* UPDATE *
The current progress goes up to when I exit the Giant Step cave. The first "You Sanctuary" location is now completed.
On this "course", I've completed 6 level ups, which gave me these stats, after manipulating a LOT, of course:
3rd level up: Off 4, Spd 1, Gut 2, Lck 1, HP 2, PP 1
4th level up: Def 1, Vit 1, IQ 1, HP 13, PP 4
5th level up: Off 2, HP 3, PP 2
6th level up: Off 1, Def 1, Spd 1, Vit 1, IQ 1, Lck 1, HP 12, PP 3
7th level up: Off 5, Spd 1, Gut 3, Lck 1, HP 2, PP 2
8th level up: Def 1, Vit 1, IQ 1, HP 13, PP 3
Basically, Ness is now at level 9. The next step will be to beat the cops, go to twoson, do what I have to do, go to Happy Happy village, get Paula, and then beat Mondo Mole inside the Cave of Lilliput Steps. After this is all done, I will post my next update.
Manipulating this game is going pretty good, so far. Getting SMAAAASH!! is harder than I first thought, though. It would be theoretically possible to get one each round, but that would probably mean like 100 menu moves. When manipulating, I try up to 20 menu manipulations. Going higher than that is just really ugly, and incredibly uncool for me.
At some places, I do 17 menu moves before attacking. you will notice that it's kind of long, and remember that before finding that move 17 is the optimal one, I had to try all the 16 others. This means at least 17 re-records for that single round.
Enjoy!
Here's the link:
http://halamantariel.homeip.net/speedruns/
Rom name and version: Earthbound (U).smc
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Feel free to post any comments or suggestions regarding what's done up to now and what's to follow.
P.S.: I plan on posting updates after each "Your Sanctuary" location. If you don't think this is a good idea, tell me :)