Phantasy Star IV

2014-05-13 12:20:45 pm

Leader of Starbirdia!

I've played this game since it first came out, created a shrine for it on RPGClassics.com, wrote a guide for it on gamefaqs, and even printed and bound my own 135 page strategy guide. I've got a normal run down to a science. I am shooting for an overall goal of 3:30-4:00 for the run on segmented, with anything better than that bonus at this point.

The thing I'm discovering is that my mind doesn't want to work as quick as it used to, so optimizing button inputs is actually causing me to reset more than actually going through the game.

Right now, I'm trying to optimize from Tonoe up to the Sandworm. I know that I'm going to have to upgrade equipment in Aiedo, and since I'm not hitting the Plate System, that means I would have to get the Struggle-Ax for Gryz and probably at least one Saber Claw for Rika

MrStarbird

2014-05-13 06:57:43 pm

Leader of Starbirdia!

I am also discovering through this game the pains of speedrunning a segmented run. I swear the power button on my Model 2 is going to be broken by the time this speedrun is done. I'm such a nervous and antsy person that my fingers act before I have a chance to think :p I must have recorded 20-30 segments just to get one decent segment from Tonoe up until Iglanova 2.

I still feel like my time may be behind for leaving Motavia in 1 hour. After the Iglanova 2 fight, I'm currently standing at 19:33 (not including the segment penalty that SDA puts on, which I believe would be a 2 seconds for 4 saves so far) with Chaz and Hahn at Level 6, which should be enough to get me by the Sandworm.

Because of the randomness of battles and no humanly possible way to avoid them, I've calculated between 25-28 segments (28 if I do Fissue of Fear and if I decide to get some gear for Wren at the Weapon Plant and if I split the Air Castle into two, which I probably will) will be needed. I have four down, so I'm getting there.

I am also discovering through this game the pains of speedrunning a segmented run. I swear the power button on my Model 2 is going to be broken by the time this speedrun is done. I'm such a nervous and antsy person that my fingers act before I have a chance to think :p  I must have recorded 20-30 segments just to get one decent segment from Tonoe up until Iglanova 2.

I still feel like my time may be behind for leaving Motavia in 1 hour. After the Iglanova 2 fight, I'm currently standing at 19:33 (not including the segment penalty that SDA puts on, which I believe would be a 2 seconds for 4 saves so far) with Chaz and Hahn at Level 6, which should be enough to get me by the Sandworm.

Because of the randomness of battles and no humanly possible way to avoid them, I've calculated between 25-28 segments (28 if I do Fissue of Fear and if I decide to get some gear for Wren at the Weapon Plant and if I split the Air Castle into two, which I probably will) will be needed. I have four down, so I'm getting there.

krevett

2014-05-15 02:41:46 pm

That's why I didn't try to speedrun the game despite being my favorite one, I'm not patient enough!
Give us some feedback here as you'll progress in the game, I'll be looking at it Smiley

Thanks!!

Adgey

2014-05-15 04:12:44 pm

Almost got Dezolis route down. Thanks for reminding me of the Fissure of Fear quest I completely forgot about it. That saved me like 5 minutes right there at least. I'm pretty sure under 3:00 can be done SS now. I might get a run completed within a couple weeks maybe. By the way is the sega mega drive classic ps3 version of the game legitimate? Or do I need to play it on the original console when I start recording.

MrStarbird

2014-05-15 04:15:32 pm

Leader of Starbirdia!

I got through the Bio-Lab in under 4 minutes with only 5 battles, one of which was a back attack. Ran safely from them all first try. Got the Ceramic Sword and that was it. Saved after the cutscene.

I'm trying to plan ahead a bit for the Sandworm battle and I think that a little grinding for Rika may be in order so that she can at least get Double Slash (thankfully she levels fast). I'm also tempted to hit the Sandworm AFTER going to Kadary so that I can get the Laser Slasher for Alys, thus making her Vortex stronger.

In some test fights with the Sandworm, I am finding my normal attacks miss a lot. I may have to waste a turn and throw out Hahn's Vision as well as Alys' Saner in order to stay alive. I have the Wood Cane and some Dimates, which will probably end up being used by Gryz and then Alys after she uses up Vortex. Even with some updated Ceramic equipment for everybody, the Sandworm still hits like a tank. 1489 HP is a lot to go through, but if I had enough Dimates and as long as Hahn doesn't get hit, it should take me about 14-15 rounds, depending.

Adgey, I'm not sure what if that would qualify or not. I don't see why it wouldn't unless the framerate is a bit faster on the PS3/X360/WiiVC version. I'm using the original genesis cart for my recordings. Let me know when you've finished recording. I'd love to see a SS speedrun of this game and could even help verify the validity of the run.

I got through the Bio-Lab in under 4 minutes with only 5 battles, one of which was a back attack. Ran safely from them all first try. Got the Ceramic Sword and that was it. Saved after the cutscene.

I'm trying to plan ahead a bit for the Sandworm battle and I think that a little grinding for Rika may be in order so that she can at least get Double Slash (thankfully she levels fast). I'm also tempted to hit the Sandworm AFTER going to Kadary so that I can get the Laser Slasher for Alys, thus making her Vortex stronger.

In some test fights with the Sandworm, I am finding my normal attacks miss a lot. I may have to waste a turn and throw out Hahn's Vision as well as Alys' Saner in order to stay alive. I have the Wood Cane and some Dimates, which will probably end up being used by Gryz and then Alys after she uses up Vortex. Even with some updated Ceramic equipment for everybody, the Sandworm still hits like a tank. 1489 HP is a lot to go through, but if I had enough Dimates and as long as Hahn doesn't get hit, it should take me about 14-15 rounds, depending.

Adgey, I'm not sure what if that would qualify or not. I don't see why it wouldn't unless the framerate is a bit faster on the PS3/X360/WiiVC version. I'm using the original genesis cart for my recordings. Let me know when you've finished recording. I'd love to see a SS speedrun of this game and could even help verify the validity of the run.

krevett

Edit history:

krevett: 2014-05-16 10:40:09 am

krevett: 2014-05-16 10:37:48 am

2014-05-16 01:41:05 am

It is even possible to go through the bio-lab without a single battle but it will happen 1 time for 1000 tries!
You're right you'll probably have to waste your first turn casting saner and vision otherwise Chaz and Gryz will often miss the sandworm with their attacks.

By the way where are you from Adgey?
I think the ps3 version will be accepted (perhaps with it's own category if there's a difference in the framerate) because other old games have been played on recent systems like ps3 or wii.

Edit : I'll be glad to help verify the validity of the run it would be the first time for me Wink

MrStarbird

2014-05-17 01:38:16 pm

Leader of Starbirdia!

well, I can kill the Sandworm just fine, but recording for it is another thing. It seems at this point, no matter what I do, I reach a certain point where my recording drops about 100 frames which causes me to have to start over... I really hope this doesn't become an issue around the Air Castle.

CosmykTheDolfyn

2014-05-18 12:59:13 pm

NowOwnsAFreaking Plane

This is amazing. I considered running this as I loved the game, but I only have the original Genesis cart. I'd never have the patience to run this. Segmented makes so much more sense, the save system really doesn't bode well for a single segment of this game. The Lashiec battle scares me even in a normal playthrough, good luck getting through that with low levels.

MrStarbird

2014-05-19 01:15:02 pm

Leader of Starbirdia!

I actually have to restart this run considering my recordings are not good at all. it is one that takes too much patience. Lashiec isn't too hard if you prepare for him (he is actually very weak to fire, making the Flame Sword and Napalm Shot viable against him).

krevett

2014-05-20 08:46:24 am

Are you recordings no good because of video quality or because you feel you can get better segments?
Can you give us some of your times just to have an idea of the run?
Thanks!

MrStarbird

2014-05-20 03:05:53 pm

Leader of Starbirdia!

I think it is the video quality but I cannot be too sure. I need to rethink strategies anyway, and I have been practicing both this and Landstalker at the same time.

Segment 1: 5:28 from opening sequence to just after talking with the Principal a 2nd time
Segment 2: 3:20 from end of Segment 1 up to getting Rune
Segment 3: 6:12 from end of Segment 2 up to entering Tonoe a 2nd time, did some Grinding until Alys was Level 8
Segment 4: 4:33 from end of Segment 3 up to end of Iglanova 2 battle
Segment 5: 3:44 from end of Segment 4 up to Bio Plant explosion.
Segment 6: 4:14 from end of Segment 5, through Wreckage (for gear), to Aiedo, buying to Dimates and Telepipes, resting at Alys' house, getting the Sandworm Quest and the 1000 Meseta, stopping in front of armory (because every time I entered the armory to get gear, I would lose about 100 frames for some unknown reason). Also had one battle to level up Rika to 2.

So up before the Sandworm I am sitting at 27:31 or so with Alys at 8, Chaz/Gryz/Hahn at 6, and Rika at 2.

I think it is the video quality but I cannot be too sure. I need to rethink strategies anyway, and I have been practicing both this and Landstalker at the same time.

Segment 1: 5:28 from opening sequence to just after talking with the Principal a 2nd time
Segment 2: 3:20 from end of Segment 1 up to getting Rune
Segment 3: 6:12 from end of Segment 2 up to entering Tonoe a 2nd time, did some Grinding until Alys was Level 8
Segment 4: 4:33 from end of Segment 3 up to end of Iglanova 2 battle
Segment 5: 3:44 from end of Segment 4 up to Bio Plant explosion.
Segment 6: 4:14 from end of Segment 5, through Wreckage (for gear), to Aiedo, buying to Dimates and Telepipes, resting at Alys' house, getting the Sandworm Quest and the 1000 Meseta, stopping in front of armory (because every time I entered the armory to get gear, I would lose about 100 frames for some unknown reason). Also had one battle to level up Rika to 2.

So up before the Sandworm I am sitting at 27:31 or so with Alys at 8, Chaz/Gryz/Hahn at 6, and Rika at 2.

krevett

2014-05-29 10:10:13 am

Hi Adgey and MrStarbird just passing by Wink

Any progress within your respective runs?
See ya!

MrStarbird

2014-05-29 05:05:10 pm

Leader of Starbirdia!

haven't had much success any further, mainly because I keep getting lost frames when recording. I needed a little break from it as well but may come back to it in a bit. worked on Landstalker for a bit as well, might attempt Bonanza Bros. as well.

Been busy with house hunting so yeah, it's been on the back burner.

HiddenDistance

2014-08-10 12:22:17 am

Hi all,

It seems as though I missed this thread when I started playing around with trying to route/run this game a little while back, and was pointed here earlier today. I did a 100% (all the side quests + android skills) RTA run of PSIV with a few party wipes throughout.

I haven't done any speedrunning with other RPGs, and my experience with routing for them was nil before starting. That said, I designed it around something that was safer than a lot of the stuff I had seen relating to either the TAS (obviously), underflow, or the segmented strats I'd read up on in other places given that this was intended to be done in real time with minor tolerance for resetting/once in a blue moon strats. I figured I'd start here, then optimize down if it's something I wanted to put substantially more time into. I'm not that confident in the resulting end time of the run, I lost a lot to some unfortunate deaths, and my play/menuing was a tad on the shoddy side, but it is what it is for a first effort. Total time was 5:52:03 - http://www.twitch.tv/hiddendistance/c/4870895

Hi all,

It seems as though I missed this thread when I started playing around with trying to route/run this game a little while back, and was pointed here earlier today.  I did a 100% (all the side quests + android skills) RTA run of PSIV with a few party wipes throughout.

I haven't done any speedrunning with other RPGs, and my experience with routing for them was nil before starting.  That said, I designed it around something that was safer than a lot of the stuff I had seen relating to either the TAS (obviously), underflow, or the segmented strats I'd read up on in other places given that this was intended to be done in real time with minor tolerance for resetting/once in a blue moon strats.  I figured I'd start here, then optimize down if it's something I wanted to put substantially more time into.  I'm not that confident in the resulting end time of the run, I lost a lot to some unfortunate deaths, and my play/menuing was a tad on the shoddy side, but it is what it is for a first effort.  Total time was 5:52:03 - http://www.twitch.tv/hiddendistance/c/4870895

krevett

2014-08-11 06:00:30 am

Glad to see someone is still working on this Smiley

I'll have a look at your run thanks!

discoransom

2014-09-27 11:17:26 pm

Hello, I did some work on this game a couple years ago. I lost most of my stuff, but found a couple things. I hope this thread from gamefaqs is helpful in some way. http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/563334-phantasy-star-iv/61457436. It's a lot of rambling but there may be good nuggets in there.

Here is a 2-part video that ends at about 25 minutes, after beating the Sandworm. Not sure if this is of any use, but here you are

1.
2.

discoransom

2014-09-27 11:43:34 pm

Found 2 more parts, cleared Ladea Tower in ~45min with plenty of room for improvement, includes going out of the way for a couple of Dews and upgrading Demi

3.

4.

discoransom

2014-09-27 11:47:38 pm

ah ha ha, Krevett, I remember talking to you about this game years ago. I see we both ran out of time/patience Smiley

So much regret that I didn't finish this run. Perhaps I'll get some time, I still think about it.

discoransom

2014-09-27 11:51:32 pm

Quote from MrStarbird:

I am also discovering through this game the pains of speedrunning a segmented run. I swear the power button on my Model 2 is going to be broken by the time this speedrun is done. I'm such a nervous and antsy person that my fingers act before I have a chance to think :p I must have recorded 20-30 segments just to get one decent segment from Tonoe up until Iglanova 2.

I still feel like my time may be behind for leaving Motavia in 1 hour. After the Iglanova 2 fight, I'm currently standing at 19:33 (not including the segment penalty that SDA puts on, which I believe would be a 2 seconds for 4 saves so far) with Chaz and Hahn at Level 6, which should be enough to get me by the Sandworm.

Because of the randomness of battles and no humanly possible way to avoid them, I've calculated between 25-28 segments (28 if I do Fissue of Fear and if I decide to get some gear for Wren at the Weapon Plant and if I split the Air Castle into two, which I probably will) will be needed. I have four down, so I'm getting there.

Yes, the planet must be left in under an hour! Definitely a good goal to shoot for, and I wouldn't accept less from an official speedrun. Entering Air Castle at 1:45 is properly ambitious as well. Save scumming is critical, though it feels cheap. There is room for aesthetics, but the work is much harder. Most segments require many dozens of attempts.

[quote="MrStarbird"]I am also discovering through this game the pains of speedrunning a segmented run. I swear the power button on my Model 2 is going to be broken by the time this speedrun is done. I'm such a nervous and antsy person that my fingers act before I have a chance to think :p  I must have recorded 20-30 segments just to get one decent segment from Tonoe up until Iglanova 2.

I still feel like my time may be behind for leaving Motavia in 1 hour. After the Iglanova 2 fight, I'm currently standing at 19:33 (not including the segment penalty that SDA puts on, which I believe would be a 2 seconds for 4 saves so far) with Chaz and Hahn at Level 6, which should be enough to get me by the Sandworm.

Because of the randomness of battles and no humanly possible way to avoid them, I've calculated between 25-28 segments (28 if I do Fissue of Fear and if I decide to get some gear for Wren at the Weapon Plant and if I split the Air Castle into two, which I probably will) will be needed. I have four down, so I'm getting there.[/quote]

Yes, the planet must be left in under an hour!  Definitely a good goal to shoot for, and I wouldn't accept less from an official speedrun.  Entering Air Castle at 1:45 is properly ambitious as well.  Save scumming is critical, though it feels cheap.  There is room for aesthetics, but the work is much harder.  Most segments require many dozens of attempts.

krevett

2014-09-28 03:08:54 am

Hi discor great to see you again Wink

I'll take a look at your vids when I get some spare time! This is one of the game I'd really like to see on speed demo archives but seeing all these attempts leading to waste really proves the challenge of beating the game fast and reliably (for those tempted to run it single-segment). I didn't run out of patience it's just that I'm not a runner just a fan of what you guys are able to do, and keeping this thread alive will perhaps lead one day to a completed speed run Smiley

Good luck if you get back onto it, I come back to this thread from time to time to see if there's some feedback...

RedArremer

Edit history:

RedArremer: 2014-09-28 11:08:34 pm

2014-09-28 10:49:34 pm

Yeah, sadly (optimized) single segment will probably never happen. I think every runner will stumble into the issue of the game just not being fun to actually run, even though it's an excellent game casually. Gotta hand it to the coders - they made it so that the only way to exploit the game's mechanics is 100% luck dependent lol. No love for speedrunners.

discoransom

2014-09-28 11:45:54 pm

Quote from RedArremer:

Yeah, sadly (optimized) single segment will probably never happen. I think every runner will stumble into the issue of the game just not being fun to actually run, even though it's an excellent game casually. Gotta hand it to the coders - they made it so that the only way to exploit the game's mechanics is 100% luck dependent lol. No love for speedrunners.

Yeah, single segment is especially brutal in PSIV. So many trials that the luck always evens out. And like you said there are very few exploits. However for a segmented run, there are so many possibilities with different routes and different gear/character setups, plus macros for the fights, that it's a great and challenging puzzle. I spent months on it in 2012 and wasn't close to a satisfactory run.

krevett

2014-09-29 03:06:35 am

That's what I always thought of, only segmented-run are possible with this game, otherwise you lose too much time grinding EXP to avoid death against late bosses or random battles where you cannot escape twice in a row!
But I think as discor said that segmented is doable without a doubt but it requires patience (too much perhaps?) because even short segments can go really bad without a bit of luck (especially the number of random battles, for example the bio-plant can be done without encountering a single ennemy, but 95% of the time you'll get between 3-6 random encounters) and for bosses segment you can have great luck for the dungeon and bad luck in the boss sequence of attacks...

MrStarbird

2014-09-29 05:37:02 am

Leader of Starbirdia!

I only wish there were some sort of glitch in it like there is for Phantasy Star II that could make the game a bit easier to deal with. I know of Underflowing, but that in itself is tricky and nearly impossible. The creators really knew their stuff when they coded this game.

discoransom

2014-09-29 10:45:51 pm

Did some work tonight and found that Earth-locking Igglanova 1 is 10 seconds faster than a great non-Earth fight. But you have to set an extra macro, losing a few seconds. So you save around 7.

Each unwanted encounter that you run from dings you 4 seconds if all goes well. I'd allow 1 encounter for the first segment, which does the whole basement and saves as soon as you get to the overworld. Zero encounters plus a great Earthlocked Igglanova is incredibly unlikely. I'd say that if you're striking the killing blow at 3:35, that's quite good.