SNES Monthly Contest: November - Super Metroid and Super Mario AS - The Lost Levels (CLOSED)
Going forward the competition will have two games running at a time. They are separate leaderboards, with their own points awarded. You can compete in one or the other, or both.
November Game #1: Super Metroid
Rules
Rules
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November Game #1: Super Metroid
Rules
- Goal -> Progress
- Tiebreaker -> Completion time
- Tiebreaker #2 -> if needed, we'll figure out something for items and upgrades acquired
- Working out who is further than who will be a WIP. We'll probably have to handle it on a case by case basis if needed
- If you beat the game, get the pic of your clear time (obviously)
- No glitches or other exploits allowed. Legitimately clear the entire game.
- Completion % doesn't matter, other than possibly as the 2nd tiebreaker
Rules
- Goal -> High Score
- One life only
- Use Mario or Luigi
- Turtle tipping is allowed
- Backwards warps, or other such exploits are forbidden
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Comments
I never got around to posting my SGnG progress but I wouldn't have been on the board anyway. Definitely need to get a run in on this tonight.
Only got to play once more. Improved by 1 minute.
189,000 level 3-1 checkpoint. Control is so stiff in this game compared to the newer Mario games.
Question, for Metroid are you allowing glitch runs? Since it's technically possible to beat in like 10 minutes glitching through doors and such, would you allow that or is this strictly play through the game 'normally'? Personally, I can't do the glitches but thought I would ask.
I never got around to posting my SGnG progress but I wouldn't have been on the board anyway. Definitely need to get a run in on this tonight.
Nope, has to be a legit clear. I'll update the rules.
Nevermind, read the updated rule... seems pretty clear that it will not be allowed.
Love me some Super Metroid, although I've never made a dedicated "speed run" attempt at it. In fact, I think part of what has always made this game so incredible for me is the amazing atmosphere and sense of exploration. It's like a genuine alien world where everything is strange and you never quite know what to expect. It's been a few years since I last played it, so I was definitely rusty. I got turned around in Norfair, the Wrecked Ship and Maridia a time or two just trying to remember where things are. Even though I felt that rushing through the game was doing it a disservice, I'll certainly make another attempt to trim my time down. I can maybe shave off 20 minutes or so, with all the uncessary backtracking I did this time but finishing it in anything under that is probably beyond my current skill/memorization level. Still, happy for any excuse to return to this classic game. One of my all-time favorites.
Update: Well, shaved some good time off my run this go-around. I still ended up wasting a few minutes in Maridia, once for getting turned around and once for having to farm for missiles before the Draygon fight. Also, I could probably save more time if I could figure out how to master the wall jump. Even in my younger years, I've always had trouble getting the wall jump (and even Space Jump) to behave consistently. Sometimes it simply doesn't respond to my inputs, even though I seem to be doing exactly what I'm supposed to. Sometimes, Samus will just plummet like a stone in the middle of space jumping and no amount of button-work will break her out of it. Not sure if that has anything to do with the game's programming or if it's just my obliviousness.
Update 2: With the help of research/prep and using a map to plot the most efficient routes between places, I expected to shave a bit of time off my last run but I didn't expect to get it down as much as I did. It's all about cutting corners at that stage. Trying to make every step count. And while I got a teeny, tiny bit better at wall-jumping thanks to a little practice, that's still the biggest barrier to getting through certain sections quickly. I realized after some practice sessions that I would ultimately end up wasting more time than I would save when my wall-jumping chains would inevitabley fail. So, let's just call this a "no wall-jump" run. And I think that's what separates the men from the boys in the world of Super Metroid speed-running. With hardened reflexes and reliable hardware (one of the reasons I ended up abandoning the Wii Virtual Console version for my playthroughs was the occasional lag and/or dropped input inherent in the wireless connection), you can cut serious minutes off the game. Regardless, I think I've cut it down to about as efficient as I can get without becoming a wall-jump fiend and all this time spent looking at the game through new eyes has only deepened my appreciation for it. It's just brilliantly designed all around and I think the fact that people still host serious competitions around it today speaks of it's timeless qualities.
Super Mario All-Stars - 628,800
Running no-death in Lost Levels is tricky in a few places, particularly if you're not familiar with the gimmicks a couple of the stages try to pull on you that can make progress impossible if you're not careful. I tend to call these sort of difficulty curve balls "Mega Man syndrome". The sort of things that are designed to be almost impossible to avoid without knowing they're coming (which a first-time player won't). I don't generally care for this kind of design but thankfully Mario games are so charming that it's easily forgiven. And the fact that I've played the mess out of All-Stars for more than 20 years probably helps temper my criticism.
Lost Levels isn't my favorite of the classic Marios by a long shot but it was fun to get back to it. I've never beaten it, although I have gotten as far as World 8 before. On single life though? Seems 4-3 is as far as I can go. Still, a pretty good score, I think.
Please note that I am waiving this rule this year. This literally only affects bimmy, and I shouldn't punish him for his comittment. The idea was to give everyone a chance to take a break at some point, or get a free pass from having to seek out one of the more expensive titles. I will re-visit for 2017
First Time I ever beat this so thats why im slow
I had no super missiles for final mother brain. Was trapped in Final Boss Section since I saved. Boss turned into a huge pain in the ass.
Super Mario Allstars 189,650
Im so much better at mario when I play loose and dont give a shit. This 1 death business makes it harder than it actually is. Mario 1 just sucks ass. Lost Levels isnt really that much harder to me. The shit mechanics hold you back.
Originally posted by: Brock Landers
At the end of the year everyone will have their lowest score dropped. Effectively, you get a free pass to be terrible at or skip one game, with no consequences.
Please note that I am waiving this rule this year. This literally only affects bimmy, and I shouldn't punish him for his comittment. The idea was to give everyone a chance to take a break at some point, or get a free pass from having to seek out one of the more expensive titles. I will re-visit for 2017
Not sure if you are doing 1 or 2 games next year, but maybe taking the best 10 months would be a good rule next year. That would allow people to skip a month if busy etc.
Also, I would suggest having some spacing in points between the top 3 or 5.
At the end of the year everyone will have their lowest score dropped. Effectively, you get a free pass to be terrible at or skip one game, with no consequences.
Please note that I am waiving this rule this year. This literally only affects bimmy, and I shouldn't punish him for his comittment. The idea was to give everyone a chance to take a break at some point, or get a free pass from having to seek out one of the more expensive titles. I will re-visit for 2017
Not sure if you are doing 1 or 2 games next year, but maybe taking the best 10 months would be a good rule next year. That would allow people to skip a month if busy etc.
Also, I would suggest having some spacing in points between the top 3 or 5.
you can make top 5 get 10,9,8,7,6 then 2 points for like 6-10. 1 point participation
Yes, two games a month again. And the "drop lowest month" is interesting. I will think about it.
Also, a question about the Super Metroid rules. Are we allowed a certain amount of deaths before our run is over?
Originally posted by: bimmy_lee
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Love the avatar change.
Super disappointing first run.
which game do we play in super mario all stars? smb1?
The Lost Levels. Thread title.
which game do we play in super mario all stars? smb1?
The Lost Levels. Thread title.
k thx
Super disappointing first run.
good god. thats fast. you must have beaten this a bunch and know all the necessary and unnessary parts already.
Super disappointing first run.
good god. thats fast. you must have beaten this a bunch and know all the necessary and unnessary parts already.
Ha, kind of. My best is probably just under an hour and a half? I honestly got lost in this run because I was drinking and just started collecting items. It's by far my favorite game of all time. I'm sure I've beaten it like 20+ times.
The contest is probably already near over on the 4th day of the month if you can already do that buzzkill
I was honestly expecting NA to kick my ass.
I mean unless there is a speed runner or someone who has the game memorized like you that you probably might not get alot better. Especially since you literally have the entire month to take it serious after your self admitted buzzed goofing off run was already very quick.
Just depends on who decides to randomly join the year long contest this month. Probably are alot of people that can beat that , just depends if they want to put in the effort after not being in the contests all year. Depends on who sees the thread and has time.
But NA has way more hardcore NES players than SNES. In an NES comp youll usually have high skill level players at everything. SNES , not as many.