Well, I spent the last two weeks making a Let's Play for The Battle of Olympus. (Not a TAS.)
I collect 100% of the items, and I utilize a sequence break that is supposed to be impossible.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP9E0dOSdv4ko-AbYakV3OMKI7M_9lDqu
The videos aren't monetized. I just want to share my Let's Play here because I spent so many hours attempting to create high-quality, entertaining videos, and I want people to watch them.
Well, I spent the last two weeks making a Let's Play for The Battle of Olympus. (Not a TAS.)
I collect 100% of the items, and I utilize a sequence break that is supposed to be impossible.
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLP9E0dOSdv4ko-AbYakV3OMKI7M_9lDqu
The videos aren't monetized. I just want to share my Let's Play here because I spent so many hours attempting to create high-quality, entertaining videos, and I want people to watch them.
Thanks Arc! Nice to hear of you after a long while. You were one of this site's first users, registering on the forums even before Nach.
Will watch your let's play of course.
Thanks Arc! Nice to hear of you after a long while. You were one of this site's first users, registering on the forums even before Nach.
Will watch your let's play of course.
I remember when it all began back in December 2003. I've been here the whole time, but I'm just quietly watching others' videos nowadays.
I figured that you would be interested in the LP. It felt like I was making a TAS again, spending so much time trying to perfect it.
If you're looking for improvable runs mine are all probably very improvable since A) they are super old and B) I generally I was more worried about the run looking good and fun. http://tasvideos.org/Movies-34up-111up-RatingY.html
I'm working on a TAS to improve [590] NES The Battle of Olympus (USA) by foda in 10:40.78. I know the game pretty well from my 11-year-old non-L+R TAS ([292] NES The Battle of Olympus (USA) by Arc in 19:51.85) and my 100% completion let's play. I don't think the route will change, just some optimizations. I explained the sequence-breaking possibilities in the first post of this thread and in my LP.
I'll post screen by screen comparisons, and I'll post WIPs after I get as far as Kyman did.
Frame Wars
Character
Foda: 858
Kyman: 810 (48)
Arc: 810 (48) (0)
(I have chosen to name Helene 'y' instead of '9.')
Arcadia 1
Foda: 1019
Kyman: 971 (48)
Arc: 971 (48) (0)
Arcadia 2
Foda: 1222
Kyman: 1174 (48)
Arc: 1174 (48) (0)
Arcadia 3
Foda: 1425
Kyman: 1377 (48)
Arc: 1377 (48) (0)
Arcadia 4
Foda: 1628
Kyman: 1580 (48)
Arc: 1580 (48) (0)
I did it! I improved Kyman & SilentSlayers's WIP by 1 frame! I'm 117 frames faster than Foda's published movie.
WIP1: http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/28285328904038760
This image is a quick guide to superspeed.
At 000, you're not moving.
Without the L+R glitch, you go from 255 to 232 max while moving left and 001 to 024 max when moving right.
L+R allows you to go beyond 024.
You can't partially build up rightward speed and switch to left.
Maximum right speed happens at 127, and maximum left speed happens at 128.
To get to max left speed, you have to go beyond 127 to 128.
It's an instant switch from max right to max left.
Link to video
On the first screen of Arcadia, I attempted to use a staircase + zip glitch combination.
Unfortunately, it takes too long to be faster than plain ol' superspeed.
Frame Wars
Arcadia 5
Foda: 1754
Kyman: 1706 (48)
Arc: 1706 (48) (0)
Arcadia Portal
Foda: 1834
Kyman: 1786 (48)
Arc: 1786 (48) (0)
Arcadia Bull
Foda: 2014
Kyman: 1966 (48)
Arc: 1966 (48) (0)
Arcadia Zeus
Foda: 2543
Kyman: 2430 (113)
Arc: 2430 (113) (0)
Kyman's technical work at Zeus was excellent.
Kyman took advantage of the glitch that allows you to maintain your speed when you use your weapon.
Kneeling to Zeus usually takes your speed down to 000, so you have to attack first.
It's not an obvious trick to pull off.
Arcadia Bull (2)
Foda: 2702
Kyman: 2589 (113)
Arc: 2589 (113) (0)
Arcadia Portal (2)
Foda: 2850
Kyman: 2737 (113)
Arc: 2737 (113) (0)
Arcadia 5 (2)
Foda: 2992
Kyman: 2879 (113)
Arc: 2879 (113) (0)
Pelo 1
Foda: 3161
Kyman: 3051 (110)
Arc: 3051 (110) (0)
Kyman and I had a different jumper spawn than Foda because of the difference in timing.
We have to attack the jumper since we have to go over the spider web, and your speed doesn't increase while attacking.
Thus we have a slight delay getting up to the 127, whereas Foda gets up to 127 as fast as possible.
Pelo Portal 1
Foda: 3244
Kyman: 3134 (110)
Arc: 3134 (110) (0)
Pelo 2
Foda: 3349
Kyman: 3237 (112)
Arc: 3237 (112) (0)
Foda initiated the attack on the jumper too early.
You get your speed up higher by waiting until the last possible moment to attack.
Pelo 3
Foda: 3469
Kyman: 3353 (116)
Arc: 3353 (116) (0)
Foda jumped too early and lost 4 frames at the exit.
Pelo Portal 2
Foda: 3629
Kyman: 3513 (116)
Arc: 3513 (116) (0)
Pelo Bush
Foda: 3964
Kyman: 3848 (116)
Arc: 3847 (117) (1)
At full speed, you crash into the second green bush.
Kyman and Foda solved this problem by maintaining max speed (8 pixels per frame) but going back to the right 16 pixels.
(Thus moving 32 extra pixels total; 4 frames lost.)
I kept moving to the left at all times, but I did not maintain 8 pixels per frame.
I went 7, 8, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7.
The 17 sevens evidently are worth only 3 frames lost instead of 4.
Pelo Portal 3
Foda: 4124
Kyman: 4008 (116)
Arc: 4007 (117) (1)
Pelo 4
Foda: 4329
Kyman: 4213 (116)
Arc: 4212 (117) (1)
Pelo Hydra
Foda: 4574
Kyman: 4458 (116)
Arc: 4457 (117) (1)
Because of the timing difference, I got a different Hydra spawn.
I had to jump higher over it, but I was still able to land at the exit.
The rest of the way, I'll just compare to Foda.
Olive collection is coming up, and I probably won't be able to compare screen-for-screen.
I'll compare the non-olive rooms, and I'll post WIP2 when we resynchronize after buying the ocarina.
I saved 4 frames by picking up the sword at max speed, so I'm 121 frames ahead of Foda after the continue screen.
Olive farming is ongoing. It's the most difficult part. All of these things are happening simultaneously:
-Build up/maintain max speed (swinging sword delays speed increase)
-Get enemies to spawn
-Get enemies to attack
-Time jumps/attacks precisely
-Attack only while in air (on ground stops movement)
-Avoid the spider web
-Manipulate drops (only 25% chance of an olive)
-Pick up olives (have to wait until they're on the ground)
On the second visit to the screen that I labeled Pelo 2,
Foda collected 30 olives.
I collected 29 olives.
I did it 309 frames faster.
The harp room is more difficult than it looks.
I saved 4 frames.
3 frames are from the name difference (0 v. Link).
1 frame is from picking up the harp better.
Now for the second half of collecting olives.
Thank you. The olive collection is almost finished. Then after I deal with the boss room, I'll be able to report how much time I saved compared to Foda. I'm looking forward to playing the fun part of the game again.
Here's a sad fail. I killed three enemies with one swing of the sword... and went 0/3 on olive drops. Olive collecting is brutal.
WIP 2 is finally here. I'm (almost) at the ocarina.
http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/29514842737322349Saved frames:
121 frames total from the start through getting the sword.
4 frames on the harp screen.
126 frames on the Cyclops screen.
1 frame on the third Laconia screen.
591 frames total from collecting olives faster.
843 frames faster total (~14 seconds).
I found a solution to the previous sad fail. Three enemies/olives with a single slash:
On the Cyclops screen, I improved the damage boost method, character movement, and the boss fight.
WIP3: http://tasvideos.org/userfiles/info/29712030915008834
Entering Argolis now.
900 frames faster. (Was 843 frames after WIP2.)
Differences:
+4 frames at the ocarina
+2 frames in the dark room
+6 frames second visit to Laconia 1
+9 frames second visit to Laconia 2
-4 frames Siren fight (worse enemy spawn)
+27 frames Graeae fight
-1 frame third visit to Laconia 1 (worse enemy spawn)
+3 frames third visit to Laconia 2
+6 frames Arcadia 6
+5 frames Arcadia 7
Bad news:
There's a movement trick that I wasn't aware of until now that saves 7 frames per use. Foda and Kyman weren't using it. I counted 9 screens where I could have used it up to this point. I can't go back and splice it in because it changes the enemy spawns. I would have to start over near the beginning of the game. It took me almost 2 months to collect olives, so I'm not going to redo it. If you're reading this post in 2026 and working on an improvement, keep it in mind.
I should make rapid progress the rest of the way.
Thank you, Foda.
The movement trick is useful on screens in which you start with leftward momentum but want to go to the right.
Typically when you enter a screen and are moving left, your speed starts at 240.
So when you go 2 to the right per frame, the pattern is
240-242-244-246-248-250-252-254-000-002-004-...-127
We knew that swinging the sword instantly sets your speed to 000.
When you swing when you're on the ground, you stay at 000 for 17 frames, until the attack animation finishes. (Generally useless.)
When you jump on one frame and then swing on the next frame, your speed is locked at whatever it was until the attack animation finishes. (Generally sucks.)
However, if you press A and B on the same frame, you set your speed to 000, get in the air, but do not have the attack animation. So the speed pattern goes immediately from 240 to 000, but you can increase your speed on the next frame.
240-000-002-004-...-127
I'm 1019 frames ahead now. I gained time on every screen.
+4 frames on Argolis 1
+2 frames on Argolis Portal 1
+1 frame on Argolis 2
+2 frames on Argolis Portal 2
+1 frame on Argolis 3
+2 frames on Argolis Portal 3
+17 frames on Fragment of Love 1
+41 frames on the return to Argolis 3 (a beautiful suicide)
+2 frames on Pegasus
+47 frames on Attica 1 (it's faster to go to the right)
What happens if you fight Cerberus on the right side of the room:
Link to video
I'm 1219 frames ahead entering Cerberus's room. I should finish the game this weekend.
There's a movement trick that I wasn't aware of until now that saves 7 frames per use. Foda and Kyman weren't using it. I counted 9 screens where I could have used it up to this point. I can't go back and splice it in because it changes the enemy spawns. I would have to start over near the beginning of the game. It took me almost 2 months to collect olives, so I'm not going to redo it. If you're reading this post in 2026 and working on an improvement, keep it in mind.
I'm fixing this problem now. If the improved TAS saves 87 frames, the time will break the 10-minute barrier (9:59.98). I'll save 60-70 frames just from using the jumpturn trick. Most of the other frames will come from collecting olives faster.
This image is a quick guide to superspeed.
At 000, you're not moving.
Without the L+R glitch, you go from 255 to 232 max while moving left and 001 to 024 max when moving right.
L+R allows you to go beyond 024.
You can't partially build up rightward speed and switch to left.
Maximum right speed happens at 127, and maximum left speed happens at 128.
To get to max left speed, you have to go beyond 127 to 128.
It's an instant switch from max right to max left.
Link to video
On the first screen of Arcadia, I attempted to use a staircase + zip glitch combination.
Unfortunately, it takes too long to be faster than plain ol' superspeed.
Frame Wars
Arcadia 5
Foda: 1754
Kyman: 1706 (48)
Arc: 1706 (48) (0)
Arcadia Portal
Foda: 1834
Kyman: 1786 (48)
Arc: 1786 (48) (0)
Arcadia Bull
Foda: 2014
Kyman: 1966 (48)
Arc: 1966 (48) (0)
Arcadia Zeus
Foda: 2543
Kyman: 2430 (113)
Arc: 2430 (113) (0)
Kyman's technical work at Zeus was excellent.
Kyman took advantage of the glitch that allows you to maintain your speed when you use your weapon.
Kneeling to Zeus usually takes your speed down to 000, so you have to attack first.
It's not an obvious trick to pull off.
Arcadia Bull (2)
Foda: 2702
Kyman: 2589 (113)
Arc: 2589 (113) (0)
Arcadia Portal (2)
Foda: 2850
Kyman: 2737 (113)
Arc: 2737 (113) (0)
Arcadia 5 (2)
Foda: 2992
Kyman: 2879 (113)
Arc: 2879 (113) (0)
Pelo 1
Foda: 3161
Kyman: 3051 (110)
Arc: 3051 (110) (0)
Kyman and I had a different jumper spawn than Foda because of the difference in timing.
We have to attack the jumper since we have to go over the spider web, and your speed doesn't increase while attacking.
Thus we have a slight delay getting up to the 127, whereas Foda gets up to 127 as fast as possible.
Pelo Portal 1
Foda: 3244
Kyman: 3134 (110)
Arc: 3134 (110) (0)
Pelo 2
Foda: 3349
Kyman: 3237 (112)
Arc: 3237 (112) (0)
Foda initiated the attack on the jumper too early.
You get your speed up higher by waiting until the last possible moment to attack.
Pelo 3
Foda: 3469
Kyman: 3353 (116)
Arc: 3353 (116) (0)
Foda jumped too early and lost 4 frames at the exit.
Pelo Portal 2
Foda: 3629
Kyman: 3513 (116)
Arc: 3513 (116) (0)
Pelo Bush
Foda: 3964
Kyman: 3848 (116)
Arc: 3847 (117) (1)
At full speed, you crash into the second green bush.
Kyman and Foda solved this problem by maintaining max speed (8 pixels per frame) but going back to the right 16 pixels.
(Thus moving 32 extra pixels total; 4 frames lost.)
I kept moving to the left at all times, but I did not maintain 8 pixels per frame.
I went 7, 8, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 7, 8, 7, 7, 8, 7, 8, 8, 7.
The 17 sevens evidently are worth only 3 frames lost instead of 4.
Pelo Portal 3
Foda: 4124
Kyman: 4008 (116)
Arc: 4007 (117) (1)
Pelo 4
Foda: 4329
Kyman: 4213 (116)
Arc: 4212 (117) (1)
Pelo Hydra
Foda: 4574
Kyman: 4458 (116)
Arc: 4457 (117) (1)
Because of the timing difference, I got a different Hydra spawn.
I had to jump higher over it, but I was still able to land at the exit.
The rest of the way, I'll just compare to Foda.
Olive collection is coming up, and I probably won't be able to compare screen-for-screen.
I'll compare the non-olive rooms, and I'll post WIP2 when we resynchronize after buying the ocarina.
On the Cyclops screen, I improved the damage boost method, character movement, and the boss fight.
