Tetris & Dr. Mario is a 2-in-1 game compilation that was released in 1994. For this run, I choose Tetris, Vs. Com, B-Type, and it's uphill from here.
Game objectives
Emulator used: BizHawk 1.11.8
Aim for fastest time
Comments
I wanted to a TAS of this version since we already have TASes of the NES and Game Boy versions, as well as the Tengen version, the Game Boy Color version, and the DS version. I went with Tetris B-Type Vs. Com and started from there. This game is prone to desync and it's possible to work around it. This version allows use of diagonal motion, so you can drop and slide pieces at the same time.
Stage by stage comments
Tetris B-Type Vs. Com
Even with the Computer set to Hard, he can still be defeated rather quickly. I set the level to 0 and the height to 5 for me and the computer. The reason I set the level to 0 is to minimize input so that my stack won't overflow before his does. Sending 4 rows of garbage is enough to overflow your opponent's stack on height 5. To send 4 rows of garbage, is by making a Tetris or 2 triples.
Other comments
Setting the computer's level to 9 costs 2 frames before setup, and there's no skip 10 levels cheat like on the NES and Game Boy versions.
For Round 2, I set up for a Tetris, but the I tetromino can't come soon enough without overflowing.
Noxxa: I don't feel that this movie does enough to really call itself a full game completion (as conforming to Vault rules). This movie does not reach any meaningful end screen - after completing, it goes straight back to the Vs. Com settings menu. This is unlike the actual single-player modes, which do provide such end screens (be they as simple as a "you are a Tetris master!" screen). The fact that this movie picks the easiest settings to defeat the AI with also does not feel right.
As the movie does not reach an acceptable end screen or other means that can really be defined as clearing the game, I am rejecting this submission.
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I'm voting Meh, also providing an Encode.
The biggest question I have for this TAS is that you have downtime. During that downtime is it possible to actually manipulate anything or to create entertainment whilst waiting for the doom of the computer player?
Quack:
Link to video
Disables Comments and Ratings for the YouTube account.Something better for yourself and also others.
It was short and enjoyable. I really think this is a game where ending input early adds to the entertainment value.
Since there's a lot of waiting at the end of levels 1 and 2, it makes me wonder if you could sacrifice some of your speed for some luck manipulation that would get the computer to make worse moves.
Yes vote, though I could see this one making it to the vault.
Joined: 2/12/2015
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I've tried to manipulate luck in this game, but it's most likely impossible since, from what I've seen, this game uses an RNG that pulls numbers from a list instead of generating new numbers on the fly. Most Game Boy Advance games use an RNG like that, by the way.
Aside from that, I support the notion of adding a little entertainment during any downtime.
:shrug:
I'm more active on Twitter nowadays: @HunterCoates5
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
I find the settings chosen questionable. Essentially the easiest to defeat computer was selected.
The fastest speed (level) should be used because it's the hardest, might as well consider it on easy mode otherwise. The height setting which should be TAS'd is arguable. The obvious logic to pick height of 5 is to make it hard for the player with a lot of junk on the screen. However, that same logic makes it easier to attack the computer (which was pointed out in the submission notes), and for that reason, height of 0 may be the hardest. In any case, I don't find this played the game on the hardest possible setting.
Why wasn't mixed-match played? Playing in mixed-match mode fights the computer against all built in games. Tetris-only makes it seem like only half the game was played, and I'm not certain such a branch should exist for this game.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Joined: 3/9/2004
Posts: 4588
Location: In his lab studying psychology to find new ways to torture TASers and forumers
I just noticed mixed-match mode doesn't have a vs. com option, what the heck? (I didn't realize it before, because I always play this game with friends)
In any case, I believe a full TAS for this game should include both Tetris and Dr. Mario.
Warning: Opinions expressed by Nach or others in this post do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or position of Nach himself on the matter(s) being discussed therein.
Well we could do a Mixed Match TAS by setting the B-Type to level 10 height 05 and 30 lines, Dr. Mario on virus level 20 speed hi, and A-Type on level 10. The lines counter is not shown, but it takes 100 lines to get to level 11. We could make a lua script that shows how many lines are cleared. It takes longer to get 999,999 on this version than the NES and Game Boy versions 'cause the multiplier is capped at 10.
Try to get a high score possible in 30 minutes. 9,999,999 is the maximum score. It's faster to achieve that score on Tetris DX, and it takes a while to get to 99,999,999 on Tetris DS.