Movie Information

Lufia 2 is the sequel of the Lufia 1 game, but actually takes place before that game. Since Lufia 1 was not released in Europe and Australia, Lufia 2 was simply called "Lufia" in those parts. Next to some fresh new graphics and sound, an improved interface and a cheesy storyline, this game introduces the new "IP system". Ikari Points (IP) represent how angry your character is, and allow for some devestating special attacks. These were abused alot in this movie.
The movie was recorded using the USA rom, due to the timing differences between NTSC and PAL. This almost saves half an hour on the total movie length. While the USA rom also introduces an interesting "level 0 glitch", it was not used in this movie.
Recorded using Snes9x 1.43+ improvement9.
Emulator Sync Settings:
  • Use WIP1 Timing - ON
  • Allow Left+Right / Up+Down - OFF
  • Volume Envelope Height Reading - OFF
  • Fake Mute desync workaround - OFF
  • Sync samples with sound CPU - OFF
Movie Goals:
  • Aims for fastest time.
  • Abuses programming errors in the game.
  • Manipulates luck.

Tricks Used:

Hook Trick:
Shooting the hook while standing against a wall has a really short animation, shorter that most other actions including the walking of monsters. This allows you to walk next to mosters while not getting into battle with them, since they're lagging behind. This is also used as a fast method to manipulate luck.
Avoiding Random Encounters:
I suppose you could guess it from watching the movie, but bringing up the menu resets the 'steps taken' memory address which allows you to completely skip every random encounter on the world map.

Luck Manipulation

I could really write a book about this, but I'll try to keep it short.
To determine randomness, the game used 55 pseudorandom numbers. Every time a random number is used, an internal counter increases. When this counter reaches 54, a new set of random numbers are generated through bitwise XOR operations.
In other words, the randomness is completely deterministic. The only way to manipulate luck is through pulling different amount of numbers from the RNG, which translates in the game to bumbing into a wall, grabbing a chest or using a potion/healing spell. I tried to keep these manipulations as subtle as possible, but especially in the first 30 minutes of the run involve heavy luck manipulation which isn't always as subtle looking as it should be.

Tough parts / Flaws

This movie is not perfect. Especially the luck manipulation parts were really random and could probably be improved with a better understand of the RNG. That said, here are a few parts of the movie that could probably be improved:
  • Faster luck manipulation on the Eagle Stone drop in the Lake Cave.
  • Skipping the Hi-Potion chest and possibly the Witch Ring.
  • Not grabbing the Jute Helm in Camu's Tower. (luck manipulation was used to avoid confusion against Amon and Daos)
  • Less healing in the Clown battles, since the next fight against Gades involves the entire party dying anyways.
  • Buying less Ice Balls, Fire Balls, Big Boomers in Bound Kingdom.
  • Not grabbing the Pumpkin Jewel in the Ancient Tower.
  • Better luck manipulation in the three tower near Narvick.
  • More efficient equipment and IP managment in general.

Credits

  • quietkane for starting his Lufia 2 movie and inspiring me.
  • Dragondarch for his route planning on SDA.
  • Everyone else who in some way contributed to this movie.

Final notes

  • I added some savestates for easier movie browsing here.
  • The USA rom introduces a number of glitches, most notably the messed graphics in the Submarine Shrine. Disabling background layer 1 and/or 2 makes the character sprites more visible. Should this movie be published I suppose subtitles should be added for those unfamiliar with the glitches (European, Australian, Japanese players).
  • The credits of this game require the emulator option Hi-Res to be enabled.

Bisqwit: Accepting, and processing for publication. Congratulations.


Player (199)
Joined: 12/3/2006
Posts: 151
Actually, taking more damage usually is faster since it allows for more IP attacks. The only way I think they could be useful is through instant-death attacks, which aren't available to the lower level capsule monsters.
Joined: 8/27/2006
Posts: 883
Well done ! It was really enjoying. I don't think it could be a lot faster, unless there are bugs that are discovered along the way. Anyway good job :)
Editor, Active player (297)
Joined: 3/8/2004
Posts: 7469
Location: Arzareth
Bisqwit wrote:
Does "Improvement 9" bring sync differences to the emulator? Because this movie desyncs at about 4:54 in my official 1.43 version of snes9x. Instead of cutting the plants, the hero tries to cut a cliff which he bumped into.
After a multitude of attempts, the desync problem went away when I activated the i386 assembler version of the emulation core instead of the C-language one.
Joined: 9/7/2005
Posts: 144
Location: Las Vegas, Nevada, USA
Yes vote from me. A masterful execution of this game. I'm gonna echo the praise for the storytelling of this game. The translation may be a little iffy, but the overall narrative is classic fantasy done well. Especially the ending, it's my favorite type of ending. SPOILER The world is saved, but the heroes die in the process. The shot of their son calling out to his mom with the nanny telling him his parents saved the world and they'll be home soon... END SPOILER. Gets me every time.
This guy are sick.
Player (168)
Joined: 4/27/2006
Posts: 304
Location: Eastern Canada
That was pretty cool. The only thing that looked a bit wierd to me, in the labyrinth north ofbound kingdom, the puzzle where you have to bomb the floor to light it up? I seem to remember there being a way to do it in two bombs instead of five. Way to destroy the last bosses. Also, I didn't know you could heal the ghost ship and the Spectre with IP's to kill them in one round, Very sneaky.
Player (199)
Joined: 12/3/2006
Posts: 151
There is a way to darken all tiles with two bombs, but that will not solve the puzzle. I'm pretty sure the current solution is optimal, unless you can prove me wrong of course :).
Active player (287)
Joined: 3/4/2006
Posts: 341
There is precisely one solution to the bomb puzzle in the northern labyrinth, and precisely two (with the 6-bomb solution being faster than the 10-bomb solution) in the Tower of Sacrifice. This does not include solutions where two bombs are detonated in the same place, nor does it include permutations.
upthorn
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Active player (392)
Joined: 3/24/2006
Posts: 1802
I have just watched this submission. I have never played this game before, so it's very difficult for me to tell how this run is abnormal. There are a few times scattered about where you walk somewhat close to monsters, but don't fight them (because of a well-timed hook or arrow shot), but this isn't overly impressive (to someone who hasn't played the game, anyway). The only thing that really stands out as a glitch is the tiles getting all messed up in the submarine dungeon, but that isn't particularly entertaining. Honestly, I was more interested by the plot-text (which I could never finish reading because it was skipped so quickly) than by the gameplay, so I'm going to have to vote "meh". Though , given prior comments, I suspect that people who have played the game before may find it interesting.
How fleeting are all human passions compared with the massive continuity of ducks.
Emulator Coder, Former player
Joined: 10/2/2005
Posts: 563
Location: Toronto, Ontario
Extremely enjoyable for such a long movie. I haven't really played any of the Lufia games, but after watching this, I just might ;) Good job. Yes from me.
Joined: 10/3/2005
Posts: 1332
AceofShades wrote:
Wait... so the forces of evil held off for a couple years so that the hero could have a kid with some chick who joined him in scaling a couple towers...
The forces of evil were smoking pot and playing mortal kombat in their mother's basement. That's why they got thrashed without the heroes making any attempt at power-leveling. And Selan isn't 'some chick'. She's a 'magical wife'.
Player (168)
Joined: 4/27/2006
Posts: 304
Location: Eastern Canada
Gunty wrote:
There is a way to darken all tiles with two bombs, but that will not solve the puzzle.
Quite right, quite right, that would be my bad then.
Joined: 11/13/2006
Posts: 87
Location: California, USA
This is one of those games that you can actually fall in love with the story. Except, not unlike traditional RPGs, the ending leaves you wanting something, not to mention you're sad as hell. Augh! Great run ^_^
If you see me posting, I'm most likely being a douche. <small>Working on: not ever coming here again</small>
Skilled player (1606)
Joined: 6/11/2006
Posts: 818
Location: Arboga, Sweden
I've finally decided to vote yes, much due to the fact that I've played the game a lot and really, really like it, and find this a well executed run. Great job.
Warp wrote:
omg lol this is so fake!!!1 the nes cant produce music like this!
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15633
Location: 127.0.0.1
This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [792] SNES Lufia II: Rise of the Sinistrals by Gunty in 3:03:12.78
jaysmad
Other
Experienced player (933)
Joined: 12/1/2006
Posts: 629
Location: Mom's
Wow, already published? That was fast!
Joined: 10/3/2005
Posts: 1332
Huzzah!
Player (199)
Joined: 12/3/2006
Posts: 151
jaysmad wrote:
Wow, already published? That was fast!
Indeed it was! One minor thing for the description though. This game does contain random battles. These can only occur on the world map, but are all avoided by entering the menu briefly.
Former player
Joined: 8/1/2004
Posts: 2687
Location: Seattle, WA
Gunty wrote:
One minor thing for the description though. This game does contain random battles. These can only occur on the world map, but are all avoided by entering the menu briefly.
Fixed. Sorry about that.
hi nitrodon streamline: cyn-chine
Joined: 4/8/2006
Posts: 5
Haven´t watched this yes, but I am sure it will rank as a great movie alongside FF3 and Chrono Trigger. The thing I remember most when I played this game back in the days was to clear that 100 level cave, where (if I remember right) you only had one chance, or you had to start all over again. I remember getting to that damn slimeball once, just to get killed by it almost instantly. After like 100 runs in that cave, my patience had run out, and instead of slowly building levels at each floor, I ran down the stairs faster and faster each try. Oh well, If someone wants a challenge, the 100 cave is a great and FRUSTRATING one =).
Emulator Coder
Joined: 6/8/2005
Posts: 236
Location: Madison, Wisconsin
I watched about half of this video so far (will watch the second half when I get home -- it's paused atm.) Haven't ever played this game, but it's certainly interesting! At least this game has timed dialog so fast readers like myself can pick up on the story as it progresses. I have a question regarding what I've seen so far, though. There's the destroyed town that you entered, then left. Is this required to trigger something else?
Player (199)
Joined: 12/3/2006
Posts: 151
Entering the town adds it to my warp list, so I can just warp to that town instead of walking when I need to go through the tower again. Also, entering the town resets the memory address that counts the amount of steps I made on the world map, which makes it possible to skip all random battles.
Joined: 8/1/2004
Posts: 178
The last paragraph below contains ending spoilers. I played the first Lufia game years and years ago. I remember crying myself to sleep after watching the ending that night. I tried to beat Lufia II twice, but life got in the way each time (either that, or the fact that my saves disappeared made me quit). Definitely a great way to patch up broken experiences! I've always wanted to see how many more crazy types of puzzles there are. It's awesome how on GameFAQs there are no non-featured reviews that give this game below an 8 score. But after seeing THIS ending...if I was still young, I probably would have killed myself to sleep. This game's for kids? What's with that sappy music playing during the ending while all the side characters think the main characters aren't dead? All the side characters believe that wild assumption, but in the end they're all just going to die with their greatest expectation never met! This game is totally insane. At least the baby has some spiritual connection with its parents.
<^>v AB X LR s
Joined: 2/25/2005
Posts: 68
Location: Germany
Liked the movie a lot! Yes, the ending is very sad (plus cheesy). Cheerios to Gunty for adding another successfully done RPG run to the list.
Erklärung der Relativität: "Wenn du deine Nase in meinen Po steckst, haben wir beide eine Nase im Po. Nur ich bin relativ besser dran."
Kaz
Former player
Joined: 12/2/2005
Posts: 149
The music is awesome. It's too bad we don't get to hear a full loop of the sinistral battle theme.
Player (31)
Joined: 9/23/2006
Posts: 207
Location: Moreno Valley, California
Yeah, the ending pissed me off. Almost made it not worth watching... "Yeah, Maxim and Selan are coming home soon! Just you wait!" I almost thought their spirits were going to just laugh at Tia before going away.
"The way to move out of judgment is to move into gratitude." — Neale Donald Walsch DannyLilithborne on IRC