To understand this movie, we really have to go into the tech that really makes it special. But before we can get into that, we need to understand what a TAS is.
What is a TAS?
According to Wikipedia: A tool-assisted speedrun or tool-assisted superplay is generally defined as a speedrun or playthrough composed of precise inputs recorded with tools such as video game emulators.
Tool-assisted speedruns are generally created with the goal of creating theoretically perfect playthroughs.
This may include the fastest possible route to complete a game or showcasing new optimizations to existing world records.
In this case, we are trying to softlock the PS1 game Klonoa: Door to Phantomile in the fastest amount of time. But before we can get into the tech we need to talk about what a softlock is.
What are Softlocks?
A softlock is a state in which a game is basically unplayable, but doesn't crash.
In certain cases softlocks allow some form of control for the player, but that player is unable to progress in their session.
In Klonoa's case, this softlock does NOT allow us to control Klonoa. The game continues around Klonoa, however he is unable to complete any levels.
The pause screen is unable to be activated by pressing the Start button on the Dualshock controller, and any other buttons cause nothing to happen.
Now, you might have heard the term hardlock as well, however this is nothing like a softlock (which is why it has a different term).
A hardlock is when a game fully freezes, crashes, or is entirely unresopnsive.
There are a couple of ways this could happen: memory corruption, infinite loops, doing a weird glitch, whatever.
But this run doesn't crash Klonoa, it only kills him. But before we can get into that, we need to talk about what Klonoa is.
What is Klonoa?
Klonoa is an awesome series of platforming games developed by Namco, which has the titular Klonoa travel through different dreams (he is a dream traveler, after all).
Klonoa 1 (this one) and 2 revolve around 2.5D platforming, which means that while the world environments are in 3D, Klonoa can only move left and right.
The primary mechanic involves using Klonoa's Wind Ring to fire a Wind Bullet, which lets him grab and throw enemies, or perform a double jump. But before we can continue, what is a double jump?
What is a double jump?
A double jump lets you jump twice.
What is Klonoa? (continued)
He can also flutter, meaning he can float in the air for ~1 second. Now, let's talk specifically about Klonoa's speed and movement.
Speed and movement (typical cases)
On standard ground, Klonoa's speed goes instantly to 41369 in 1 frame (as long as his previous speed was lower than that), and in other cases increases by 409 each frame until it reaches ~53250. If his speed is higher than that, then it will decrease by 512 every frame until it reaches ~53250.
In the air, Klonoa's speed goes instantly to 18432 in 1 frame (as long as his previous speed was lower than that), and in other cases increases by 2048 each frame. If his speed is higher than 53248 (0xD000), then it will decrease by 2048 instead. It means that once Klonoa reaches his aerial top speed, his speed will go up and down by 2048 until he is back on the ground.
While randomly jumping would usually result in a slower speed than just walking, jumping at specific speeds in order to get a high "aerial speed pairing" is actually faster than walking. The highest pairing you can get is 53248-55296 (so a speed of 54272 on average), which is ~1,6% faster than walking, saving on average 2 frames every 3 jumps. The best and fastest way to get a high pairing when Klonoa is already at max walking speed (and that this speed would not give a high pairing) is often to stop moving for one frame (which sligthly decreases Klonoa's speed) and then start moving again until a high pairing is available (after 4 or 5 frames usually).
When at zero speed, the best way to start to move is to walk for 1 frame (to go instantly to 41369), and then either jump as soon as possible (if there is a low ceiling, you get the high pairing in the second jump) or jump as soon as a high pairing is available (so you spent 3~5 more frames on the ground, but the extra speed you would get on these frame isn't worth the time lost due to the low pairing if you jump as soon as possible).
Gliding is very slow and double-jumping puts Klonoa's speed to 0, so both of these moves should be avoided as much as possible. Taking damage may be necessary sometimes, and the speed in damaged state is of ~52000.
Speed and movement (specific situations)
Slopes : It's similar the standard ground, except that the speed increases faster (depending on the tilt angle) and caps at 81920. What is considered as a slope isn't always intuitive.
Now, let's talk about the glitches and tricks used in this run.
Glitches and Tricks
- Wall clip: When trying to get close to a wall while holding an enemy and in the air, the game will reposition Klonoa, however it will not do this if Klonoa isnt looking left or right. In addition, if Klonoa wasn't repositioned and try to move through the wall for 1 frame (and then looking up or down for at least 1 frame), the game will shift him a little bit on the left. After doing this enough time, Klonoa will be so far to the left that the game will not try to reposition him anymore. As an extension of this glitch, you can carry enemies through passages with low ceilings, which in some cases can break the level design (like vision 6-1).
- Right wall clip: Same than the previous one, except that you press Left instead of Up or Down.
- Displacement: Klonoa's horizontal coordinate is relative to the current "plane", said plane is only updated when Klonoa is on the ground. When landing in a new plane, Klonoa's horizontal coordinate is updated according to this plane, but is slightly displaced if Klonoa was moving left and pressed Up or Down at the frame he touched the ground. The displacement can send Klonoa slightly to the left or to the right depending only on the landing position. It is used frequently in the TAS to save few frames every time, as well as once to clip into an otherwize unclipable wall in 5-2.
With all that preamble out of the way, I think you have enough knowledge to learn about the run.
Run Description
I start from a saved game to load into Vision (level) 5-1, then intentionally wall clip to touch a deathplane. But before I can get into that, I need to talk about what a save file is.
What is a savefile?
A savefile is a structured data file that stores a players progress in a video game. This lets the player continue from a specific point rather than restart the entire game.
Savefiles contain vital information to that players game, and in Klonoa's case the amount of levels (called Visions) he's completed, his lives, amount of Phantomilians freed, and dreamstones (basically, coins) are saved.
The savefile this game uses has nothing collected, and his lives set to the default amount of 3. But before I can continue, I should explain what a life is.
What is a life.
Sorry, could you repeat the question?
What is a savefile? (continued)
The verification movie for this run is linked
here.
Run Description (continued)
With all that preamble out of the way, let's continue to talk about the run.
- I load into a saved game then enter Vision 5-1.
- The level is split up into 2 sections, where there are 4 orbs necessary to collect. Or at least, they would be if you were trying to beat the level. I go onto the green path (to the right) and here's where the softlock can happen.
- I right wall clip to continue on the green path faster, then left wall clip into the cage, and left wall clip next to the gap.
- These wall clips put Klonoa in an out of bounds area. Jumping in this spot causes Klonoa to touch a deathplane (an inviisble floor that, when touched, kills Klonoa). This deathplane is the falling type, which requires Klonoa to keep falling for a certain amount of time before unequivocally ending his life.
- The game doesn't expect you to land on the ground before his entire animation is finished playing. As a result, the game enters a state where Klonoa is stuck and cannot move or press any buttons, but the game doesn't crash. Hence, a softlock.
Special Thanks
My mom, my dad, my grandmom, my grandpa, TOTO, Masayoshi Takanaka, Toby Fox, Laura Les, Jamiroquai, Matt Adams, my best friend Eddie, Simpleflips (shoutouts to), Masta Artisan, Jazmine Sullivan, Tail Concerto, Kali Uchis, 311, femtanyl, nelward, Ne-yo, Linkin Park, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Finger Eleven, System of a Down, Deftones, Matt Adams, Matt Adams, MF DOOM, BABYMETAL, Paramore, Pseudoregalia, Bug Fables, Michael Jackson, my good pal Derek, russelbuck, Do As Infinity, Outkast, Hikaru Utada, Sade, Queen, Linked Horizon, The Smashing Pumpkins, CAPCOM for the playstation, Klonoa from Klonoa, Ms. Lauryn Hill, 2 Mello, KISS, The Cranberries, Bôa, Oingo Boingo, Thundercat, what's with these homies dissing my girl, julie, Hoobastank, Tears For Fears, CQ, ABBA, ENA (dream bbq), Natasha Bedingfield, Engelbert Humperdinck, Silver Fins, Captainsparklez, DanTDM, Madonna, Toni Braxton, Frizk, inconsistent, Gary Numan, Eren, Armin, Mikasa, Bell Biv DeVoe, Billy Joel, Silly Fowl, strawberries and peaches and plums and just fruits in general man i love me a good grape, Foo Fighers, Chicago, USHER, Soul For Real, Jill Scott, Chaka Khan (my mother was named after her 😁), Amerie, Aaliyah, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Beyonce, BROCKHAMPTON, Pearl Jam, Earth, Wind & Fire, Faith Evans, Mac DeMarco, my pals in the Klonoa server, oh and I almost forgot Krinkus, bite into a banana but you forgot to peel it, you caught a nice fish but you don't know how to reel it
happy fool day
