Nice on this speedrun, but is just me, or does something strange happen? Around 6:32 in the movie the character splits up into two... I never got this far in the game, so I don't know if it's intentional... What is he?
"We observe the behaviour of simple folk, and derive pleasure from their defects."
-Aristotle - Book of Humour
I remember in the snes version you end up fighting each other, but you put your swords away and join up together again. Not sure if it's the same thing here.
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
I played the PC version. In level 4, you split in two, and rejoin in level 12 after a fight that you can only win by not fighting. In PoP2, you use special abilities of your other half.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Ok. To clarify certains doubts, the NES verion of PoP is the worst of all.
1) You can't jump over some of the enemies, and they don't fall off from platforms.
2) Enemies can't be pulled off screen. they bounce when they reach the screen border.
3) I haven't found yet a way to change places in a fight. I think it can't be done.
4) In PC version, level one, you can skip looking for the sword and fight by making the enemy go close to you and doing a go around. But because in NES version enemies can't cross screen, this can't be done.
5) The shadow in NES version doesn't fight agaisnt you in Level 12, instead there's a skeleton.
6) In PC version, level 3, you can skip the fight with the skeleton by jumping.
7) Jaffar is 10.000 tougher in PC version. And have a different design, not the generic looking purple guy. Also the first guard in Level 8 is black dressed and thougher.
7.5) In level 6, theres a guard know among my friends as "el gordito", it's a bit tougher than normal guards, and have a different look. Of course, in NES version there's no "gordito".
8) NES version doesn't have any cutscenes between levels.
9) There isn't any cheats codes for NES version. (At least I haven't found yet)
10) Due to dual button control system (PC verion only have 1 action button), you can actually fall in a gap by using b button near an edge. In PC version you make a "lost balance" animation when you try to fall off an edge. In NES, you fall without this warning.
11) PC verion stores record time.
12) NES version, all potion bottles are red, in PC version color differs between bottles according to effect.
13) In PC version, Level 5, you don't have to go back to reopen the door at level start, I don't know why they make you reopen the second floor door in NES version.
But everything isn't wrong in NES version:
1) You can do some amazing jumps (Due to errors when you're entering a screen). This made possible jumps like level 3, where I jump a very large gap without clinging on edge.
2) For speedrun sake, is better to have a realy easy Jaffar and Level 8 guy, don't you agree?
3) At least, they keep graphic style similar to PoP on PC, graphic design for PoP 2 really sucks, and was used for PoP version for Genesis and Snes.
As final comments, I enjoyed this game a lot when I was a child, I played and passed it 3 or 4 times a day! I was really crazy for it. And Hope you have fun watching the timeattack as much I enjoyed making it.
Doesn't Jaffar has more hit points in the PC version?
I mean, he has less life then some guards, I thought he had the most..7 or 8 hp's.
I can be wrong though.
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
How long does it take you to beat the level 8 guy in the PC version?
I can do it in seconds. Run right in, parry, attack, step in, parry, he falls in spikes...
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
I'm sorry to go digging up old threads, but there are four other differences I noticed between the NES version and the PC version:
1) The screen scrolling because a computer screen is wider than a TV screen. This mainly just amused me. :)
2) If memory serves, the skeleton in level 3 doesn't have health points. You need to back him in to a pit, and then fight him again when you get down near the exit.
3) The mouse in level 8 doesn't show up right away, you have to wait for him for a while.
4) I swear in the video you're getting free health for just surviving. That doesn't happen in the PC version.
In the PC version, there's an even faster way of completing the level: Just jump through the first guard (he'll swing at you and miss) and then you'll reach the end of the level without getting the sword. Does that not work in the NES version?
Can you lure them into that trap that chops you in half? Hmm, I guess that's impossible to do in many cases due to not being able to change sides.
In the PC version, I killed "El Gordito" by just changing sides with him and then hitting him once (even if he blocks), causing him to fall into the pit. :)
Same with Jaffar.
Oh yeah, NES version adds this annoying ever-present 8-bit background music!
It looks like you can't see the entire screen all at once in the NES version; instead it scrolls a bit to the left or right.
Apparently, if you reach above you onto a switch that's on the screen above, you have to actually climb up there for the switch to activate.
Skeletons don't have infinite HP.
After merging with your mirror image, in the PC version there's some tiles that don't appear until you step on them. They're already there in the NES version. (This whole place was supposed to be a bit of a puzzle: First you have to figure out you're supposed to sheath your sword instead of killing your mirror image and thus yourself, and then you're supposed to figure out that you can run into what appears to be a pit but the floor will actually appear for you.)
After that part, there's two screens where there's loose ceiling tiles that shake and fall after you enter the screen. In the NES version, they have already fallen.
In the Amiga version (not sure about the PC version), you see a sword in the place where your mirror image appears later. One would think you will get another sword, but when you reach the room again, the sword has dissapeared (it has been taken by your mirror image).
It looks like the NES version allows you to skip the trap where the mouse comes to rescue you. On SNES that can't be done.