LevelOld (2014-2015New (2018-2019)Improvement
Neo Green Hill 10:21:220:21:100:00:12
Neo Green Hill 20:37:180:37:080:00:10
Secret Base 10:32:500:27:870:04:63
Secret Base 20:55:500:49:870:05:63
Casino Paradise 10:24:070:20:750:03:32
Casino Paradise 20:39:300:38:900:00:40
Ice Mountain 10:38:320:37:950:00:37
Ice Mountain 20:52:680:51:830:00:85
Angel Island 10:25:230:24:480:00:75
Angel Island 20:52:400:52:000:00:40
Egg Rocket1:22:271:17:820:04:45
Cosmic Angel0:51:520:51:180:00:34
X-Zone0:43:800:43:700:00:10
Total9:19.198:59:330:33:13

Game objectives

  • Emulator used: Bizhawk 2.3/Bizhawk 2.3.1
  • Uses an optional character
  • Aims for In-Game Time instead of Real-Time
  • Takes damage to save time
  • Heavy glitch abuse
  • Uses death to save time
  • Uses the hardest difficulty

Comments

After 3 years since the last attempt, I decided to do a new TAS of 'Knuckles Advance'. At first, I was simply only doing this to test something that was done in RTA that I spoke to KirbyMastah about. He wasn't sure if it was worth doing for a TAS, time-wise. I became increasingly curious about it and so here we are!

Stage by stage comments

Neo Green Hill 1

Aside from tiny optimizations, I was able to clip through the curve off-screen with enough velocity by using a punch right before it. This allowed me to zip to the booster on the other side earlier than the previous run. Also after getting the double boost from the last booster, I did the 1-2-Uppercut. Due to the weird properties between the 'tube' and the uppercut, Knuckles is able to accel past the normal speeds and goes as fast as close to the ultraspindash.

Neo Green Hill 2

Here was more or less the same as the previous run, just more optimized.

Secret Base 1

Alright, this was the stage that inspired this new TAS. Aside from optimizing the small bit before the loop, a new strat was used. By crouching at the edge of the loop and spindashing at the earliest point after the screen scrolls down fully, the solidarity of the level is broken. Unlike RTA, I am able to jump up to the platform and glide all the way until near the end of the level.

Secret Base 2

Most of the route is similar to the previous run but more optimized with the exception of a few things. Upon doing the punches at the curve, Knuckles was able to avoid the spikes and gain additional velocity on the conveyer rope. I also utilized the same glitch as the previous act, but took it the whole way to the last lamp post before dying. This also restores the solidarity in the level to normal.

Casino Paradise 1

I had to delay to let the background objects move around in more favorable places. From here, I take a different path to the twin bumpers and spindash to the next area instead of taking the contraption and waiting. Once I get to the flicker, I then use the other side to clip into the section with another one and clip through that one to finish.

Casino Paradise 2

More or less the same as the previous run, but more optimized.

Ice Mountain 1

Small optimizations here and there.

Ice Mountain 2

Aside from better optimizations, I took a faster path to the boss and used the glide to gain more momentum and be in floating position.

Angel Island 1

Same as the previous run with some better optimization.

Angel Island 2

Same as the previous run with some better optimization.

Egg Rocket Zone

This was an interesting case of having underestimated a previous idea and it turned out to be faster. Said idea was spindashing up to the platform rather than going to the wall and gliding onto it from there.

Cosmic Angel Zone

Most of this was the same as the previous run with a few differences. I used a punch at the edge of a ledge which gave Knuckles even more velocity to the 'Snake lane'. Another major thing came in the form of finding a better clip to reach the boss sooner.

X-Zone

Optimized the punches on the 'bridge'.

Thank yous~

I want to extend my thanks to these people.
* Memory: For being there and supporting me in and out.
* KirbyMastah: The Magoo that gave me a reason to take this on again and bringing the SB1 idea to my attention.
* All of my friends inside and outside of this community.
* Everyone for watching!

ThunderAxe31: Judging!
ThunderAxe31: Great job with the new techs and optimizations. Accepting as improvement over the current movie.
fsvgm777: Processing.


TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15580
Location: 127.0.0.1
EZGames69
He/They
Publisher, Reviewer, Expert player (4461)
Joined: 5/29/2017
Posts: 2761
Ive been waiting for this one to finally be submitted and I’m so happy to see it here. Here’s my biggest yes vote I can give.
[14:15] <feos> WinDOES what DOSn't 12:33:44 PM <Mothrayas> "I got an oof with my game!" Mothrayas Today at 12:22: <Colin> thank you for supporting noble causes such as my feet MemoryTAS Today at 11:55 AM: you wouldn't know beauty if it slapped you in the face with a giant fish [Today at 4:51 PM] Mothrayas: although if you like your own tweets that's the online equivalent of sniffing your own farts and probably tells a lot about you as a person MemoryTAS Today at 7:01 PM: But I exert big staff energy honestly lol Samsara Today at 1:20 PM: wouldn't ACE in a real life TAS just stand for Actually Cease Existing
nymx
He/Him
Editor, Judge, Expert player (2234)
Joined: 11/14/2014
Posts: 932
Location: South Pole, True Land Down Under
Dang, Sonic game are definitely some of the best to watch for speediness. Great job on the improvements and Y Y EEEEE SSSS Y Y E S Y Y E S Y EEE SSSS Y E S Y E S Y EEEEE SSSS vote. (Had to make my yes bigger than EZGames69's vote. :P ) Edit: well, that didn't turn out so well. LOL
I recently discovered that if you haven't reached a level of frustration with TASing any game, then you haven't done your due diligence. ---- SOYZA: Are you playing a game? NYMX: I'm not playing a game, I'm TASing. SOYZA: Oh...so its not a game...Its for real? ---- Anybody got a Quantum computer I can borrow for 20 minutes? Nevermind...eien's 64 core machine will do. :) ---- BOTing will be the end of all games. --NYMX
Patashu
He/Him
Joined: 10/2/2005
Posts: 4043
Try code tags:
Y     Y  EEEEE   SSSS    
 Y   Y   E      S           
  Y Y    E      S           
   Y     EEE     SSSS   
   Y     E           S
   Y     E           S
   Y     EEEEE   SSSS
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
GoddessMaria
She/Her
Reviewer, Experienced player (867)
Joined: 5/29/2009
Posts: 518
Location: Hell...
Thank you for the support!
Current projects: failing at life
Active player (261)
Joined: 12/13/2016
Posts: 352
Excited to have another addition to the GBA console verified page soon! (hopefully)
Post subject: my frame suggestion
Editor, Reviewer, Skilled player (1358)
Joined: 9/12/2016
Posts: 1646
Location: Italy
Maybe I'm biased just because this is the only Sonic game I'm familiar with, but I have to say that I found it very entertaining to watch, even more than the current publication! My frame suggestion is 4427 (though there may be better choices during most boss fights...)
my personal page - my YouTube channel - my GitHub - my Discord: thunderaxe31 <Masterjun> if you look at the "NES" in a weird angle, it actually clearly says "GBA"
Post subject: Movie published
TASVideoAgent
They/Them
Moderator
Joined: 8/3/2004
Posts: 15580
Location: 127.0.0.1
This movie has been published. The posts before this message apply to the submission, and posts after this message apply to the published movie. ---- [3948] GBA Sonic Advance "Knuckles, No Ultraspindash" by GoddessMaria in 13:14.31
GoddessMaria
She/Her
Reviewer, Experienced player (867)
Joined: 5/29/2009
Posts: 518
Location: Hell...
ruadath wrote:
Excited to have another addition to the GBA console verified page soon! (hopefully)
As if anything I do would be worth getting such attention or urgency...
Current projects: failing at life
Joined: 4/10/2018
Posts: 4
Location: Quebec, Canada
I've come with unfortunate news: It desynchronizes at the title screen on real hardware.
EZGames69
He/They
Publisher, Reviewer, Expert player (4461)
Joined: 5/29/2017
Posts: 2761
Didn’t the other verification movie work after adding one frame at the beginning or something?
[14:15] <feos> WinDOES what DOSn't 12:33:44 PM <Mothrayas> "I got an oof with my game!" Mothrayas Today at 12:22: <Colin> thank you for supporting noble causes such as my feet MemoryTAS Today at 11:55 AM: you wouldn't know beauty if it slapped you in the face with a giant fish [Today at 4:51 PM] Mothrayas: although if you like your own tweets that's the online equivalent of sniffing your own farts and probably tells a lot about you as a person MemoryTAS Today at 7:01 PM: But I exert big staff energy honestly lol Samsara Today at 1:20 PM: wouldn't ACE in a real life TAS just stand for Actually Cease Existing
Joined: 4/10/2018
Posts: 4
Location: Quebec, Canada
It was far past the beginning and had no risk of affecting RNG.
Editor, Reviewer, Skilled player (1358)
Joined: 9/12/2016
Posts: 1646
Location: Italy
Is this caused by emulation inaccuracy? In that case, I think it would be nice to make an issue on github. Note that this movie also syncs on BizHawk 2.3.2 (mGBA 0.7.2 core)
my personal page - my YouTube channel - my GitHub - my Discord: thunderaxe31 <Masterjun> if you look at the "NES" in a weird angle, it actually clearly says "GBA"
Active player (261)
Joined: 12/13/2016
Posts: 352
I agree, this is a game that (I believe?) was known to be console accurate (up to a few lag frames) on a previous version of mgba and if that has changed, it is worth noting the regression as an issue on the github page. On the other hand, it is worth separately verifying if the current Sonic TAS still works on the current version of the emulator; if this it the case, it would suggest that there has been no regression, but rather something specific to this knuckles run that causes the inaccuracy.