Hi again! Thanks for some free time, I decided to try to improve the current Castlevania TAS. It's 21 frames faster, but due to the different FPS used by FCEU and FCEUX/BizHawk, it's approximately 1.47 seconds ahead.
Game objectives
- Emulator used: BizHawk 2.1.1 (NesHawk core - QuickNES palette)
- Takes damage to save time
- Abuses programming errors
- Can be played in both USA PRG1 or Konami Collector's edition.
Quoted from the description of the current published movie: The original Castlevania is set in the year 1691. Simon Belmont must fight his way through the castle and destroy Count Dracula.
Most of the stages is the same as the published run. So, Phil and Morrison's run is really very well optimized. But I found some improvements to this run:
1 frame saved jumping earlier at the gate of pre-stage 01 (a lag reduced between transition).
EDIT 23/09: Actually, that frame saved was from different power-on on BizHawk. My flaw that I haven't noted correctly before until now.
- 4 frames saved on stage 03 by getting holy water without losing time, using the watch (also stops 2 seconds of game time, losing 2 frames at the score)
- 2 frames saved on the first boss (defeating on the left position instead of right position) and the second boss (using boomerangs for an extra hit), respectively.
- For some reason, a lag frame was added during the stairs transition of stage 08.
- 4 frames saved by pausing the game to manipulate the first 'skeledragon' on stage 12 without losing time. Also, a lag was reduced on the way to the second 'skeledragon'
- And 10 frames saved on the fourth boss by using axes instead of holy water.
Possible improvements
Using the watch could be faster on the Stage 06, but due at lack of a boomerang, all of the frames were lost during the second boss.
EDIT 27/08/18: A boomerang drop can be possible with that damage boost on the bat, but with good RNG and timing.
It's possible to save some frames skipping one of the stairs of Stage 13 by using the damage boost on the skeleton, but lost later due of a frame rule on the door transition.
EDIT 27/08/18: This can saves 48 frames (aka 3 framerules) if you manage to manipulate the skeleton very well.
- It's possible to defeat the fifty boss (36 frames faster) using axes. You can pick on the first room of stage 14, but axes are very bad to destroy enemies without losing frames, especially the axemen.
Total score: 250720 (8880 less score than the published run)
(The run doesn't include the axe boss improvement. Score: 262320 - 2720 more score than the published TAS)
Special Thanks
- Phil and Morrison, for the fantastic published run.
- Grincevent, for the RAM addresses.
- McHazard, for the axe strategy of Stage 12 boss.
Noxxa: Great to see how a classic top-quality TAS is not so untouchable after all. Excellent improvement to an already excellent run - accepting as an improvement to the
published movie.
