Tool-Assisted Speedruns (TASes) and the PC Engine

[spenoza]

I'm a fan of Tool-Assisted Speedruns. I like seeing games abused, broken, bent over and told to take it and like it. Just about 2 years ago a Mednafen fork was given TAS tools (re-recording, AVI output, frame advance). 8 months later the PCE code was ripped out and stuck into a GUI with additional tools like RAM watch, lag counter, etc... There's now a fully graphical, relatively accurate/compatible PCE emulator with full Tool-Assisted Speedrun capabilities, and several PCE runs have been posted at tasvideos.org.

I've made a couple attempted runs myself, but I tend to run out of steam. Still, I think there are some great games to TAS and I'd like to attempt at least one. What games do you think would be most entertaining to TAS? Games like shooters which have fixed scrolling speed tend to be a little dull unless you do a lot of creative play-around to fill empty scrolling time. Games with lots of random variables are too challenging for me because there's lots of LUA scripting and RAM watching, and also, they can sometimes be a little too abbreviated to be that fun to watch, though that's never stopped the TASing geniuses at the site. I'm looking for something either straightforward that would be fast and entertaining, or something glitchy as all hell just waiting to be abused.

I've considered Galaga 88/90, but the latest PCEjin revision has a weird error with it. If the error gets fixed I'm jumping right in if I haven't already committed to something else. I've also been thinking about Gradius II. Yes, it's forced scrolling, but when you put the ship speed up to max and start flying around the screen, doing loops around hostile objects and working to eliminate as much lag/slowdown as possible it can be entertaining anyway.

I want you guys to weigh in, though. What other games should I consider? Go to tasvideos and watch the existing PCE runs to get some ideas and let me know what you think. http://tasvideos.org/Movies-PCE-PCECD.html

[SuperDeadite]

I've never cared for TAS videos. Utterly pointless in my opinion.

[spenoza]

I enjoy watching them, and so do others, meaning that the endeavor is clearly not pointless. Some would argue playing the games in any context is pointless because it's non-productive, but that hasn't stopped most of us from playing, has it? Talking about it would be even more pointless, because then we're spending time discussing something while we're not doing it.

So, while they may be pointless to you, are there any games you think might be well-suited to it?

[ccovell]

It's sometimes fun to watch, but I have no desire to make such videos...    Zzzzzz

[Arkhan]

I think the TAS are fun only if they make really hilarious exploits.  If its just a playthru that you could do anyways, only realllllly perfected, thats boring.

but when theyre glitching through walls, and doing hilarious shit, I enjoy it.

I want to see KEITH COURAGE

[spenoza]

Keith Courage has been done. See the link I posted. It's a list of all the PCE runs. There's a 5-player Dungeon Explorer but it's not as fun to watch as I would like due to all the speed disparity between characters.

[Arkhan]

Keith Courage has been done. See the link I posted. It's a list of all the PCE runs. There's a 5-player Dungeon Explorer but it's not as fun to watch as I would like due to all the speed disparity between characters.

oh I didnt even see the link at the end, oops.

[apachacha]

I've never cared for TAS videos. Utterly pointless in my opinion.

Unless it's the only thing one has when one can't find any info on where to go due to there being no FAQ out there.

Only way I could find out how to beat Hi no Tori - Houou Hen - Gaou no Bouken.

[spenoza]

A TAS is not a longplay and isn't always very useful for helping someone beat a game. Some segments of games move too quickly to see properly what's going on without careful examination, and if some glitches or mechanical abuse exists you can completely circumvent the way a game is meant to be played. See the Shockman and Dragon Egg videos for examples of how the game isn't supposed to go.

[Arkhan]

I love the one TAS of Wizardry on NES.

If you blink, you miss it.

[exodus]

I like watching them, they're fun to put on in the background while I work. I enjoyed the legendary axe TAS which doesn't appear to be on the site.

Some games I'd suggest:
shubibinman (might have exploits - the second one's in there already)
bravoman (lots of weirdness with his jumping/punching abilities, so potential for craziness)
Valis 3!
Fighting Street (there might be a TAS of this already)

I'll think of more when by brain turns back on.

[exodus]

dudes, TAS videos are fun! Look at this granzort one where he makes use of each form to exploit bits of each level. http://www.dailymotion.com/video/xbo8sp_pce-madoo-granzort-in-084608-by-aru_videogames

[exodus]

also! I bet you could shave at least a minute off the bonk's revenge speedrun...

[spenoza]

I'll leave it to the more experience TASers to improve existing runs. I'd just like to find a likely candidate to simply get on the books to begin with.