Is beating Ridley before Kraid more efficient?

2006-09-08 09:05:02 pm

Hmm....

I have started my first 100% item collection speed run through Zero Mission. (I am playing on Hard Mode.)

Just after getting the Ice Beam, I decided to use the "secret" shaft on the far left side of Norfair to destroy...uh...insect boy and Ridley (which was a hell of a difficult fight) BEFORE even visiting Kraid's lair. I've just beaten the Acid Worm and my time now stands at 39:11 (I've collected everything I possibly could on the way).

My question is...is this route the most efficient way?

This is my first attempt at doing this speed run thing. Mostly what I've been doing is "save point jumping" (my phrase). That is, whenever I get to a new save point, I try out my route a few times to master difficult manouvers, enemies and such so I have a good chance to get to the NEXT save point as quickly as possible with minimal mistakes.

Thread title:

Chanoire

2006-09-08 11:15:49 pm

It's more efficient to do Kraid before Ridley in a 100% run, since some missiles in Ridley's lair require the Speed Boost to get. If you go to Ridley first you'll have to return to get those, while if you've already been to Kraid you can clean out Ridley the first time through. (You'll need to return to Kraid regardless since one expansion requires the Gravity Suit.) The optimal 100% route goes to Kraid even before Norfair.

Zeke

2006-09-08 11:36:10 pm

Time bomb set get out fast!

This is why I have more impressive 100% runs than any% runs. The 100% route goes through Kraid's area normally (except for not having the power grip), and doing that well just requires skill and practice. But the optimal any% route skips the acid worm, which requires some kind of magical midair demorph-fu that I absolutely cannot pull off no matter how hard I try. I have to go beat the jerk, and it costs me two or three minutes at best.

Anslyn

2006-09-09 12:58:03 am

Quote from Chanoire:

It's more efficient to do Kraid before Ridley in a 100% run, since some missiles in Ridley's lair require the Speed Boost to get. If you go to Ridley first you'll have to return to get those, while if you've already been to Kraid you can clean out Ridley the first time through. (You'll need to return to Kraid regardless since one expansion requires the Gravity Suit.) The optimal 100% route goes to Kraid even before Norfair.

I see what you mean about those missiles now...I have a save where I completed the game on normal that I'm using as a guide - there are four missiles in two diferent areas in Ridley that require the speed booster to get...curses!:( Oh well, at least that fight with Ridley was good practise for a 15% run...

I am now at 46:44 on the clock. I've gotten everything from Kraid's lair except the single missile expansion that requires the Gravity Suit. One time advantage of fighting Kraid after Ridley was that I was able to put three super missiles down his throat, ending that fight in about ten seconds! laugh new

I THINK I will simply pick up the Varia Suit in Brinstar, then proceed directly for Mother Brain in Tourian. Screw the the Screw Attack and the rest of the crud lying around...they can wait after the mothership.

[quote="Chanoire"]It's more efficient to do Kraid before Ridley in a 100% run, since some missiles in Ridley's lair require the Speed Boost to get.  If you go to Ridley first you'll have to return to get those, while if you've already been to Kraid you can clean out Ridley the first time through.  (You'll need to return to Kraid regardless since one expansion requires the Gravity Suit.)  The optimal 100% route goes to Kraid even before Norfair.[/quote]

I see what you mean about those missiles now...I have a save where I completed the game on normal that I'm using as a guide - there are four missiles in two diferent areas in Ridley that require the speed booster to get...curses!:(  Oh well, at least that fight with Ridley was good practise for a 15% run...

I am now at 46:44 on the clock.  I've gotten everything from Kraid's lair except the single missile expansion that requires the Gravity Suit.  One time advantage of fighting Kraid after Ridley was that I was able to put three super missiles down his throat, ending that fight in about ten seconds!  :laugh:

I THINK I will simply pick up the Varia Suit in Brinstar, then proceed directly for Mother Brain in Tourian.  Screw the the Screw Attack and the rest of the crud lying around...they can wait after the mothership.

Anslyn

2006-09-12 12:30:10 am

Alright...in the middle of Norfair after just getting the Hi-Jump Boots. Time stands at 1:30:32. I'm going to run down towards Ridley's Lair, grabbing the Wave Beam on the way. Hopefully I'll make it back to Chozodia with enough time.

Anslyn

2006-09-15 11:32:10 pm

Alright...I did it despite having to go back down to Ridley's lair! But just barely, and I struggled for it. Final time was 1:59:44! Shocked

I don't think I'll be trying to do the speed run that way again. grin new

spidey-widey

2006-09-16 11:07:51 am

Lol. Talk about cutting it close. Considering you came up with your own route, and did Ridley before Kraid, I think that's a very good 100% time. I'd suggest you try using the wr route to see how low you can go.

Houstin

2006-09-22 06:54:38 pm

Hey Dont you need Speed Bosster to get OUT of Ridley? privet message me if you can..

Chanoire

2006-09-22 08:30:32 pm

No, there's a cannon back to Norfair near the broken statue, which you can get to by shooting a missile block (or with screw attack).

Houstin

2006-10-17 05:51:47 pm

Thanks i found it.. And finished with a time of 1:00:01 One millsecond from an hour :( still not "too" bad

BlueGlass

2006-10-17 05:54:12 pm

Quote from Houstin:

Thanks i found it.. And finished with a time of 1:00:01 One millsecond from an hour :(

That's a second.

Houstin

2006-10-17 05:55:34 pm

No its one hour zero seconds and one millasecond

P.JMan

2006-10-17 05:58:16 pm

I like Big Butts and I can not lie

1 hour 0 minutes and 1 second
there's no milliseconds (the next digit would be frames anyway)

Houstin

2006-10-17 05:59:54 pm

whoops lol yeah what ever its still pretty close to my Plan of an hour(i am so dumb!). plus this was a while ago and my savestate of the time has been lost due to... misshaps.

Red Scarlet

2006-10-18 03:41:11 am

I('d) like to watch (some MP3 runs)

You may as well skip the Varia Suit if you are picking it up after going through Kraid and Ridley's area. There's not much "game" for it to be put to use (just Tourian), since it doesn't matter for the suitless part and you get the Varia Suit automatically when you get the fully-powered suit.

Oops, a little late, I guess.