If I had time, I probably could do it, or at least try. The only problems I think I'd encounter would be the tower with the gear chasing you, Slogra and possibly Dracula. Since it would have to be single segment, those parts near the end that might go either way could be a problem.
But like I said, free time is a factor. I find it tough enough to finishing encoding stuff for my current runs.
I've got a wicked-fast (well, not wicked fast, but pretty fast nonetheless) speed for the first 5 levels of the game, and I'm pretty quick at levels 6-8 (except for the damned shifting-blocks segment at the end of level 8 ), but I tend to die on level 9. If I can get to level A without dying, I'm more or less set, but 9 can be a bitch.
The level I'm most worried about is level 8. I'm terrible at that level. Level 9 wasn't hard for me. I've played the last level so much, it shouldn't faze me. Today, I beat the first three stages in about 11 minutes without dying. I need to improve upon that.
Level 8 is actually pretty easy, especially when you get the timing right. You can almost completely skip the area where you have to work your way down by dropping in a few of the right places. A few seconds tops. As for the shifting platforms, you should be able to clear the gap with a nicely timed hop across the middle platform, that is, once it appears.
B2 and B3 were always my bitches when playing normally. I didn't like some of those jumps in B2 because sometimes the game doesn't register your jumps right. Stupid game. ^^;;
The level I'm most worried about is level 8. I'm terrible at that level. Level 9 wasn't hard for me. I've played the last level so much, it shouldn't faze me. Today, I beat the first three stages in about 11 minutes without dying. I need to improve upon that.
Methinks a good enough run would be entering Level 4 at 10 minutes; I usually enter L4 at 10:25 or 10:30. The breaking point is, of course, the shifting platforms in L8, and then the second one is the First Fiend in B-3, in which battle randomness tends to determine whether you live or die.
A side note: Assuming a perfect run of the first three blocks, is it faster to throw yourself off the cliff at the beginning of B-4 and get rid of all that time on the clock?
A side note: Assuming a perfect run of the first three blocks, is it faster to throw yourself off the cliff at the beginning of B-4 and get rid of all that time on the clock?
In-game time doesn't matter in the last level, since timing ends after you get the red crystal. So unless you're really fricken low on life or hearts, there's no benefit to committing suicide, since you'll have a weak whip, no powerup, and no double-triple shot. Yes you can get them fairly fast from the beginning of the level (the secret ledge) but that still costs time. You can get some kinda meat from one of the candles after going up the stairs.
A question that's always bothered me... the boomerang with triple shot would have to be a must... except when fighting Zapf Bat. Is there a fast way to beat the dude besides just whipping up and the axe? Would it be beneficial to pick up an axe only to have to work up your boomerang later to triple shot?
I recorded my time on the first stage. I beat it in approximately 2 minutes and 53 seconds. 15 of those seconds were used getting into the level (with the drawbridge). The only thing that messed me up were those Medusa heads.
I'm taking a break in speedrunning for a while. Because the first few levels are driving me absolutely insane. I actually seem to do better on Stage A then I do Stage 3. I'm taking a break so I can keep my sanity.
As for now, I am not going to finish my run on this game. I have been playing too much and I have gotten so frustrated I almost threw the controller at the TV. It is a good game, but I just don't have the patience to do a run on a game like this.
I'm starting on this run again. Tonight I tried a run and I got to level 8 in about 35 minutes. I kept dying on level 3, so I know I can pull it up a bunch.
Here is my status so far....
Stage 1- Have this level down packed
Stage 2- I occasionally get grabbed by hand, but nothing too significant
Stage 3- This is the level I have the most trouble on. The climb up the waterfall gets me into a lot of perils. As for the boss, it takes me about 20 seconds max to kill him. I know I can improve.
Stage 4- I have this level down packed too. I can kill both of the bosses in less than 5 to 12 seconds.
Stage 5- Also got this down packed
Stage 6- In this stage, I change my sub-weapon from boomerang to holy water. This helps me defeat the knights easier. I always have to destroy the blobs though, so that kinda slows me down.
Stage 7- I keep the holy water to dispose of the knights quickly. In the second room, I jump down the stairs. With the 3 stone and Holy water, the boss can be beaten in about 7 seconds.
Hiya! It's me again. I did a run on levels 6 through B today. Here is how it went.
Stage 6- A good run with few mistakes
Stage 7- Same as above
Stage 8- I actually did very well on this level! I lost my Holy Water because when I jumped through the stairs, I hit a spike trap ;_;. I used the boomerang against Frankenstein though.
I learned something interesting in stage 8. Did you know that if you walk under the shooting spikes (the ones near the end that shoot out from the ceiling) while crouching, you won't get hit?
Stage 9- >_>, Ok.. this is the level I need to work on the most. I died so many times through this level. Before I said I didn't have a problem with this level, but that was when I was playing it normally. I forgot to pick up the axe, so the boss took awhile to kill. Need improvment
Stage A- I did pretty good on this level. The boss slowed me down though. He took a while to kill because I didn't have a sub-weapon.
Stage B- Pretty good. I killed Slogra without too much of a problem. I forgot to pick up the axe, so it took me about 45 seconds to beat Gaimon. Death took about a minute to beat. I got careless and cocky while fighting Dracula and got killed.
That is it. I plan to work on it some more (especially Level 9). If you want to give me any comments or criticism, please let me know.
It's me, Wesley Dees. I'm now a member of this site *auplause* I tried another run today, and did good. Until in level 4-4, I was crawling up and a bat hit me and knocked me back and I got crushed. Death to bats everywhere, especially the Zapf Bat (ohh. thats me!)
Just a tip, but I think practicing this game will be a lot easier if you practice it level by level (i.e. do it on emulator and use savestates at the beginning of levels). A lot of people try to run games like this to make it slightly easier.
Just in case you didn't know.
Oh, and I'm playing through bloodlines, kind of working on a speedrun, which is of course the genesis counterpart to castlevania IV. I can understand your pain at certain points, as both games can be incredibly frustrating.