seconds or slightly more on that.

At the current rate, 1:30 might be an easy goal.  I may have to watch out a little though - I can just feel it.

KillerMiller

2005-10-19 11:00:50 am

About the Hellbeast:
I think the fastest way to kill him is to use a Brutality in that Room.
Liu Kang have extreme damaging Fireballs in Brut. mode wich kills the Beast in less then 7 seconds.

The only problem is, to have 3 Fatality Bars full when entering the room.

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-10-19 08:36:17 pm

2005-10-19 06:48:09 pm

Never give up!

I'll note that.

Anyway, I did three more segments of this prelim run, and I must say I'm generally happy with the result. The times pan out like this:

=Segment 9 - to Netherrealm - 1:05:44
=Segment 10 - to Foundry - 1:13:18
=Segment 11 - to final save - 1:19:15

I still somehow manage to gain time on each segment this far down the line - in Segment 9 I used double uppercuts rather than the rolling attack (since I don't really have to save health like I will when Kintaro comes) against Goro. Segment 10's Scorpion fight looked as clean as I could make it. I'm mostly disappointed with Segment 11, where a jumping mistake near the end cost me about ten seconds. I did manage a perfect five-kill Multality after breaking the crystals though.

I'll be manually timing the last segment, but I'm optimistic about beating 1:30 in this round. I might almost want to be more aggressive against Shang Tsung, in order to save time I can use for Kintaro and Shao Kahn - those two will take a while.

Edit: Last segment was completed successfully - and no fatality botches this time. Being more aggressive against Kintaro was the biggest speed increaser (I almost beat him without prompting his invincible stomp attack), although I got pegged by Shao Kahn's hammer attacks a couple of times. My stopwatch says I took 7:42 during that segment, which puts my total time at 1:26:57 - which is faster than the time I'd have allowed before immediate recording.

KillerMiller, looks like you were right - around 1:30 is indeed possible. Recording shall start later tonight, ideally. I may consider a Kung Lao run after recording the Liu Kang run, but I will not do runs of either Scorpion or Sub-Zero at this time. Then again, I have other games on which I ought to work.

Edit 2: I actually have recorded Segment 1. Since the game only shows the hours and minutes when saving, the segment definitely wound up a 4:xx, but that's about all I know, since I don't plan on pausing to show the time. I only plan to pause if I'm actually buying a new move. Segment 2 has given me problems due to strategy - if I don't get the sword, and don't make the first long jump by the second try (or the second long jump on the first try), I consider the run of that segment trashed and have to do it over. I'm not settling for crap this time - the more I allow, the chances increase that I don't make 1:30, which would invalidate the whole run in my eyes.

I'll note that.

Anyway, I did three more segments of this prelim run, and I must say I'm generally happy with the result.  The times pan out like this:

=Segment 9 - to Netherrealm - 1:05:44
=Segment 10 - to Foundry - 1:13:18
=Segment 11 - to final save - 1:19:15

I still somehow manage to gain time on each segment this far down the line - in Segment 9 I used double uppercuts rather than the rolling attack (since I don't really have to save health like I will when Kintaro comes) against Goro.  Segment 10's Scorpion fight looked as clean as I could make it.  I'm mostly disappointed with Segment 11, where a jumping mistake near the end cost me about ten seconds.  I did manage a perfect five-kill Multality after breaking the crystals though.

I'll be manually timing the last segment, but I'm optimistic about beating 1:30 in this round.  I might almost want to be more aggressive against Shang Tsung, in order to save time I can use for Kintaro and Shao Kahn - those two will take a while.

Edit: Last segment was completed successfully - and no fatality botches this time.  Being more aggressive against Kintaro was the biggest speed increaser (I almost beat him without prompting his invincible stomp attack), although I got pegged by Shao Kahn's hammer attacks a couple of times.  My stopwatch says I took 7:42 during that segment, which puts my total time at 1:26:57 - which is faster than the time I'd have allowed before immediate recording.

KillerMiller, looks like you were right - around 1:30 is indeed possible.  Recording shall start later tonight, ideally.  I may consider a Kung Lao run after recording the Liu Kang run, but I will not do runs of either Scorpion or Sub-Zero at this time.  Then again, I have other games on which I ought to work.

Edit 2: I actually have recorded Segment 1.  Since the game only shows the hours and minutes when saving, the segment definitely wound up a 4:xx, but that's about all I know, since I don't plan on pausing to show the time.  I only plan to pause if I'm actually buying a new move.  Segment 2 has given me problems due to strategy - if I don't get the sword, and don't make the first long jump by the second try (or the second long jump on the first try), I consider the run of that segment trashed and have to do it over.  I'm not settling for crap this time - the more I allow, the chances increase that I don't make 1:30, which would invalidate the whole run in my eyes.

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-10-21 07:56:13 pm

2005-10-21 06:41:25 pm

Never give up!

Sorry for the double post, but I've been off a few days and I finally got Segment 2 the way I like it.

My save game listed my time as 12 minutes (since it drops the seconds). I've only just now bought my first move (High/Low Fireball), because I just got the experience necessary for it at the end of the segment. The pause at that point, necessary to buy the move, tells me my approximate time at the end (I wasn't right next to the save point when buying the move) is 12 minutes and 40 seconds.... I think that's an improvement from my final practice run.

The only no-brainer mistake I recall making during recording is an accidental early pause in Wu Shi Academy when I tried to skip a cutscene. Even if the game timer took pauses into account, though, it would not have cost even a full second. (I'll take a penalty up to and including 5 seconds for any accidental pauses if it matters THAT much to anyone timing this run, though.) Any other mistakes in the run to this point, to my knowledge, are from miscalculation.

I shall start Segment 3 soon. Thankfully, I'll be editing posts from here if I'm the only one posting.

Update: Segments 3, 4, and 5 have officially been recorded. I didn't track seconds, but my time so far according to the saves is 34 minutes.

Further work on this run shall be delayed until Sunday, because I have to be away from the PS2 this weekend.

Sorry for the double post, but I've been off a few days and I finally got Segment 2 the way I like it.

My save game listed my time as 12 minutes (since it drops the seconds).  I've only just now bought my first move (High/Low Fireball), because I just got the experience necessary for it at the end of the segment.  The pause at that point, necessary to buy the move, tells me my approximate time at the end (I wasn't right next to the save point when buying the move) is 12 minutes and 40 seconds.... I think that's an improvement from my final practice run.

The only no-brainer mistake I recall making during recording is an accidental early pause in Wu Shi Academy when I tried to skip a cutscene.  Even if the game timer took pauses into account, though, it would not have cost even a full second.  (I'll take a penalty up to and including 5 seconds for any accidental pauses if it matters THAT much to anyone timing this run, though.)  Any other mistakes in the run to this point, to my knowledge, are from miscalculation.

I shall start Segment 3 soon.  Thankfully, I'll be editing posts from here if I'm the only one posting.

Update: Segments 3, 4, and 5 have officially been recorded.  I didn't track seconds, but my time so far according to the saves is 34 minutes.

Further work on this run shall be delayed until Sunday, because I have to be away from the PS2 this weekend.

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-10-26 11:57:18 pm

2005-10-26 04:29:14 am

Never give up!

I apologize for a triple post here, but my plan for resuming the recording of this game went a little awry. No, the run did not get taped over, nor did the save file get erased. I just simply forgot to resume on Sunday like I said I would. It is now Tuesday and no progress was made. Whoops.

I'll be recording several segments, maybe even the entire remainder of the run, tomorrow instead.

Also: KillerMiller, I've reviewed that strategy, and it's never actually been that hard for me to get 3 Fatality bars by the time I get to that room. My secret? The seven Tarkata you have to face at the start of the green path - I only knock five into the ceiling, choosing to fight the last two. I'll probably knock four up there in the real run, leaving me to fight three - it might cost me some time there, but I'm still sure I can save time against the Hellbeast in exchange.

Edit: Segments 6, 7, and 8 have just been taped. KillerMiller's strategy worked great against the Hellbeast, so segment 6 was not a problem. Segment 7 went fine until I had to deal with the elemental knights, at which point things got rough. Segment 8 was quite good, I must say. I now stand before Goro, and my time is 59:xx - up to two minutes faster than my previous run. I should be able to get at least three of the four remaining segments done tonight.

Update 2: Segments 9, 10, and 11 have been taped. Other than minor mistakes, there wasn't any real incident until Segment 11, where I struggled a little in the room with the Hellbeast and the hooks. I now stand at the last save point with a time of 1 hour and 15 minutes (1:15:56, precisely, as my check after the save shows).

I apologize for a triple post here, but my plan for resuming the recording of this game went a little awry.  No, the run did not get taped over, nor did the save file get erased.  I just simply forgot to resume on Sunday like I said I would.  It is now Tuesday and no progress was made.  Whoops.

I'll be recording several segments, maybe even the entire remainder of the run, tomorrow instead.

Also: KillerMiller, I've reviewed that strategy, and it's never actually been that hard for me to get 3 Fatality bars by the time I get to that room.  My secret?  The seven Tarkata you have to face at the start of the green path - I only knock five into the ceiling, choosing to fight the last two.  I'll probably knock four up there in the real run, leaving me to fight three - it might cost me some time there, but I'm still sure I can save time against the Hellbeast in exchange.

Edit: Segments 6, 7, and 8 have just been taped.  KillerMiller's strategy worked great against the Hellbeast, so segment 6 was not a problem.  Segment 7 went fine until I had to deal with the elemental knights, at which point things got rough.  Segment 8 was quite good, I must say.  I now stand before Goro, and my time is 59:xx - up to two minutes faster than my previous run.  I should be able to get at least three of the four remaining segments done tonight.

Update 2: Segments 9, 10, and 11 have been taped.  Other than minor mistakes, there wasn't any real incident until Segment 11, where I struggled a little in the room with the Hellbeast and the hooks.  I now stand at the last save point with a time of 1 hour and 15 minutes (1:15:56, precisely, as my check after the save shows).

AquaTiger

2005-10-27 01:12:00 am

Never give up!

Sorry for the quadruple post - I swear this will be my LAST post in a row.

I am writing this to say that I have completed the run successfully. I did not time my last segment, unfortunately, and the game does not show the timer at the end. I can guess, however, that the run is probably in the 1:23:xx range - it's certainly faster than the last practice run.

At this time, I'm planning on timing the segments (only for my own purposes) and figuring out where in proportion to the start of the tape they are. After I do that, I'll capture a copy for myself (so I can make comments), but I can't submit that copy to Radix due to two things: Radix's stress level (which is through the roof, partly thanks to that landlord of his), and the fact I can't upload it from here.

I will instead wait to mail the tape to Nate until Radix's issues are resolved. There is very little that can make me change my mind on this.

KillerMiller

2005-10-27 11:43:32 am

Very nice, I cant wait to see it Grin

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-11-04 08:39:17 pm

2005-11-04 02:52:56 am

Never give up!

All right, in order to make sure I clean up on all the runs I'm willing to make, I'm going to go back and record a run of this game with Kung Lao as my character.

I expect this run to be slower, since Kung Lao's moves aren't designed for moving constantly the way Liu Kang's are. However, I am still going to try and break the 1:30 barrier.

Also: I have not timed the segments from the Liu Kang run yet - I haven't had quite the time I need for that one.

Updates will be made to this post as I progress. I expect this one to be done by the end of Saturday.

Edit: First two segments recorded. The buying route I'm going is for two combo attacks, the Hat Ricochet, and the entire Spin set. My time right now is at 13:xx - about on par with the last of my prelim Liu Kang runs (as in the one before the real run). At least, at this point Kung Lao starts to pick up the speed he lacked for the first segment and the early bit of the second segment.

Edit 2: I began the next two segments, but I sucked at them, and upon realizing I'd overwritten the first two segments I decided to start over. I should be able to get the first two segments done quickly once again.

Edit 3: Back up to having completed the first two segments. Time is still 13:xx, but overall I felt somewhat better about these segments despite one error early in the second segment that cost me maybe five seconds. 13:xx is my limit in these first two segments with Kung Lao, unfortunately, barring some major revelation.

All right, in order to make sure I clean up on all the runs I'm willing to make, I'm going to go back and record a run of this game with Kung Lao as my character.

I expect this run to be slower, since Kung Lao's moves aren't designed for moving constantly the way Liu Kang's are.  However, I am still going to try and break the 1:30 barrier.

Also: I have not timed the segments from the Liu Kang run yet - I haven't had quite the time I need for that one.

Updates will be made to this post as I progress.  I expect this one to be done by the end of Saturday.

Edit: First two segments recorded.  The buying route I'm going is for two combo attacks, the Hat Ricochet, and the entire Spin set.  My time right now is at 13:xx - about on par with the last of my prelim Liu Kang runs (as in the one before the real run).  At least, at this point Kung Lao starts to pick up the speed he lacked for the first segment and the early bit of the second segment.

Edit 2: I began the next two segments, but I sucked at them, and upon realizing I'd overwritten the first two segments I decided to start over.  I should be able to get the first two segments done quickly once again.

Edit 3: Back up to having completed the first two segments.  Time is still 13:xx, but overall I felt somewhat better about these segments despite one error early in the second segment that cost me maybe five seconds.  13:xx is my limit in these first two segments with Kung Lao, unfortunately, barring some major revelation.

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-11-05 01:58:35 pm

2005-11-05 04:17:56 am

Never give up!

All right.

I just completed three more segments of the Kung Lao run, bringing me to the Soul Tombs at 36:xx - roughly two minutes slower than the Liu Kang run.

Frankly, I blame it on segment 5, where I just got so pissed off at the 'training dummy' section that I allowed up to five misses instead of my usual two, AND EVEN THEN I was forced to retry the segment at least twice. Needless to say, I was extremely aggravated. Thankfully, in the successful segment, they all happened on the last series. For some reason Kung Lao is harder to control there than Liu Kang.

I'm just glad that I'm not too far off of my other run.

The thing with Kung Lao is that, if you're trying for speed, bosses are much easier (Spin to launch them and then throw the hat to juggle for an extra 3+ hits) but almost everything else seems more difficult.

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-11-06 03:31:29 am

2005-11-06 03:26:33 am

Never give up!

Your attention please.

Due to aggravating bugs in the game (they cost me 4 whole minutes on what would have been segment 7), as well as seemingly unresponsive controls with Kung Lao, I am CANCELLING my attempts at a Kung Lao run.

Someone else can opt to put up with that frustration. Not me - I have better things to do than repeat segments because of mistakes beyond my control.

I was at 58 minutes at the end of segment 7 - that's 8 minutes slower than my Liu Kang run to that point, and a bug at the priests before the Wastelands ALONE cost me 3 to 5 minutes (apparently, the game RANDOMLY DECIDED I needed to kill ALL the enemies there instead of just the two Shadow Priests). That is just unacceptable by my standards. The run as a whole kept getting plagued by random things that NEVER SEEMED TO HAPPEN when I did the Liu Kang run, which I don't get. I'm not putting up with it.

LASVEGAS

2005-11-06 07:14:55 pm

Hilf Mir

So are you now going to sent the VHS to Radix ?

AquaTiger

Edit history:

AquaTiger: 2005-11-06 07:29:34 pm

2005-11-06 07:27:50 pm

Never give up!

I'm going to let Radix be the judge of whether he's sane enough or interested enough to take it. (That is, assuming he decides to look in here.)

I'm speculating that I'm going to have to wait, though.

Also, a technicality here: Despite the fact the run would be submitted to Radix, the VHS tape itself actually goes to NATE, since he's the one who would process it. Radix would already be irreversibly (well, that's my guess) insane by now if HE had to do the processing all this time. If I somehow said otherwise anywhere in here I'll have to be reminded.

LASVEGAS

2005-11-08 10:45:51 pm

Hilf Mir

No one is accusing you of doing smth wrong with MKSM Run.
One player run (Liu Kang) would be good enough.
For instance you time (~ 1.20 hrs) is quite good.

AquaTiger

2006-02-08 11:42:23 am

Never give up!

Okay, I really hate to revive topics for reasons like this, but I owe people something of an explanation.

Now that the run is up, if anyone is confused by the fact that I claim the run's proof that sub-1:30 is possible, yet the run times out to a little under 1:45.... it's because my comments reference the approximate result of the game timer.

I had suspicions that the timer would be a problem, and I seem to recall bringing up the timer issue with Radix before mailing the run.

Anyway, I'm curious to know what was used as the start and stop points for the timing. If I had to guess, though, I would have guessed that it'd be from character selection to the completion of the final fatality against Shao Kahn.

Bob Smith, III

2006-02-08 03:11:07 pm

Individual segments' timing began once the actual gameplay's fade in began, and ended as soon as the 'loading' screen came up after sitting at a save point.

getter77

2006-02-08 07:43:01 pm

100% runs=great to watch

Quite entertaining! Nice job Aquatiger.....nice job indeed.

Anon

2006-05-08 06:33:47 am

I believe the fastest speedrun could be done in ko-op mode.

The quickest way to defeat any boss is to pick sub-zero and scorpion, basicly any 2 characters with the slam down power move in the air.
Have one character perform jumping power attack, when the enemy bounces on the ground, have player 2 perform an air power attack, keep alternating this attack between player 1 and player 2.

The boss cannot get out of this combo and it is the quickest way to deal damage and build combo exp.