Submission Text Full Submission Page Publication Page

Essentials

  • Emulator used: SNES9x 1.43 v9
Note: Due to an input display bug in SNES9x v9, it is recommended, but not required, to view the run with this bug-fixed SNES9x located here. However, the run will sync correctly on the standard SNES9x v9, and v7 as well.
  • Genre: Platform
  • Items: 100%
  • Aims for fastest time
    • Takes damage to save time
    • Abuses programming errors
    • Manipulates luck
  • Suggested screenshot:
This is an improvement of 2 minutes and 25 seconds to my previous run. I never expected to get anywhere close to this much improvement.
I aimed for real time instead of game time - this means that I took efforts to reduce lag, pause screens, and door transitions, even at the cost of in-game time.
The in-game timer for this run ended at 37 minutes, 54 seconds, an improvement of 2 minutes and 1 second over my previous version.

Breakdown of improvement (rough estimates)

Ceres & Crateria (Introduction and Bomb Torizo)
  • 2 seconds saved, mostly from tiny optimizations.
Brinstar (Kraid)
  • 2 seconds saved, again just little improvements here and there throughout.
Norfair (Crocomire and item collection)
  • 2 seconds saved by optimizations in earlier item collection.
  • 6 seconds saved on Crocomire.
  • 3 seconds saved in Crocomire's area.
Wrecked Ship & Crateria (Phantoon and item collection)
  • 3 seconds saved on the way to the ship.
  • 1 second saved not getting Phantoon's refills.
  • 7 seconds saved during item collection by better strategies and better robot manipulation.
  • Changing the route to do the Gauntlet area (to the upper-left of Samus's ship) at this point to save time later.
Brinstar (item collection)
  • 19 seconds saved directly and indirectly by removal of the crystal flash.
  • 6 seconds gained by better strategies during item collection.
  • The missile in the green tube is obtained now to save time later.
Maridia (Botwoon, Draygon, and item collection)
  • 6 seconds saved on item collection before Botwoon by better strategy and more optimized play.
  • 5 seconds saved from Botwoon to Draygon from better technique and not collecting refills.
  • 11 seconds saved on item collection after Draygon by better strategy and speed management.
Norfair (Gold Torizo, Ridley, and item collection)
  • 5 seconds saved from better speed management on the way to Gold Torizo.
  • 6 seconds saved on Gold Torizo from less strict manipulation and better shooting.
  • 3 seconds saved on the route to Ridley from better strategy.
  • 1 second saved on Ridley from better manipulation and avoiding refills.
  • 10 seconds saved on remaining item collection in Norfair.
Brinstar & Crateria (Item collection)
  • 6 seconds gained from better strategies up to and skipping the green tube missile.
  • 3 seconds gained in old Brinstar from better speed management.
  • 16 seconds gained due to changing the route for the Gauntlet.
Tourian & Crateria (Mother Brain and escape)
  • 21 seconds gained from skipping the baby Metroid.
  • 2 seconds gained from various other small optimizations.

Additional Information

The basis for techniques used in this run are explained on the Super Metroid Tricks page.
Controller input animation was added with an Input Animator utility I wrote. (This utility can also be used to remove the player 2-5 input, if desired.)
As mentioned above: Due to an input display bug in SNES9x v9, it is recommended, but not required, to view the run with the bugfixed SNES9x located here. The run will sync correctly on the standard SNES9x v9, and v7 as well.
For those interested in a more detailed breakdown of the time saved, you can check the spreadsheet (HTML) I used for comparisons during the making of the run. This spreadsheet will probably answer many specific questions, so I recommend taking a look at it if you are wondering about part of the run.
If anyone is interested in improving this run, contact me if you would like either (1) a 1-player SMV with no extraneous input, or (2) a spreadsheet similar in style to this one, set up to compare a new version.

Thank You

I would like to give thanks to those involved in helping Super Metroid TASing become what it is today. This includes:
  • Michael Flatley
  • Terimakasih
  • Saturn
  • catnap
  • hero of the day
  • moozooh
  • Kejardon
  • Graveworm
  • Frenom
Though I don't know them by name, thanks also to the many people who have done and researched console speedruns for the game, as they have found many strategies which were the basis for a tool-assisted speedrun.
Thanks to Gocha for his memory watcher utility for SNES9x which saved me a lot of time.
Thanks to Upthorn, nitsuja, and Fabianx for their help in removing the input display bug from SNES9x.
Thanks to Fabian for help with ideas for controller input.
Thanks to Bisqwit for a very handy HTML conversion of the spreadsheet.
Thanks to you for watching this run!
DeHackEd: Wow, that's a lot of votes.

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Posted: 3/16/2007 2:41 AM
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gocha
Any
Emulator Coder, Former player
Joined: 6/21/2006
Posts: 402
Location: Japan, Nagoya
Nice improvement, and cool input animation lol. Obvious YES vote. By the way, if you want to use my memory watcher utility with bug-fixed Snes9x, put the following line (for rev.9). 
:target:SNES9x 1.43 v9+bugfix.exe:798C90:7B8064:B028:B03F
I am usually available on Discord server or Twitter.
Posted: 3/16/2007 3:31 AM
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bkDJ
Joined: 7/26/2006
Posts: 1215
"OUCH MY HEAD" indeed. That was simply amazing and I agree with everyone else about how you used input for commentary exactly as much as needed be. Fantastic job, JXQ.
Posted: 3/16/2007 3:38 AM
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Neofix
Player (62)
Joined: 9/4/2004
Posts: 107
Location: Brazil
YES vote and STAR here. OFF Topic but, wtf this? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=schEExnjL7c
Posted: 3/16/2007 5:27 AM
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Kyrsimys
Former player
Joined: 4/16/2004
Posts: 1286
Location: Finland
Incredible run, great work! Some rooms were just crazy with your new strategies. This has got to be the best run ever.
Posted: 3/16/2007 6:59 AM
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AnS
Emulator Coder, Experienced player (728)
Joined: 2/23/2006
Posts: 682
That's really impressive. Where do you get these ingenious ideas? Crocomire battle looks even more funny after seeing your screenshot. Yes and Very Yes vote.
Posted: 3/16/2007 10:38 AM
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VANDAL
Experienced player (614)
Joined: 4/24/2005
Posts: 612
Pure genius all the way through. All the extra work put into this TAS really made it beyond excellent. Those were great optimizations, never thought so much time could be racked up. I enjoyed all the little things that were shown along the way whether it was you controlling Samus or the input display, it was all good or hell great. Heh, you thank the viewer for watching but I'd like to thank you for making this TAS, the way you had everything done and the fact that you took the time to make the TAS extra special, Thanks man. It truely is among the best, and with that notion of the Ninja rank I think you more than deserve it. Yes vote. (Just wanted to express my gratitude for your work)
Posted: 3/16/2007 1:05 PM
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Bablo
Player (224)
Joined: 10/17/2005
Posts: 399
To be honest, this was the first time I watched a whole Super Metroid TAS without falling asleep.
<adelikat> I've been quoted with worse
Posted: 3/16/2007 2:14 PM
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curtmack
Former player
Joined: 6/4/2006
Posts: 97
Location: Everywhere including nowhere
By the way, in the Draygon fight, when you were counting down from 6000 in the input display... is that Draygon's life total? Anyway, now I just hope that people won't be all "LAWL THIS INPUT ANIMAT0R IS T3H R0XXORZ MUST USE EVERY FRAME!!12!!!11!" It's a good gimmick, but if everyone starts using it it'll become a huge annoyance.
...?
Posted: 3/16/2007 2:23 PM
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Mlandry
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 325
well I don't watch movies with input on so I didn't see these things... could be nice but for me it was just another super metroid movie... obviously I'll vote yes but I am getting bored with these games... always the same with a few minor improvements, we've already seen it all heh... unless it gets a 5 minute improvements I don't think I will be watching anymore movies for this game heh
Posted: 3/16/2007 2:31 PM
Quote
Bisqwit
Editor, Active player (297)
Joined: 3/8/2004
Posts: 7469
Location: Arzareth
I'll try to make an extra AVI that has this input display in it as some kind of overlay, hopefully in a slightly more readable format than that of snes9x's. :)
Posted: 3/16/2007 2:45 PM
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Fabian
Former player
Joined: 6/15/2005
Posts: 1711
Mlandry wrote:
well I don't watch movies with input on so I didn't see these things... could be nice but for me it was just another super metroid movie... obviously I'll vote yes but I am getting bored with these games... always the same with a few minor improvements, we've already seen it all heh... unless it gets a 5 minute improvements I don't think I will be watching anymore movies for this game heh
Mlandry, At some point during the 3 pages of "wow this input display is FANTASTIC, I'm laughing so hard right now holy shit hahaha", did you consider hitting the input display button in your emulator? Just curious.
Zoey Ridin' High <Fabian_> I prett much never drunk
Posted: 3/16/2007 3:08 PM
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Sami
Former player
Joined: 8/20/2005
Posts: 643
Location: Mikkeli,Finland
Awesome run! Yes Vote
Current Projects: ???
Posted: 3/16/2007 7:39 PM
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P.JBoy
Any
Editor
Joined: 3/25/2006
Posts: 850
Location: stuck in Pandora's box HELLPP!!!
Why is this smv 2.5 megabytes? your old one was half a megabyte
Posted: 3/16/2007 7:43 PM
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moozooh
Senior Moderator
Joined: 8/4/2005
Posts: 5777
Location: Away
Mlandry wrote:
unless it gets a 5 minute improvements I don't think I will be watching anymore movies for this game heh
Surprisingly, the any% TAS was recently improved by more than 5 minutes. Heh.™
Bisqwit wrote:
I'll try to make an extra AVI that has this input display in it as some kind of overlay, hopefully in a slightly more readable format than that of snes9x's. :)
Awesome, Bisqwit! That'd be really nice of you. :D
P.JBoy wrote:
Why is this smv 2.5 megabytes? your old one was half a megabyte
5 players vs 1 player, hence 5 times the size.
Warp wrote:
Edit: I think I understand now: It's my avatar, isn't it? It makes me look angry.
Posted: 3/16/2007 10:09 PM
Quote
Mlandry
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 325
Fabian wrote:
Mlandry wrote:
well I don't watch movies with input on so I didn't see these things... could be nice but for me it was just another super metroid movie... obviously I'll vote yes but I am getting bored with these games... always the same with a few minor improvements, we've already seen it all heh... unless it gets a 5 minute improvements I don't think I will be watching anymore movies for this game heh
Mlandry, At some point during the 3 pages of "wow this input display is FANTASTIC, I'm laughing so hard right now holy shit hahaha", did you consider hitting the input display button in your emulator? Just curious.
Maybe, just MAYBE I watched the movie before reading the comments. Think before making stupid comments. And no, I will not watch a 1hour movie again to see some inputs.
Posted: 3/16/2007 10:15 PM
Quote
Fabian
Former player
Joined: 6/15/2005
Posts: 1711
Mlandry wrote:
Fabian wrote:
Mlandry wrote:
well I don't watch movies with input on so I didn't see these things... could be nice but for me it was just another super metroid movie... obviously I'll vote yes but I am getting bored with these games... always the same with a few minor improvements, we've already seen it all heh... unless it gets a 5 minute improvements I don't think I will be watching anymore movies for this game heh
Mlandry, At some point during the 3 pages of "wow this input display is FANTASTIC, I'm laughing so hard right now holy shit hahaha", did you consider hitting the input display button in your emulator? Just curious.
Maybe, just MAYBE I watched the movie before reading the comments. Think before making stupid comments. And no, I will not watch a 1hour movie again to see some inputs.
What's with the hostile attitude dude? It was a simple question. Take a chill pill and remove the sand from your vagina.
Zoey Ridin' High <Fabian_> I prett much never drunk
Posted: 3/16/2007 10:20 PM
Quote
creaothceann
He/Him
Editor
Joined: 4/7/2005
Posts: 1874
Location: Germany
YES.
Posted: 3/16/2007 11:08 PM
Quote
Paused
Joined: 5/9/2005
Posts: 752
Voting No. of course, You let those little cute fuzzy Etecoons and Dachora die at the end again you sicko! Kidding of course, nice improvement. Still... those animals...
Posted: 3/16/2007 11:11 PM
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JXQ
Experienced player (761)
Joined: 5/6/2005
Posts: 3132
NES TAS of 2008 Speedy TAS of 2008 SNES TASer of 2007 TAS of 2007 SNES TAS of 2007 Funny TAS of 2007
Paused wrote:
Still... those animals...
An oldie, but goodie, with a new twist!
<Swordless> Go hug a tree, you vegetarian (I bet you really are one)
Posted: 3/16/2007 11:35 PM
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adelikat
He/Him
Emulator Coder, Site Developer, Site Owner, Expert player (3576)
Joined: 11/3/2004
Posts: 4754
Location: Tennessee
TASer of 2010 NES TASer of 2010 DS TASer of 2010 Arcade TAS of 2010 NES TASer of 2008 NES TAS of 2008 Funny TAS of 2008 TASer of 2007 NES TASer of 2007 Funny TAS of 2007
Very nice run. I didn't get bored despite my poor attention span and lack of knowledge of the game. I didn't know where you were going ever, or what items you were collecting, but it was awesome to watch. And the input display stuff was the most novel thing I have seen in quite some time.
It's hard to look this good. My TAS projects
Posted: 3/17/2007 3:50 AM
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Callmewoof
Joined: 5/11/2006
Posts: 71
Beautiful run, but for my money on 100% runs I would have like to see you rescue the critter alien things (the bomb room during the escape at the end of the game, I believe. I think this is rescuing them right? They're back in metroid fusion...) Otherwise completely brilliant, I would have liked to see more samus timing/dancing/showoff during moments though :D
Samus taught us that a girl doesn't need brains to be successful. Brains are giant, evil, and vulnerable to missiles.
Posted: 3/17/2007 4:15 AM
Quote
xoinx
Former player
Joined: 9/20/2006
Posts: 287
Location: Singapore
Submission Text wrote:
I would like to give thanks to those involved in helping Super Metroid TASing become what it is today. This includes: ...Terimikasih...
I think you got his name wrong... it should be spelt as Terimakasih. Anyway, just wanted to say that run made my day. Thanks for improving on an already great run!
Truncated wrote:
Truncated is the most fiendish instrument of torture ever devised to bedevil the days of man. -- xoinx
Posted: 3/17/2007 4:28 AM
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nitsujrehtona
Joined: 3/17/2007
Posts: 97
Location: Berkeley, CA
SpiDeY wrote:
Can someone post what did he write? Some times it is just too fast to read it. The Tetris bit in the beginning was awesome.. Obviously YES vote.
I wrote a short perl script to display the "interesting" input frames like snes9x does, and rewind too many frames you like. PM if interested. Thanks and congrats, JXQ, for an incredible run.
IRC nick: UncombedCoconut
Posted: 3/17/2007 6:44 AM
Quote
Anon
Joined: 4/17/2004
Posts: 275
Callmewoof wrote:
Beautiful run, but for my money on 100% runs I would have like to see you rescue the critter alien things (the bomb room during the escape at the end of the game, I believe. I think this is rescuing them right? They're back in metroid fusion...)
The comment below (originally a series of message board posts) is quoted for truth:
<Torgen> Is 100% going to include rescuing the critters during the escape? <JXQ> No, those retarded animals can burn for all I care. (I'm so nice) <Bag of Magic Food> But I heard they were important for later game continuity! <Torgen> This is true. If you don't go to that room and make that pixel move across the screen, Fusion won't make sense. <JXQ> Fusion doesn't make sense anyway. They will burn.
True story.
Posted: 3/17/2007 10:39 AM
Quote
Xkeeper
Banned User
Joined: 12/23/2004
Posts: 1850
<Torgen> Is 100% going to include rescuing the critters during the escape? <JXQ> No, those retarded animals can burn for all I care. (I'm so nice) <Bag of Magic Food> But I heard they were important for later game continuity! <Torgen> This is true. If you don't go to that room and make that pixel move across the screen, Fusion won't make sense. <JXQ> Fusion doesn't make sense anyway. They will burn.
The only thing I could think of to post for this comment...
Perma-banned
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