Game objectives

  • Emulator used: FCEUX 2.2.2
  • Manipulate luck
  • Takes damage to save time
  • Abusing game errors
The game's name: 仮面の忍者 赤影 Kamen no Ninja - Akakage (Masked Ninja Red Shadow)
In this game, must find 3 maps first, then you can find the way to the island.
Sorry I never watched Akakage's movie, anime or sitcom. So I don't know the story.

Memory address

addressnotes
0000system clock
002Bscreen scroll X
0061Pixel X in screen
0065Pixel Y
034DHP1
008BBOSS HP

Main items and characters

Character: 赤影(Akakage, red shadow)

The main character, a ninja who wears a red-and-black costume and a stylized red mask. I use name "Aka" in this page.

Character: 青影(Aokage, blue shadow)

He is a boy, not a female like the game is looked. I only have 5 times to use him.
He can move as double as speed of Aka, but the back screen scroll must move. The speed is 2 pixel/frame.
If the back screen scroll don't change, his speed is as same as Aka, 1 pixel/frame.
His weapon boomerang has the same power of Aka's Shuriken(ninja star).
When using him, you can't enter into the hide place and can't get some items from there.
I use name "青" in this page, like the game show.

Character: 白影(Shirokage, white shadow)

An old man, useless character in tas.

Item: Blade, power 3

This weapon make character stop moving a lot of frames, so don't use this weapon. But I have to use it to get map3.

Item: Shuriken, power 3

If the back screen scroll is stopping, please use this weapon carefully. Because it will stop character move 1 frames.
But when the back screen is moving(0x0061 pixelX ≥160), you can use it freely.

Item: Bomb, power 6

As same as shuriken, be careful to use it. It will stop character move 1 frames if the back screen scroll stop.
Can get it from the hide place(1st heart) of Area 2.

Item: mine

The useless weapon. Can get it from the hide place(2nd well) of Area 3.

Item: Boomerang, power 5

Not like the bomb and shuriken, you can use it freely, and no need to care about cost frame. Can get it from the hide place(1st heart) of Area 5.

Item: 水(水water or 水晶crystal?)

Can get this item in 2 place. 1st, a hide place(1st heart) of Area 4. 2nd, from Boss14 of Island 6.
I got it from boss, and only use it once.

Glitch and trick

8 pixel rule

This rule only happened on entering into the hide place. You should be into these places at 0x002B(screen scroll X) value = 8*n.
For example, if enter into hide place at scrollX 23, when you turn out, the scroll X would change to 16. You total waste 7 frames.

64 frames rule

When change to 青, you have 15 seconds to use him. The time would countdown when 0x0000 system clock value = 0, 64, 128, 192. So sometime you only have 14 seconds.
Even thought how fast to kill boss, you still have to wait for the time to 0, otherwise you can't enter into the next Area.
At every beginning of the area, 0x0000 the system clock value is 16.
Maybe you didn't notice it that I often used 青 more than 15 seconds. Because I found this trick:

Press start to skip time countdown

Because when Pause, the time countdown is stopped too. Press start at 0x0000 clock 63, 127, 191, 255 and press start again at 65, 129, 193, 1. Now you have skipped time countdown.
With this trick, I can use 青 unlimited if I will.

Let 青 use Aka's weapons.

When 青 time countdown to 0, you have the last 64 frames. During these frames, you can press start and choose Aka's weapons, but don't press B before select another weapon, because you would use 青 15 seconds again, and waste another 1 of 5 chance using 青.

Select weapon at 1st frame

At every beginning of the area, you can't press start and choose other weapon for along frames. But the first frames not!
First, you shouldn't press → at last frame of last area. Wait for the lag out, you can press start → and A at same frame to select Shuriken. It can't waste any frame.

Platform move

Similar to megaman game. If character being into the Platform(branch, pillar and statue), he will move to left or right quickly. But the screen scroll value can't be speeded up.

In left screen before boss appear.

0x0061PixelX ≤ 127. Boss will appear at right.

Press Start to cancel the weapon

This is the most important trick. In normal play, using one bomb must wait a long frames before use the second one.
There are 2 types about this trick.
1st, Press Start+A+B together.
It can't waste any frames, and can't pause the game! Very useful trick.
And I always use it to beat music.
2nd, 1 frame Start, and 1 frame A+B.
It will pause game 1 frame, but it can slow down enemies' speed, too.
For example, I have only 20 frames to beat Eagle before it fly away. In normal play, I can only hit it 10 times. But after used this trick, I can hit this bird 20 times!
The 2nd type can't be used for Boomerang, And I can use this trick to manipulate luck. Because when pausing, the RNG is stopped, too.
Warning: Don't try to use this trick to cancel the blade! Character can't move, until change back to blade.

How to manipulate luck

The boss's action is very important in this tas(It's seemed some bosses have no RNG, such as the 2 Eagles.). Kill enemies is the best choice.

Walkthrough

Area 1(town)

When Aka walked at 0x0061Pixel X 160, change to 青(1st).
Use trick skip time countdown and 青 use Aka's weapons to beat boss1(monk?).
Go back and make boss appear in right. Manipulate luck and make him jump first.
Don't forget the 64 frames rule.

Area 2(forest)

Boss2, eagle1. Only shuriken can damage it, and can make the double damage, power 6.
Use cancel weapon trick to slow down the eagle.
You can find a glitch in the middle road(some orange squares in the black sky). I use cancel weapon trick and it happened, but I don't know why it happened. Get weapon Bomb.
Boss3(ninja?). Manipulate luck and make him use the small jump. After kill him, use trick Platform move.

Area 3(mountainous)

Do the same as Area 1. 青(2nd) Boss4(Ironman). Shuriken can't damage him.

Area 4(forest2)

Boss5, eagle2. Only shuriken can damage it, power 3.
widely used the 2nd cancel weapon trick.
青(3rd). Boss6(frog ninja?)
Boss7, big frog(Combiner frog ninjutsu?). Only Bomb can damage them.

Area 5(forest3)

Get Boomerang from the 1st heart.
Boss8(fire monk?). Bomb can't damage him. But I can use Boomerang and keep moving right.

Area 6(cave)

Boss9(oldman in white). Boomerang is 6 frames faster than Bomb. Because Bomb and shuriken would stop character move 1 frames if the back screen scroll stop. Though Bomb can kill enemy faster.
Boss10(snake1). Boomerang is 7 frames faster than Bomb, because of the same reason.
Boss11(不动明王Acalanatha?). Only Bomb can damage him. After beat him, get the first map1.

Area 1(town)

Go back to Area1, I must get the map2, go into a house to take it. So I can't use 青 this time(or use 青 kill boss and turn back? No, only 5 times of 青).
Use Boomerang kill the boss.

Area 2(forest1)

青(4th). Widely use trick Platform move.
I change to 青 at 000x61Pixel X 158, the original time value is 13, not 14. If use 青 to the end, Aka will pause a lot of frames(cost the same frames as 青 change back to Aka) in next Arae(the same thing happened on Island 6), but in this Area, I have to wait another 64 frames until time depleted.

Cross 1

Go up.

Area 7(house)

Use blade to get the last map3. Too bad, blade can't be used cancel weapon.

Cross 2

Go up, too.

Area 6(cave)

No any bosses here.

Cross 3

Use the map here, will find a way to the bird island.

Island 1(water snake road)

Boss12(water snake). Try to kill this boss as fast as possible, not keep moving right like other bosses. So I use Bomb hit the first time.
I want to use bomb only to kill it, but if use bomb, must use cancel weapon too, and must jump too. when jumping, it's hard to use bomb to hit boss.

Island 2(lavafall room)

This area is very long, and can't choose 青.

Island 3(flame room)

Very long and can't choose 青, too.

Island 4(trap room)

A short stage, widely use Platform move.

Island 5(machine room)

Can't choose 青.
Boss13(Fake Link). Keep moving right, so I use the Boomerang.

Island 6(single bridge room)

青(5th).
Boss14(water master). I have to wait a lot of frames first, because I use 青 in last room.
Kill him as fast as possible, because I need to get the item 水. So I use Bomb.

Island 7(final room)

Boss15(Thunder master). 5 of the normal weapon, only blade can damage him. But when the Thunder coming down, use 水 can kill him with only one hit.
Boss16(kendoman). Bomb is hard to hit him, but Boomerang can shot right down in this room.
Boss17(snake2). shuriken can damage it 2 point, Bomb 3, Boomerang 3. Fastest to kill it. I chose Boomerang first to hit him at first time. But it's impossible to kill him with only one jump without the 2nd cancel weapon. So I change back to Bomb and use cancel weapon. Don't forget the 2nd cancel weapon type can't be used for Boomerang.
Boss18(Final Boss). Change to Boomerang, because use bomb need jump and can't hit him faster.
Thanks to max12187566 and 甘泉uni 's tas. Help me choose the best plan.
max12187566 Frame: 31269 in 8:41 http://www.tudou.com/programs/view/bVuN6SEUAIY/
甘泉uni Frame: 31318 in 8:41 http://www.nicovideo.jp/watch/sm9245147

Noxxa: Judging.
Noxxa: Good viewer response. Accepting for Moons.


TASVideoAgent
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This topic is for the purpose of discussing #4154: mtvf1's NES Kamen no Ninja: Akakage in 08:04.77
morningpee
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Solid run with attention to the RNG, using lots of unobvious optimizations. Thanks for the commentary! It's funny that something as simple background scrolling affects whether Aokage is faster than Akakage. Yes vote.
Projects: Tetris DS Genesis Toys: Let the Toy Wars Begin
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Sorry, the nico's upload what I use the bad sound, I don't know why the sound become 2 channels. I fix it. Download But I don't want to change to nico's link.
NitroGenesis
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voted meh; can only take so much of "run right for justice and kill a boss quickly"
YoungJ1997lol wrote:
Normally i would say Yes, but thennI thought "its not the same hack" so ill stick with meh.
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NitroGenesis wrote:
voted meh; can only take so much of "run right for justice and kill a boss quickly"
Do you mean Super Mario Bros? If you want to watch kill boss slowly, maybe you like these 2 guys' old run.
NitroGenesis
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This game lacks variety to me. It's also kind of annoying to listen to and look at. I think you did a good job running it, but there is not much you can do to help the entertainment level. BTW, I think Super Mario Bros. is not a very exciting game.
YoungJ1997lol wrote:
Normally i would say Yes, but thennI thought "its not the same hack" so ill stick with meh.
Post subject: Nice Run and Saved Frame
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英語が苦手なので日本語で記載します 更新しようとは思ってましたが後回しにしていました 青影の時間延長とかはまったく思いつかなかったのですばらしいですね
Patashu
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Nice TAS. Your encode and subtitles made it much more enjoyable to watch :D By the way, what is the rule for colour/positioning for the NES music channels?
My Chiptune music, made in Famitracker: http://soundcloud.com/patashu My twitch. I stream mostly shmups & rhythm games http://twitch.tv/patashu My youtube, again shmups and rhythm games and misc stuff: http://youtube.com/user/patashu
ALAKTORN
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I have no idea what I just watched, but I liked it
Jigwally
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So did anyone else notice the blatant similarities between this game and Puss N Boots: Pero's Great Adventure? The frog, snake and demon bosses are all the same, the switching between weapon types is similar AND that one level section at the end with the conveyor belts and dropping ceilings is just like near the end of Puss N Boots? It makes sense since they're both Toei games but it's not like Puss N Boots is just the localized version of this game, they're two distinct games using the same assets.
Patashu
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Jigwally wrote:
So did anyone else notice the blatant similarities between this game and Puss N Boots: Pero's Great Adventure? The frog, snake and demon bosses are all the same, the switching between weapon types is similar AND that one level section at the end with the conveyor belts and dropping ceilings is just like near the end of Puss N Boots? It makes sense since they're both Toei games but it's not like Puss N Boots is just the localized version of this game, they're two distinct games using the same assets.
Oh! That frog boss looked so familiar, but I didn't place it...
My Chiptune music, made in Famitracker: http://soundcloud.com/patashu My twitch. I stream mostly shmups & rhythm games http://twitch.tv/patashu My youtube, again shmups and rhythm games and misc stuff: http://youtube.com/user/patashu
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played this in a pirate console,thanks a lot for the name and yes vote.
I want all good TAS inside TASvideos, it's my motto. TAS i'm interested: Megaman series, specially the RPGs! Where is the mmbn1 all chips TAS we deserve? Where is the Command Mission TAS? i'm slowly moving away from TASing fighting games for speed, maybe it's time to start finding some entertainment value in TASing.
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Encode: Link to video
I still learn more about English. https://www.youtube.com/user/McBobX100
I wrote:
Working is the best way to achieve goals in speedruning. Hardworking is a pain.
Editor, Experienced player (570)
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I found this quite enjoyable. There were definitely a lot of little optimizations and times that I could tell you were performing a precise trick (like the platform zips). Your commentary was also interesting and even funny at times. I feel I was entertained enough to give this a Yes vote. Good job!
Joined: 1/24/2013
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So this is a rhythm game, right? ;) You found some neat tricks in this one.
Personman
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This is very entertaining, technically excellent, helpful explanations/commentary, easy yes vote. Hope it's a moon.
A warb degombs the brangy. Your gitch zanks and leils the warb.
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Jigwally wrote:
So did anyone else notice the blatant similarities between this game and Puss N Boots: Pero's Great Adventure? The frog, snake and demon bosses are all the same, the switching between weapon types is similar AND that one level section at the end with the conveyor belts and dropping ceilings is just like near the end of Puss N Boots? It makes sense since they're both Toei games but it's not like Puss N Boots is just the localized version of this game, they're two distinct games using the same assets.
They are made by the same company.
mklip2001
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I was a little confused watching this as to why you didn't use blue ninja more often, but then I saw your comment that you can only use the blue ninja 5 times. This was pretty good for a run-right-for-justice game. The bosses get obliterated. The weapon variety also helps, and I give this a (weak) Yes vote.
Used to be a frequent submissions commenter. My new computer has had some issues running emulators, so I've been here more sporadically. Still haven't gotten around to actually TASing yet... I was going to improve Kid Dracula for GB. It seems I was beaten to it, though, with a recent awesome run by Hetfield90 and StarvinStruthers. (http://tasvideos.org/2928M.html.) Thanks to goofydylan8 for running Gargoyle's Quest 2 because I mentioned the game! (http://tasvideos.org/2001M.html) Thanks to feos and MESHUGGAH for taking up runs of Duck Tales 2 because of my old signature! Thanks also to Samsara for finishing a Treasure Master run. From the submission comments:
Shoutouts and thanks to mklip2001 for arguably being the nicest and most supportive person on the forums.
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
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This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [2512] NES Kamen no Ninja: Akakage by mtvf1 in 08:04.77
mklip2001
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Somehow, this movie is both published and still in the front page's submission list.
Used to be a frequent submissions commenter. My new computer has had some issues running emulators, so I've been here more sporadically. Still haven't gotten around to actually TASing yet... I was going to improve Kid Dracula for GB. It seems I was beaten to it, though, with a recent awesome run by Hetfield90 and StarvinStruthers. (http://tasvideos.org/2928M.html.) Thanks to goofydylan8 for running Gargoyle's Quest 2 because I mentioned the game! (http://tasvideos.org/2001M.html) Thanks to feos and MESHUGGAH for taking up runs of Duck Tales 2 because of my old signature! Thanks also to Samsara for finishing a Treasure Master run. From the submission comments:
Shoutouts and thanks to mklip2001 for arguably being the nicest and most supportive person on the forums.
Joined: 11/29/2013
Posts: 9
what is the reason to use opus as audio? my ffdshow audio decoder cant' play the sound and I don't want to install libopus. why can't this movie use normal audio format?
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bebopfan wrote:
what is the reason to use opus as audio?
Opus is a lot better audio codec than Vorbis. For older players (but not toasters), there is the compat encode.
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378 frames improved http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/26211921727939314 Link to video I copy the most input from my old run, and don't want to redo it again. It's to similar, so I don't plan to submit it. Most improvement is skipping the last boss. Thanks to the man 王兴瑞I found. Another 1 frames saved is from here. This new glitch can be use for another boss fight, but nothing can be saved except for the last boss. Because I have to wait freeze for along time at the begining of the next stage.
mklip2001
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If you don't want to submit, that's your decision of course. But this site doesn't have a problem with people submitting small improvements, especially since it's been a long time since the publication. Would you want to give someone else permission to submit for you and copy your recent message as the submission text?
Used to be a frequent submissions commenter. My new computer has had some issues running emulators, so I've been here more sporadically. Still haven't gotten around to actually TASing yet... I was going to improve Kid Dracula for GB. It seems I was beaten to it, though, with a recent awesome run by Hetfield90 and StarvinStruthers. (http://tasvideos.org/2928M.html.) Thanks to goofydylan8 for running Gargoyle's Quest 2 because I mentioned the game! (http://tasvideos.org/2001M.html) Thanks to feos and MESHUGGAH for taking up runs of Duck Tales 2 because of my old signature! Thanks also to Samsara for finishing a Treasure Master run. From the submission comments:
Shoutouts and thanks to mklip2001 for arguably being the nicest and most supportive person on the forums.