A little while ago, I had a curiosity to know how many of the the NES "Black Box" games had published TASes. I was a bit surprised to see how many didn't and decided that it'd be a worthwhile endeavor to try and work toward having published TASes of this collection of games. In addition to completing this sub-collection of NES games, it will also progress the TASMania project. I have begun TASes on a few of the currently un-published games.
Game Endpoint
The game's manual states that the game is 'winnable' by rescuing the maiden.
For me, if a game's stated win condition is met, the game is completed (even when play can continue thereafter). Thus, saving the maiden is all that is necessary to complete this game.
TAS Info/Process
Uses game mode B.
I initially started this TAS in mode B due to faster ball movement.
In addition to faster ball movement, it is also possible to launch the ball earlier in mode B; getting the whole process started faster.
After a while I considered the possibility that even with slower ball movement, it may be possible to complete the run faster in mode A and therefore tested various permutations in that mode. None of these were faster than my initial effort in mode B.
Process
Launch ball with a power that allowed for the fastest exit of the top main screen while still allowing the ball position to be manipulated using the flippers during descent to the lower screen.
Use the flippers on the upper screen to slap the ball down to the lower screen in a path that gets the ball to the Bonus Room chute as quickly as possible.
Save the maiden.
Input was ended as early as possible while still allowing the maiden to escape (then stupidly allow herself to become trapped again).
To continue to a Game Over screen, would require sacrificing of the 3 balls.
ThunderAxe31: Setting to Delayed, until we figure out if this submission is affected by the existence of a VS version of this game.
ThunderAxe31: Setting back to Judging Underway, as the it's now being actively worked on.
ThunderAxe31: The VS version features an arcade dip switch setting that allows to beat the game faster, and since that isn't enough to consider it as a different game, I'm rejecting this submission in favor of the VS version submission.
I did a cursory look and it takes about an hour for a regular person to roll over the score at a million points. While probably publishable I don't think the game has enough variety to have a score attack that remains interesting for the entire journey. This run is short and straightforward enough that I can see someone getting a quick bit of enjoyment.
Impressive. How did you optimize it? Trial and error, botting, or something else?
Just trial and error.
This is the fastest way into the bonus room.
Once in there, this submission was actually the result of my first attempt at saving the maiden.
I tried numerous other variations inside that room; but by dumb luck, my first attempt was the fastest solution i encountered.
Something I didn't try however (because i just thought of it) is whether or not entring the bonus room at a later time caused the ball's initial trajectory to vary. That might allow for a faster solve.
I may play around a bit more on this theory, but for now, I'm content with this run being judged as-is.
EDIT: FWIW, I did a run of the VS Pinball ROM with the default dip switch settings, but it was slower than this one. I'm not very familiar with changing dip switch options for VS NES ROMs though, so there may be settings which could be changed to result in a faster run than this submission.
