Relatively Short RPG Speedruns?

Copilot

Edit history:

Copilot: 2015-10-11 07:59:56 pm

2015-10-11 07:59:28 pm

Ruling the cosmos!

Hey'all! So I've a question. So I've always had an interest in speedrunning an RPG, the puzzle element of routing one out seems really appealing to me, but sadly I suffer from a short attention span and don't have the patience for an 8 hour speedrun (RIP my goals of speedunning DQIX). So, the request is simple. Could anyone recommend any RPGs that have relatively short speedruns (as far as RPGs go at least, so maybe, like, 3 or 4 hours tops)? And of course, the length could vary, and I could go further. I'm looking for something closer to Chrono Trigger (where it's a lot of things to do, though preferably not as mechanically intensive, I'd prefer primarily menus) than to MMBN5 (just running around for 5 hours, doing a single battle every half hour or so), though also one that's at least relatively glitchless, or at least has an interesting glitchless category. Any suggestions?

Thread title:

Tide

2015-10-11 08:23:53 pm

Insanity Prelude

Rudyxx was compiling a list of short rpgs - could check with him at some point. The ones I'm aware of:

SMRPG - (~3:00:XX). SNES classic. Has mixture of platforming elements behind it's RPG gameplay. Main obstacle is learning how to do 100 Super Jumps consistently and then doing them on multiple different bosses.

Wild ARMS (~1:45:XX). PS1 Vanilla cult classic. The route utilizes a variety of crazy glitches to skip major sequences in the game.

Valkyrie Profile 2 (~2:30:XX). PS2 Sequel to VP1. Has platforming elements. This is a very execution heavy game that forces you to play perfectly or near perfectly and you need to know a variety of back ups to prevent your run from dying. It also has a 60% drop that is absolutely required where if you fail to get it, the run is over. If you can get past those points, it is a very cool looking run.

Star Ocean 3 (~3:45:XX). PS2 game that uses ARPG mechanics in battles. On the whole, there are three viable routes, each with their own distinct strengths and weaknesses. The first hour of the game is very challenging because the only way to ensure the run does not suffer a risk of dying is to play it without ever getting hit. Past that, there is also a RNG segment that requires you to make a broken item to finish the rest of the game, but it is more lenient than VP2 in that if you don't succeed, your run can probably still continue. A good portion of this game is about the movement though.

Rudyxx was compiling a list of short rpgs - could check with him at some point. The ones I'm aware of:

SMRPG - (~3:00:XX). SNES classic. Has mixture of platforming elements behind it's RPG gameplay. Main obstacle is learning how to do 100 Super Jumps consistently and then doing them on multiple different bosses.

Wild ARMS (~1:45:XX). PS1 Vanilla cult classic. The route utilizes a variety of crazy glitches to skip major sequences in the game.

Valkyrie Profile 2 (~2:30:XX). PS2 Sequel to VP1. Has platforming elements. This is a very execution heavy game that forces you to play perfectly or near perfectly and you need to know a variety of back ups to prevent your run from dying. It also has a 60% drop that is absolutely required where if you fail to get it, the run is over. If you can get past those points, it is a very cool looking run.

Star Ocean 3 (~3:45:XX). PS2 game that uses ARPG mechanics in battles. On the whole, there are three viable routes, each with their own distinct strengths and weaknesses. The first hour of the game is very challenging because the only way to ensure the run does not suffer a risk of dying is to play it without ever getting hit. Past that, there is also a RNG segment that requires you to make a broken item to finish the rest of the game, but it is more lenient than VP2 in that if you don't succeed, your run can probably still continue. A good portion of this game is about the movement though.

Copilot

2015-10-11 08:29:07 pm

Ruling the cosmos!

Mm, thanks for the suggestions, and I'll definitely see if I can hit Rudyxx up. But like I said, I'm looking for something that's more about strategy and planning than execution, maybe I should say something closer to a Dragon Quest game. Though from that description you gave, Star Ocean 3 does sound pretty fun, so I might look into that.

Tterraj42

2015-10-11 08:39:47 pm

Games!

Quote from Copilot:

I'm looking for something closer to Chrono Trigger (where it's a lot of things to do, though preferably not as mechanically intensive, I'd prefer primarily menus) than to MMBN5 (just running around for 5 hours, doing a single battle every half hour or so)

Hey now, the average is more like one fight every TWO minutes Tongue

but yeah, 5's not the best pick for MMBN anyway. Consider 1 (full RNG manipulation) or 6 (effective use of chips and heatcross). 2 is my personal favorite, just under 3 hours and a very chill run.

Final Fantasy Tactics is a little over your 4 hour range, and can take quite a few resets in chapter 1 to get started. But it's one I highly recommend, though primarily because I love the game. Which more to the point, you should probably pick one of your favorite games (maybe not your favorite game, don't want to grow to hate it), and see if any fit your time range.

Good luck Smiley

Copilot

2015-10-11 08:49:37 pm

Ruling the cosmos!

I mean, Tactics for favorite game ever yo, but that's another matter entirely that I won't go into. But of course, one of the primary issues with Tactics is its heavy use of a glitch to blast you through the game, and I'd like one that's relatively glitchless. Now, of course, that game also keeps you on your toes constantly for various reasons, but again, there are other reasons that I wouldn't run Tactics.

And yeah, maybe I should consider trying out other MMBN games. Maybe it's just because 5 was my favorite casually, so it was kind of a weird hit to see that it wasn't a very good speed game.

Falcon_Punch1001

2015-10-11 08:58:30 pm

Dragon Quest 3 is sub 4 (sub 3 is a good time) and requires pretty extensive planning around random encounters.

revenantkioku

2015-10-11 09:12:23 pm

If dealing with basic Japanese isn't a deal breaker, DQ1 Super Famicom is under 2 hours. I've been running that, getting about 1:50 or so with my best splits adding up to sub 1:40. The GBC version is a bit slower, I think, but English.

Melodia

2015-10-11 10:14:55 pm

FF Mystic Qust, Rhapsody, Bravely Default, FF1 PSP, FFIV (any% or no 64, or PSP version are all under 3:30), FF13-2, LRFF13, SaGa Frontier (any character) and Disgaea D2 all fit.

Copilot

2015-10-11 11:08:33 pm

Ruling the cosmos!

Yo, Melodia in there with the extensive lists, thanks man, I really appreciate that. Little bit surprised to hear that those FF13s are short, but yeah, I'll definitely take all of those into consideration, they all seem like solid suggestions

Copilot

2015-10-11 11:17:03 pm

Ruling the cosmos!

Also, just to be sure, but you do mean Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure for the PS1, right? Just want to be sure, because the word Rhapsody was hard to search alone, and that's the first thing that came up with "Rhapsody game"

Sir VG

2015-10-11 11:41:29 pm

Fucking Weeaboo

Quote from Copilot:

Also, just to be sure, but you do mean Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure for the PS1, right? Just want to be sure, because the word Rhapsody was hard to search alone, and that's the first thing that came up with "Rhapsody game"

Correct. There is a DS remake, but it's nowhere near as good as the original PS1 release.

Tterraj42

2015-10-12 12:02:53 am

Games!

Quote from Copilot:

And yeah, maybe I should consider trying out other MMBN games. Maybe it's just because 5 was my favorite casually, so it was kind of a weird hit to see that it wasn't a very good speed game.

It is the longest of the series, but I wouldn't call it a bad run. If you have interest if any of the games, just send me a PM. We're still working on notes & tutorials for each game, but I can answer any questions.

Sounds like you've got a lot of games to go through now. Have fun Smiley

Copilot

2015-10-12 12:14:33 am

Ruling the cosmos!

Mm, maybe not bad run so much as boring. The liberation missions and just nothing in between.

But yeah, seems like it. This'll be a trip, hopefully something stands out.

Copilot

2015-10-12 12:14:58 am

Ruling the cosmos!

Oh, and thank you Sir VG, 'preciate it. Like your signature, by the way, that's good.

GinTatsu

2015-10-12 03:01:03 am

Rad... They have taken me...

Do a run of Paladin's quest. It's not as well known, takes about 3 hours and isn't currently archived on the site.

presjpolk

2015-10-12 09:02:05 am

HELLO!

Ultima Exodus NES is under 30 minutes now if you really work at getting a route manipulated.

glasnonck

2015-10-12 10:22:54 am

Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic 1 and 2 are both under 2 hours long, but neither are completely glitchless. The first is a bit less glitched than the second, though.

PixelKaye

2015-10-12 11:08:15 am

Very Thanks..!!

Legend of Mana has three different storylines, the shortest being ~1:40:xx RTA, and the longest being ~1:50:xx RTA. I put together a tutorial for Dragon Storyline (the shortest) on Tuesday of last week, but I still need to upload it to youtube, since it got a bit broken up because of Twitch servers being jerks.

rudyxx

Edit history:

rudyxx: 2015-10-12 04:44:49 pm

2015-10-12 04:39:43 pm

I love YaBB 1G - SP1!

I knew this would come in handy one day
http://pastebin.com/KVdKETXY

Tterraj42

2015-10-13 02:42:44 am

Games!

Quote from rudyxx:

I knew this would come in handy one day
http://pastebin.com/KVdKETXY

Nice list.

"Megaman Battle Network 6 < 2 hours"

Current record is a 2:24, so more like 2.5 hours.

BN 1 is approaching 1:30, so could list it as < 1:45

doicm

2015-10-13 10:44:25 am

Child of Light: 1.5 - 2 hours
FF7 PC: 2 - 2.5 hours
Secret of Mana: 2 - 3 hours, depending on # of controllers
Final Fantasy Legend: ~10 minutes.... (heavily glitched)
Mega Man Battle Network 2: < 3 hours
Undertale: 1.5-2.5 hours (I know. That's cheap. It came out recently.)
Earthbound: 1.5-2 hours (glitched)

...to add to the pile.

Copilot

2015-10-13 05:03:32 pm

Ruling the cosmos!

Man, weren't jokin', rudyxx is in there with that huge list, that's awesome man. And to you and doicm, those are both super helpful, and there's a few games on there that I already liked quite a bit casually that I had no idea were that short, so I'll definitley have to check some of those out (especially Hyperdimension Neptunia yo, I'm 10 hours into that game and there's no end in sight, how is that one that short?).

Though, I did start casually playing Rhapsody, and I might keep on doing that, since it didn't look like there were too many folks running it, so that could be fun.

Copilot

2015-10-13 05:09:01 pm

Ruling the cosmos!

Also, dang, y'all are really makin' me want to go back and try to run an MMBN game. I might have to hit up 6, it's been a while but I do remember adoring that game casually (though not quite as much as 5. Liberation missions were the bomb yo)

dangodofthunder

2015-10-14 10:54:58 am

Lufia 2 Any% can be done in about 5 minutes.

slowbro

Edit history:

slowbro: 2015-10-14 12:26:06 pm

slowbro: 2015-10-14 12:19:51 pm

2015-10-14 12:13:20 pm

One cool short thing you can go for is Final Fantasy IV: The After Years individual chapters. Cheesy

I love running Edge's chapter single-segment, though you have to coldly kill off his helpers, and don't forget to set the battle speed to max. One person didn't do that and got their run rejected, probably cause they used my old video as a guide! Sorry.

I've heard of Breath of Fire V being beaten in an hour, but I've got a guess that that is prohibitively difficult and largely about execution.

Oh yeah, there are good, relatively short X360 Indie game RPGs, but it may be quite hard to find verifiers. Some good ones:

Bonded Realities
Breath of Death VII
Cthulhu Saves the World
Penny Arcade 3
Penny Arcade 4
Doom and Destiny
Aphelion
Aphelion 2