Primary 10bit444

In Commander Keen 2: The Earth Explodes, Keen has assembled his ship in Mars and returned home, only to find the Vorticon Mothership hovering over the Earth, ready to destroy all of Earth's cities and wonders! Keen must sneak aboard, stop the imminent destruction of Earth and find a way to neutralize the Mothership. If he fails, the Earth will explode. In the middle of the night, while his parents think he is asleep, Keen returns to his backyard clubhouse his Bean-with-Bacon Megarocket still cooling down from his recent Martian excursion. He flies to the Vorticon Mothership, sneaks aboard and docks his ship at the weakest area, the Bottom Galley. With incredible luck, Keen finds a nearly empty Vorticon HyperPistol, the weapon of the Vorticon Elite.
This time, he did some performance-enhancing drugs, increasing his IQ to 371 for five minutes.
  • Aims for fastest time
  • Abuses programming errors
  • Manipulates luck
  • Genre: Platform

Movie information

JPC-RR v11.6 was used to make the movie.
This TAS uses version 1.31 of the game. There are no TAS-relevant differences between versions - this one was chosen because of wide availability.
Here is the ImageMaker report on the disk image used:
Type               : HDD
Tracks             : 16
Sides              : 16
Sectors            : 63
Total sectors      : 16128
Primary extent size: 1724
Storage Method     : 3
Sectors present    : 692
Calculated Disk ID : 2B276D5F828B0DF577EBC90B89B4E3AB
Claimed Disk ID    : 2b276d5f828b0df577ebc90b89b4e3ab 
Comments section: 
Entry: N/A            N/A                                      24 /
Entry: 19900101000000 0311f19326f87f4bcd95472d3a5f8e19      17488 /EGAHEAD.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 11369fa63d5219ec9acba66f405a8781     129856 /EGALATCH.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 2247c907e819be12fcb510d4d48b0a28      35120 /EGASPRIT.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 0b409a80da8b8883f48c7742014d62f9      12060 /FINALE.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 ebb6a4a7df66063510996ebacc527fa7      58335 /KEEN2.EXE
Entry: 19900101000000 6f5537332f39059d0e52e912a7e74a41       1248 /LEVEL01.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 b9ed4769f2a61d13885695d24f4cf970       2334 /LEVEL02.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 be0263f823071224055c42b3a5c12345       2316 /LEVEL03.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 bab08532f4ba08aada35474638d7d419       3430 /LEVEL04.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 1cf3b6bce9c81b035d0258143d91e9a4       2618 /LEVEL05.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 403329b71eeeb9c4779228c7016e4a93       2936 /LEVEL06.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 20448c54ba554785fd479263055a8774       2636 /LEVEL07.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 62089b7d0bb4cc42cb8a0d8cdd6a32f4       3852 /LEVEL08.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 b6b5d0d1c839ff7c2f4bd7fea5177e6f       3352 /LEVEL09.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 a3bb533ac0081d5af7f303de3f9ace2a       4352 /LEVEL10.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 c0a33cd02ad8d04e9585d5b7973df61c       2792 /LEVEL11.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 9776199572df8db0e9d69157c9e20118       3882 /LEVEL12.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 2544ec5775dedfa8aa759ceec7ea9970       2504 /LEVEL13.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 c202b8ee85e53b8c075f9f0e45bee6c7       2182 /LEVEL14.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 00e702807a84301b080df1523262b7a6       3620 /LEVEL15.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 14c93e7541131a9e7d1e6fb4f57c6ecf       4318 /LEVEL16.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 a84553d13129d9dad84e04044c83e83d       5460 /LEVEL80.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 d314118e316d393060e9fa4906b8026b        742 /LEVEL81.CK2
Entry: 19900101000000 88c826e6c27b2762e482b2c732eade38       1334 /LEVEL90.CK2 

Tricks

The ceiling pogo glitch

When Keen is approaching a tile from below, he can avoid collision and enter the ceiling under certain conditions. Unfortunately, this can't be used to pass through ceilings in all but a few cases, none of which occur in the any%.

Randomness

The RNG is seeded from the initial RTC time and only invoked when randomness is required. Having critters that behave randomly on-screen is the only way to advance the RNG. These include pink robots and all Vorticons. For details, TODO: make github or something

THIS MEANS THAT MANIPULATION IS VERY LIMITED, VERY TIME-CONSUMING AND DEFINITELY WORTH USING ALL CAPS

Walking over Tantalus Rays

The Tantalus Rays can be disabled by destroying them, but just touching the ground above them produces the same effect.

Corner jumping

When Keen drops off a ledge just right while pressing Jump on the frame just as he goes over the edge, he can jump while falling. Jumping when there's nothing below Keen results in lower jumps - this is also why some time is spent waiting on top of the Scrub in DC. Corner pogoing is also possible, but it requires very extraordinary conditions and usually isn't useful.

Oscillating movement

Every few frames, Keen moves one additional pixel forward unless he's not moving. The timing can be manipulated by entering levels earlier or later.

Exiting levels

Keen's position when entering doors is irrelevant - while he will be out of view faster if landing closer to the edge, the transition will still be equally long.

Stage by stage comments

Boot

Luck is manipulated by adjusting initial RTC time.

Obligatory Introductionary Level

There are two equally fast routes available for this level. The more entertaining one is used.

Why can't Scrubs ever be positioned nicely without delay?

The two final jumps require great precision to work as advertised. This applies to all jumps like them.

Luck Manipulation Ahoy

The Youth is killed as late as possible in order to manipulate luck. Adjusting the initial RTC time was also used to manipulate this level. What's there to manipulate, you ask?
  • The pink robot will kill Keen in most cases.
  • Sometimes, Youths from the pit will overrun Keen.
  • The Vorticon Elite at the end misbehaves most of the time.

Goddamn Scrubs

The first Vorticon Guard is shot in order to manipulate luck.

TWO keycards on a single level? Preposterous.

Keen's silly acceleration physics are shown.

Moving platforms can't be manipulated

The playaround while waiting for the moving platform is used to manipulate luck for the rest of the run whule providing excellent entertainment.

The fruits of manipulation

In case you haven't played the game, the route used is highly suicidal and requires excessive luck manipulation to occur.

Luck isn't quite as merciful here

Yeah.

The topmost Scrub won't spawn until the camera moves close enough

Luck at the beginning is less than ideal. The end features excellent luck.

Grand Finale

Painful luck manipulation finally reaches its conclusion, culminating in ending input early to hit the 5-minute mark.

Holy Batman, look at the rerecord count! Isn't this game supposed to be simple?

The game is unhexable, luck manipulation is a pain and redoing fucking everything several times is a pain. Also, lack of competence might inflate it a bit.

Special thanks to:

  • Xarthok: for following progress with devotion, helping with route planning and providing useful feedback.

Suggested screenshots

TBA (I don't know what time it is and I wouldn't usually work this tired, but I need to get this thing done before March hits in EEST) [dead link removed]

Nach: Man, you made the game look way too easy. Beating it in under 5 minutes? Completely absurd. Accepting.

natt: Processing...


TASVideoAgent
They/Them
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Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15629
Location: 127.0.0.1
Joined: 4/2/2007
Posts: 68
Location: Latvia
Having seen the WIP I vote a big fat yes. All glory to Commander Keen.
This is a block of text that can be added to posts you make. There is a 255 character limit
Editor, Expert player (2080)
Joined: 6/15/2005
Posts: 3284
In this submission: Levels named as "TWO keycards on a single level? Preposterous.", "Luck Manipulation Ahoy", and "The topmost Scrub won't spawn until the camera moves close enough". But I digress. In the end, Keen only disabled one of the eight Tantalus Rays. He forgot to destroy the other seven. Not too bad, he gets 1 out of 8. The Washington DC Tantalus level is hard, as in really hard. I remember dying over and over on that level. And yet this TAS makes the stage seem so easy. Also, the Rome Tantalus level where Keen dances around five Vorticon Elites completely blows my mind. Yes vote, of course.
MESHUGGAH
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Skilled player (1920)
Joined: 11/14/2009
Posts: 1353
Location: 𝔐𝔞𝔤𝑦𝔞𝔯
The submission text was hilarious, I'm still laughing. Now I have to watch that TAS and vote. edit: short and funny. yes vote
PhD in TASing 🎓 speedrun enthusiast ❤🚷🔥 white hat hacker ▓ black box tester ░ censorships and rules...
Editor
Joined: 3/31/2010
Posts: 1466
Location: Not playing Puyo Tetris
After the last two or three submissions, this one is kinda tame. No major bug abuse. Just manipulation. Though, it's still so fast.
When TAS does Quake 1, SDA will declare war. The Prince doth arrive he doth please.
Skilled player (1410)
Joined: 5/31/2004
Posts: 1821
Nice little TAS, voting yes.
Player (34)
Joined: 3/8/2012
Posts: 398
Location: Windfall Island
Looked very sound. Confusing game, but well made. Yes vote from me.
IronSlayer wrote:
Your counterargument would be like me saying that the Earth is round and then you telling me that I need to show it's flat so I can "prove us all wrong".
Seems legit.
Editor, Experienced player (570)
Joined: 11/8/2010
Posts: 4038
Nice, fast run. Well done, turska. Yes vote.
BigBoct
He/Him
Editor, Former player
Joined: 8/9/2007
Posts: 1692
Location: Tiffin/Republic, OH
Really? You're gonna save all of ONE city?
Previous Name: boct1584
Joined: 4/1/2010
Posts: 96
boct1584 wrote:
Really? You're gonna save all of ONE city?
Clearly turska watches too much Highlander.
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
They/Them
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Posts: 15629
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. ---- [2024] DOS Commander Keen: Episode 2 - The Earth Explodes by turska in 04:59.78
Post subject: Re: Movie published
Player (26)
Joined: 8/29/2011
Posts: 1206
Location: Amsterdam
I love the parts where you're just surrounding by Vorticons (that kill you in one hit if they randomly touch you).
Post subject: Re: Movie published
Player (26)
Joined: 8/29/2011
Posts: 1206
Location: Amsterdam
I'm curious why you bother to shoot the Tantalus Ray in the last level you play (Rome)? It would seem that the exit is accessible without doing so.
Post subject: Re: Movie published
Experienced player (764)
Joined: 6/17/2008
Posts: 146
Radiant wrote:
I'm curious why you bother to shoot the Tantalus Ray in the last level you play (Rome)? It would seem that the exit is accessible without doing so.
You can exit the level without destroying the Tantalus Ray, but if you do so, the "city saved" flag won't be set and the game will become impossible to complete.
Post subject: Re: Movie published
Player (26)
Joined: 8/29/2011
Posts: 1206
Location: Amsterdam
Thanks. You know, you have a very fitting avatar to answer questions about this series :)
Joined: 10/14/2013
Posts: 335
Location: Australia
Here are some extra encodes of this run. Higher resolutions are based on the game's native resolution and are scaled at 2x: Direct Downloads: 10bit444 MKV: 480p, 960p Compatibility MP4: 480p, 960p Torrents: 10bit444 MKV: 480p, 960p Compatibility MP4: 480p, 960p To download the direct download links, you may have to right click on the link and select "save link as" (this option may be named differently depending on your web browser).
I'm not as active as I once was, but I can be reached here if I should be needed.